Book of Dead: The Complete History, Features, RTP & Latest Updates
Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead is one of the defining titles in the history of modern online slots. Released by Play’n GO in January 2016, the Egyptian adventure introduced players to explorer Rich Wilde and built its identity around a simple but powerful idea: during Free Spins, one randomly selected symbol can expand to fill entire reels. This guide follows Book of Dead from its creation and original release through the development of the Dead series and the major 2026 evolution of the franchise.
What Is Book of Dead?
Officially titled Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, the game is a classic Egyptian-themed video slot from Play’n GO. It follows treasure hunter and archaeologist Rich Wilde as he explores ancient tombs in search of the legendary Book of Dead.
The slot uses a traditional five-reel, three-row layout and ten paylines. Compared with many modern releases built around hundreds or thousands of ways to win, Book of Dead deliberately keeps the basic structure easy to understand.
What gives the game its identity is not a complicated base-game system but the Free Spins mechanic. Three or more Book symbols trigger the bonus, after which one regular symbol is selected as the Special Expanding Symbol for the feature.
The central idea behind Book of Dead is simple: the base game is deliberately straightforward, while the Free Spins round creates the possibility of a dramatically larger win when the selected symbol expands across whole reels.
How Book of Dead Was Created
Play’n GO released Book of Dead on 14 January 2016. The game introduced Rich Wilde to a wider audience and established the character as one of the recurring protagonists in Play’n GO’s adventure-focused catalogue.
The choice of Ancient Egypt was particularly effective because it gave the game an immediately recognisable visual language: tombs, hieroglyphs, ancient gods, archaeological treasure and the mysterious Book itself.
Instead of making the base game mechanically dense, Play’n GO focused the game’s identity around the expanding-symbol Free Spins feature. That made the game relatively easy to understand while still leaving an obvious feature to chase.
The approach became an important part of the later Rich Wilde and Dead series. Play’n GO would continue to use recurring characters, archaeological adventures and expanding-symbol mechanics while introducing new settings and additional features in subsequent games.
Rich Wilde becomes a Play’n GO character
Book of Dead was one of Rich Wilde’s earliest major adventures. Play’n GO later placed the character in other settings and expanded the universe through games built around Egypt, the Aztec world, India and other adventure themes.
This character-led approach helped distinguish the game from generic Egyptian slots. Rich Wilde became part of a connected Play’n GO identity rather than being a one-off protagonist created solely for one title.
Book of Dead Timeline
The original Book of Dead has not been repeatedly replaced by annual remakes. Its history is better understood through the growth of the Rich Wilde universe, the expansion of the Dead series and the continuing distribution of the original game in regulated markets.
Original Book of Dead Launch
Play’n GO releases Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead. The game introduces players to Rich Wilde in an Ancient Egyptian setting and establishes the expanding-symbol Free Spins mechanic that would become strongly associated with the title.
Book of Dead Becomes a Long-Running Catalogue Title
The original slot continues appearing across online casino catalogues and becomes one of Play’n GO’s best-known releases. The core game remains recognisable because the original five-reel structure and expanding Free Spins feature are left intact.
Play’n GO Highlights the Dead Series
Play’n GO’s official Dead Series overview described Book of Dead as one of its most popular games and connected it to a wider family of titles including Legacy of Dead, Cat Wilde and Doom of Dead and later Scales of Dead.
The Game’s Audio and Legacy Get Their Own Spotlight
Play’n GO published a dedicated feature about the audio design behind Book of Dead, describing how Rich Wilde’s adventure and the ancient-Egypt setting were supported by its sound identity.
Ten Years of Book of Dead
Play’n GO officially marked a decade of Book of Dead and Rich Wilde. The company described the game as a defining part of its catalogue and used the anniversary to highlight the continuing importance of the character and the franchise.
Book of Dead GO Collect
Play’n GO released Book of Dead GO Collect, a new 5×3 Egyptian slot set in the same wider Book of Dead universe. The new game uses Gold Staters, Tomb Scatters and a Treasure Vault concept to expand the franchise rather than replace the original 2016 title.
Continued Distribution in Regulated Markets
In July 2026, Play’n GO announced a launch with Betano Colombia that included Book of Dead among the studio’s established titles. This shows that the original game continues to be distributed alongside newer Play’n GO releases.
