The online gambling industry is constantly evolving: new video slots are being released one after another, becoming more beautiful and interesting every year. It is even more impressive how some games manage to remain popular for a long time, even when it seems that their era should have ended long ago. A striking example of such entertainment is the Book of Dead video slot from developer Play’n’Go: it was released, believe it or not, back in 2016, but is still in high demand today.
Book of Dead
What is Book of Dead and why is it popular?
At the time, Book of Dead was a real breakthrough thanks to a number of revolutionary solutions, which we will discuss later in this article. Here, we would like to note that this slot became one of the founders and most popular representatives of the genre of slot machines known as “books”: not so long ago, online casinos were required to offer this filter for searching games. Looking ahead, we note that users who are just getting interested in gambling may find this entertainment outdated, but for some of the public, it evokes nostalgia as a timeless classic.
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In the design of gambling games, it is still quite popular to play on the aesthetics of ancient civilizations, especially Egypt, which, thanks to the Mummy film series, has become associated with adventure, terrifying spells, and untold riches. Not everyone remembers this today, but it was Play’n’Go and its Book of Dead slot that were largely responsible for the popularity of this theme. At the same time, there are not many themed symbols in the game: half of them are card symbols from ten to ace. This is a common feature of “books” that may seem strange to today’s demanding users.
Difference from other slots
The differences from the most modern slots may not be in Book of Dead’s favor, and that’s normal, because technology doesn’t stand still. But at the time, this slot machine looked cutting-edge compared to many other games, and here’s why:
- A playing field with three rows of symbols on five reels could be considered large at that time.
- players could independently choose the level of risk by determining how many of the ten available paylines they would bet on;
- The developer added an auto-start feature to the slot—the game could start itself up to 100 times in a row, placing automatic bets of the amount set by the player.
- The bonus round in Book of Dead offers to double or quadruple your winnings by guessing the color or exact suit of the card, respectively. You can opt out of the bonus round or extend it over several rounds.
- There is also a package of 10 free spins for those who manage to land at least 3 scatters on one screen.
In addition, Book of Dead had already been adapted for portable devices at that time, and it looked quite colorful.
Potential for big wins thanks to bonus features
The biggest win is promised to the player when the entire playing field is covered with identical symbols in the form of the adventurer Rich Wilde – when betting on 10 winning lines, it will be considered that all of them have played, which means that the user will win 5000x their bet. This is a lot in itself, but even more valuable is the fact that the game has in-game free spins – that is, you can potentially not spend money on the next spin, but still get a material win. Like other slots, Book of Dead participates in the wagering of most bonuses and gifts from the administration of the BetLabel online casino.
How to play Book of Dead — rules and mechanics
When you launch the game, you will see the start screen, which displays what the developer considers to be the most exciting aspects of the rules. By clicking Continue, the player enters the playing field. The bet size can be set using two tools, specifying the coin value and the number of coins bet separately in the lower left corner. The general settings are located further down and to the left. At the bottom center, you can specify the number of lines you are betting on (the default is all 10, and if you reduce the number, the bet amount will also decrease, but there is a risk of missing out on the maximum win if several combinations appear at once). At the bottom right, there are tools for setting up the automatic game mode, a paytable (examples of winning combinations), and a button to start the spins.
If a winning line consists of less than five symbols, it must start from the left edge and be unbroken, but scatters (at least three) are paid anywhere. The scatter also acts as a wild symbol: it continues the winning line if it fits into it. The rest of the rules apply to bonuses, so they will be discussed in the section below.
Bonuses and features of winnings
Three or more scatters anywhere on the Book of Dead screen entitle the player to 10 bonus free spins. A special feature of the bonus free spins is the appearance of a random expanding symbol – after the reels stop, it can spread across the screen, triggering a bigger win.
Any winnings can be doubled or quadrupled by guessing the color or suit of a hidden card. If you guess correctly, you can try this trick again; players are also allowed to decline to guess the card and simply collect their winnings.
Advantages and disadvantages of Book of Dead
The key advantages that keep Book of Dead at the top are the following aspects:
- nostalgia – for many players, this is one of their first favorite video slots;
- Two bonus rounds at once – free spins and the opportunity to guess the card after each win to double or even quadruple your winnings;
- The expanding symbol feature in free spins allows you to win more.
- The potential winnings from a single bet are 5000x.
When it comes to the disadvantages of the Book of Dead slot, the easiest way to describe them is this: since its release, technology has advanced significantly, so many will consider it outdated. Today, it is unlikely to surprise anyone with just ten paylines and modest graphics with partially card symbols.