Book of Dead Pokie Guide: Play'n GO's High-Volatility Adventure

Book of Dead is a 5-reel, 3-row pokie with 10 fixed paylines, developed by Play'n GO and released in 2016. The theme is a classic Ancient Egypt adventure, following the explorer Rich Wilde as he searches for treasure in a tomb. The game's structure is standard for a 5x3 grid, but the Book symbol sets it apart: it appears on all reels and serves a dual role. When it lands, it substitutes for other symbols to form winning combinations, and if three or more appear, it triggers the free spins round. The game's high volatility means wins come less often but can be larger, and the potential maximum win is 5,000 times your stake. The betting range starts at $0.10 and goes up to $50 per spin, making it accessible to both casual players and high rollers.

To play, set your bet using the selector at the bottom of the screen. The minimum is $0.10 and the maximum is $50 per spin. The game uses a 5x3 grid with 10 fixed paylines, so winning combinations are read from left to right on active lines. The paytable and game info can be accessed via the info or paytable button, usually located near the bet selector. Once you've chosen your stake, press the spin button to start a round. There is no ante bet or bonus buy option in this game, so the bet you set is the only wager you make.

The default return-to-player (RTP) for Book of Dead is 96.21%, but the game is available in different RTP versions, ranging from 84.18% to 96.21%. If you play a version with an RTP of 84.18%, for every $100 wagered you can expect to lose about $15.83 more than with the default version. Always check the RTP version in the game's info panel before playing, as it can vary by casino. The maximum win is 5,000 times your stake, so a $1 bet could return $5,000, and a $0.10 bet could return $500. Volatility is high, meaning you may experience long dry spells, but when wins come, they tend to be larger than average. This makes the game more suited to players who can handle swings in their bankroll.

The key features of Book of Dead are centred on the Book symbol and the free spins round. The Book acts as both a wild and a scatter. As a wild, it substitutes for other symbols to help complete winning lines. As a scatter, landing three or more anywhere on the reels awards 10 free spins. During free spins, a special expanding symbol is chosen at random before the round begins. This symbol expands to cover the entire reel when it appears, potentially creating multiple winning combinations. Free spins can be retriggered by landing three or more scatters again, awarding an additional 10 spins. There is also a gamble feature that allows you to try to double your winnings by guessing the colour or suit of a playing card, but this is optional and carries risk.

Given the high volatility, your bet size should be based on your session bankroll. For a $50 session, a sensible bet is around $0.50 per spin, giving you 100 spins to work with. For a $200 session, you could bet $2 per spin, giving you 100 spins as well. This approach helps you ride out the dry spells that come with high volatility. There is no bonus buy or ante bet feature in Book of Dead, so you can't pay extra to trigger free spins directly. Remember that no betting system can change the RTP; each spin is independent and the house edge remains the same. Set a loss limit before you start and stick to it, and always play within your means.

The demo version uses play credits but runs the same game maths and the same RTP version as the real-money build at the casino you open it in. For Book of Dead, a demo session is useful for getting a feel for the high volatility—you can see how long dry spells last and how often the free spins trigger. You can also test different bet sizes across the range to see how they affect your session length. When you switch to real AUD, the difference is that your bets are real money, so bankroll management becomes critical. The demo won't give you the same emotional weight, but it's a practical way to learn the game's rhythm.

Book of Dead is available at Silk Road Lucky Dreams, where you can play in AUD. If you want to try the game without risking real money, a demo mode is also available there. Before playing for real money, it's wise to check which RTP version is in use at the casino, as it can vary. Always gamble responsibly and remember that help is available if you need it: Gambling Help Online at 1800 858 858.

Reactoonz — Reactoonz is also a Play'n GO pokie with high volatility and a max win close to Book of Dead's 5,000x. It uses a 7x7 cluster format instead of 5x3 paylines, and features cascading wins and the Giantoonz mechanic. The RTP is slightly higher at 96.51%, but both offer a high-risk, high-reward style.

Gates of Olympus — Gates of Olympus shares high volatility and a 5,000x max win with Book of Dead, but uses a 6x5 scatter-pays layout. Its tumble feature and multiplier symbols provide a different way to build wins, and it offers 15 free spins for 4+ scatters, compared to Book of Dead's 10 free spins.

Starburst — Starburst is a low-volatility contrast to Book of Dead, with a max win of only 500x. Both are 5x3 pokies with 10 paylines, but Starburst's expanding wilds and respins offer more frequent, smaller wins. Its RTP of 96.09% is similar, but the risk profile is much lower.