Important distinction: Book of Dead GO Collect is a new game in the franchise, not a redesigned 2026 build of the original Book of Dead. The original title remains a separate game with its established mechanics.
How Book of Dead Works
Book of Dead uses a traditional five-reel, three-row configuration with ten paylines. The player chooses a stake and spins the reels, with standard symbols forming combinations according to the active paytable.
The Book symbol
The Book symbol is one of the most important elements in the game. It acts as the game’s Scatter and also functions as a Wild, allowing it to substitute for other paying symbols.
Three or more Book symbols appearing during the base game trigger the Free Spins feature. Play’n GO’s own game information confirms that three or more scatters are required to unlock the bonus.
Free Spins
The standard Free Spins feature begins with ten free spins. Before the round starts, the game randomly selects one regular symbol to become the Special Expanding Symbol.
Whenever the selected symbol lands during Free Spins, it can expand to fill the entire reel when the relevant win condition is met. This is the game’s signature mechanic and the main reason Free Spins can produce much larger combinations than an ordinary base-game spin.
Why the expanding symbol matters
The feature is deliberately built around symbol selection. A high-value symbol being chosen can produce a very different Free Spins sequence from a lower-value symbol. The player cannot choose the symbol manually, which means the bonus outcome depends partly on which symbol the game selects before the feature begins.
The visual simplicity is part of the design
Book of Dead does not need a long list of secondary mechanics to remain recognisable. There are no cascading reels or large numbers of constantly changing modifiers in the original version. Instead, the game directs attention toward the Book Scatter and the Special Expanding Symbol.
Book of Dead Free Spins Explained
The Free Spins round is the defining part of the original game. When three or more Book Scatters land, ten Free Spins are awarded and one of the regular symbols is selected as the expanding symbol for the feature.
During each spin, the selected symbol can expand to occupy all three positions on an individual reel. When the expanded symbols participate in a winning combination, they can create a much larger result than the original symbol positions would suggest.
This mechanic is particularly notable because the entire feature is built around one random selection. The player knows the rule, but does not know in advance which symbol will be selected.
That creates a very simple but effective tension: the Free Spins round can begin with the possibility of a strong symbol or a comparatively weak one, and the rest of the feature depends on how frequently the selected symbol appears.
Can the Free Spins feature retrigger?
The exact implementation and available functionality should always be checked in the version supplied by the operator. Book of Dead is an older title and operator configurations can differ, so the in-game rules panel remains the definitive reference for the current build being played.
Book of Dead RTP, Volatility & Maximum Win
The commonly published top RTP configuration for Book of Dead is 96.21%, with the original game generally described as high or very-high volatility depending on the provider scale used by the source.
Third-party technical references also document multiple operator RTP configurations for Book of Dead. That means the percentage shown in one database should not automatically be assumed to be the configuration active at another casino.
| Game Detail | Current Reference | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Play’n GO | The original developer and publisher of the title. |
| Reels / Rows | 5 × 3 | Classic five-reel, three-row slot layout. |
| Paylines | 10 | The original game uses ten paylines. |
| Top Published RTP | 96.21% | Commonly cited top RTP configuration for the game. |
| Volatility | High | Results can vary substantially from session to session. |
| Maximum Win | 5,000× | Published theoretical maximum win relative to the bet. |
| Free Spins | 10 spins | Triggered by three or more Book Scatter symbols. |
| Expanding Symbol | 1 random symbol | Selected before Free Spins and capable of filling a reel. |
RTP is a long-term theoretical statistic, not a prediction for an individual session. Likewise, the 5,000× maximum win is the theoretical top of the published game mathematics rather than a typical result.
Check the actual game information before playing. If the casino uses a different RTP configuration, the percentage displayed inside the game’s information panel should take priority over a generic website database.
Symbols and Winning Structure
Book of Dead uses a relatively compact symbol set. The lower-value symbols are inspired by card ranks, while the premium symbols are represented by Egyptian imagery and Rich Wilde.
The game becomes more interesting when those regular symbols interact with the selected expanding symbol during Free Spins. Instead of changing the entire mathematical structure of the slot, Play’n GO uses one special symbol to create the biggest visual changes.
Book as Wild and Scatter
The Book symbol performs two roles. It works as a Wild in winning combinations and also functions as a Scatter that can trigger the Free Spins feature.
Rich Wilde
Rich Wilde is the game’s central character and one of the highest-value symbols in the base game. His role extends beyond the paytable, however, because Book of Dead helped establish Rich Wilde as a recurring Play’n GO character who would later appear in other adventure slots.
Book of Dead and the Rise of the Dead Series
The significance of Book of Dead goes beyond the original five-reel game. Play’n GO gradually turned the concept into a broader family of titles sharing the Dead name, recurring characters and related expanding-symbol ideas.
The wider Dead series has included games such as Legacy of Dead, Cat Wilde and the Doom of Dead, Scales of Dead, Rise of Dead, Pilgrim of Dead, Secret of Dead, Ghost of Dead and Scroll of Dead.
Play’n GO’s own Dead Series overview specifically describes Book of Dead as one of the company’s most popular games and identifies it as an important starting point for the later series.
Why the original remains different
Later Dead games introduced additional mechanics, different characters and new ways of handling Free Spins. The original Book of Dead remains much more compact.
That simplicity is part of its identity. There is no need to learn a large collection of interconnected modifiers before understanding the game. The main question remains the same one that defined the original release: which symbol becomes the expanding symbol, and what happens when it lands during Free Spins?
What Happened to Book of Dead in 2026?
2026 is particularly important for Book of Dead because it marks ten years since Rich Wilde first appeared in the original title.
On 18 February 2026, Play’n GO published a dedicated anniversary article celebrating a decade of Book of Dead and describing the continuing importance of Rich Wilde and the franchise.
A few days later, on 26 February 2026, Play’n GO launched Book of Dead GO Collect. The new game keeps the Egyptian Book of Dead identity but introduces a different 5×3 game structure and new Gold Stater and Treasure Vault mechanics.
Book of Dead GO Collect is not the original game’s 2026 update
This distinction is important. GO Collect is a new title in the franchise, rather than a patch or redesign of the original Book of Dead. The original 2016 slot remains its own game with its classic Free Spins and expanding-symbol system.
The wider Play’n GO portfolio also continued expanding during 2026. In July, the company’s Betano Colombia launch included Book of Dead among its established titles, showing that the original game continues to be distributed alongside much newer releases.
As of 24 September 2026, we did not find an official Play’n GO announcement describing a separate remastered or redesigned version of the original Book of Dead. The major 2026 development is therefore the anniversary and the expansion of the franchise through Book of Dead GO Collect.
Why Book of Dead Still Gets Attention
The original game is a useful example of how a slot can remain recognisable for years without relying on a constant stream of new mechanics.
The base game is straightforward. The visual theme is immediately identifiable. Rich Wilde gives the title a memorable character. The Free Spins feature introduces a clear change in gameplay, and the Special Expanding Symbol provides the game’s most important source of larger combinations.
That combination makes Book of Dead easy to understand while still giving the player a feature worth waiting for. It also explains why the title became a reference point for the later Dead and Rich Wilde games from Play’n GO.
Is Book of Dead suitable for every player?
No slot suits everyone. Book of Dead is generally described as a high-volatility title, meaning the results can fluctuate significantly. Players who prefer frequent smaller outcomes may experience it differently from players who are comfortable with larger swings.
The sensible way to approach the game is to understand the RTP configuration, the bet range, the Free Spins structure and the game’s volatility before playing for real money.
Where to Try Book of Dead: Thrill or Cybet
On 24Pokies5 we feature two casino platforms worth checking when you are looking for established online slots such as Book of Dead: Thrill and Cybet.
We are not presenting one as universally better. The useful difference is how each platform is structured and what kind of casino experience surrounds the game. Actual availability can depend on jurisdiction, account and the live game catalogue, so the slot should always be checked directly on the operator before playing.
Thrill
Thrill is built around a dedicated casino lobby with a strong focus on Slots, along with categories such as New Arrivals, Bonus Buys, Live Casino and Table Games.
That makes it a practical environment for players who want to look at Book of Dead as part of a broader slot catalogue rather than playing the title in isolation. You can also move from one established slot to another without changing platforms.
- Dedicated Slots environment
- New Arrivals and Bonus Buy categories
- Broad casino catalogue beyond one title
- Useful for exploring other Play’n GO and established slot releases
Cybet
Cybet is a modern crypto-focused casino environment with a dedicated Slots section in its official Guidebook, alongside Live Casino, Games, Sports and Cybet Originals.
One reason to consider Cybet for a classic slot like Book of Dead is the platform’s game-focused information structure. The official Guidebook provides dedicated game and casino information, making it useful when you want to research a title before moving into real-money play.
- Dedicated casino Slots category
- Official game-focused Guidebook
- Crypto-focused casino environment
- Useful option for comparing classic and newer slot titles
Why try Book of Dead through our two casino options?
Book of Dead is an older, established slot, so the useful comparison is not an artificial promise that one casino will somehow make the game pay better. The value is in the surrounding platform. Thrill gives you a slot-heavy casino environment with dedicated categories for browsing, while Cybet combines its casino catalogue with a separate Guidebook and crypto-focused platform structure.
In both cases, check the live game page before playing: confirm that Book of Dead is available in your jurisdiction and verify the RTP, bet limits and available features shown in the actual game.
What to Check Before Playing Book of Dead
Start with the information panel inside the game. Book of Dead is an older title and its operator configuration can matter, particularly when it comes to RTP.
Next, look at the active betting range and make sure it suits the size of session you have planned. Volatility is also important because the game’s results can vary substantially.
Finally, make sure you understand the Free Spins feature. The entire game is built around the relationship between the Book Scatter, the ten free spins and the randomly selected Special Expanding Symbol.
The biggest practical mistake with Book of Dead is focusing only on the 5,000× headline. The far more useful information is the RTP configuration, volatility, betting range and exact Free Spins rules of the version you are actually playing.
Book of Dead Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead |
| Provider | Play’n GO |
| Release Date | 14 January 2016 |
| Theme | Ancient Egypt / Adventure |
| Layout | 5 reels × 3 rows |
| Paylines | 10 |
| Top Published RTP | 96.21% |
| Volatility | High |
| Maximum Win | 5,000× bet |
| Free Spins | 10 |
| Trigger | 3 or more Book Scatter symbols |
| Special Feature | Random Special Expanding Symbol during Free Spins |
Book of Dead FAQ
When was Book of Dead released?
Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead was released by Play’n GO on 14 January 2016.
Who developed Book of Dead?
Book of Dead was developed by Play’n GO.
What is the RTP of Book of Dead?
The commonly published top RTP configuration is 96.21%. Multiple operator configurations are also documented, so the RTP displayed in the game’s information panel should be checked before playing.
Is Book of Dead high volatility?
Yes. Book of Dead is generally classified as a high-volatility slot, although different databases may use different volatility scales.
What is the maximum win in Book of Dead?
The commonly published maximum win is 5,000× the bet.
How many Free Spins do you get in Book of Dead?
Three or more Book Scatter symbols trigger ten Free Spins in the original game.
What is the expanding symbol in Book of Dead?
Before the Free Spins round begins, one regular symbol is selected at random. That symbol becomes the Special Expanding Symbol and can expand to fill a complete reel during the bonus.
Is the Book symbol a Wild?
Yes. The Book functions as a Wild and also acts as the Scatter that triggers Free Spins.
What happened to Book of Dead in 2026?
Play’n GO celebrated ten years of Book of Dead in February 2026 and launched the new Book of Dead GO Collect on 26 February 2026. GO Collect is a separate new title in the franchise rather than a redesign of the original 2016 slot.
Is Book of Dead still relevant?
The original game remains part of Play’n GO’s established catalogue and continued appearing in new operator launches during 2026, including the company’s Betano Colombia rollout.
Can I try Book of Dead at Thrill or Cybet?
Thrill and Cybet are the two casino platforms featured on 24Pokies5. Live availability of a specific slot can vary by jurisdiction and operator configuration, so check the current casino catalogue before playing.
Official game information: Play’n GO — Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead
Dead Series history: Play’n GO — Top Dead Series Slots
2026 anniversary: Play’n GO — A Decade of Book of Dead
2026 franchise release: Play’n GO — Book of Dead GO Collect
2026 market launch: Play’n GO — Betano Colombia Launch
Current casino platforms: Thrill · Cybet
18+. Online gambling involves financial risk. RTP is a long-term theoretical statistic and does not predict the outcome of an individual spin or session. Always check the active game configuration, betting limits and legal availability before playing.