Play’n GO’s latest chapter in the Rich Wilde series sees the fan-favourite explorer plunge into Ancient Egyptian-themed darkness once more, but this time, the stakes have never been higher.
We sat down with George Olekszy, Head of Game Retention at Play’n GO, to uncover the secrets of Rich Wilde and the Tome of Dead, a follow-up to Rich Wilde and the Tome of Madness and Rich Wilde and the Tome of Insanity.
We explore the power behind its latest mechanics and why this Cluster Pays title might just be Rich’s most thrilling adventure yet.
Any game that bears the Wilde name is hugely entertaining and is boasts a strong narrative. Can you start off by telling us the story behind Rich Wilde’s latest adventure?
Brace yourselves, it’s a good one! This time around, Rich finds himself deep within an Egyptian tomb, where he uncovers the Tome of Dead, a mysterious book said to contain secrets of the afterlife itself. True to form, Rich’s curiosity gets the better of him. In unlocking the book’s secrets, he unknowingly breaks a sacred seal and awakens Ammit, the fearsome Devourer of the Dead.
Now hunted by this vengeful creature, Rich must harness the book’s forbidden powers if he has any hope of surviving. The stakes are higher than ever as he races to contain the unleashed curse before he’s dragged into the underworld forever.
It’s edge-of-your-seat stuff, we really do think players will enjoy what we’ve cooked up.
Rich Wilde and the Tome of Dead boasts a good number of features and mechanics. Can you talk through the main ones and how they work?
Rich Wilde and the Tome of Dead puts a fresh spin on the series with a 5×5 cluster pays format and cascading wins, where matching four or more symbols sets off a chain reaction of potential rewards.
One of the standout features is the Ritual Meter, which adds an extra layer of depth to gameplay. Every time you land a winning cluster, the meter charges up, gradually unlocking four unique effects: Protection, Devour, Judgment, and Banishment. Each one has a different impact on the reels, whether it’s transforming symbols, destroying symbols, or adding Wilds, keeping the action varied and exciting. Once fully charged, the meter triggers Banishment Free Spins, combining all four effects for a shot at some of the game’s biggest wins. Of course, there’s also the All-Seeing Eyes feature, which randomly adds extra Wilds.
Collection meters are a fantastic method of engaging players and keeping them on the edge of their seats, particularly when it comes to cluster pays titles. Just how big of a role does this play in Rich Wilde and the Tome of Dead?
The collection meter (also known as a perceived persistent state feature) plays a huge role in Rich Wilde and the Tome of Dead, it’s the key to unlocking big wins. In my opinion, this method of unlocking features is a lot more exciting than just landing scatter symbols on the reels, it adds a layer of suspense as the meter grows. Don’t get me wrong, scatters are a core staple of online slots, and always will be, but we like giving players something to work towards rather than hoping to see a certain symbol appear.
The all-seeing eye sounds ominous! What more can you tell us about that?
As ominous as it sounds, the all-seeing eye can be a huge help whenever it appears. At any moment, the eye may appear as a closed frame on the grid. If a winning cluster covers that grid, then between 2 and 4 wilds will be summoned to the reels, increasing the potential for cascading wins and bigger wins.
What was Play’n GO’s reasoning behind creating another Rich Wilde game that has cluster pays wins as opposed to traditional paylines?
We’ve enjoyed tremendous success with cluster pays games, and they’ve become synonymous with Play’n GO over the years. Tome of Insanity really stood out for us in 2024, both in terms of performance and player engagement. It showed us just how much appetite there is for this style of gameplay, especially when paired with a strong, recognisable character like Rich Wilde.
We take great pride in pushing the boundaries when it comes to our grid-based games. So, when it came to revisiting Rich Wilde in the Tome of Dead, it felt like the perfect opportunity to merge that iconic character with a mechanic that continues to resonate strongly with our audience.
Egypt resonates with players regardless of where they’re from. Furthermore, it’s a theme you’d expect to associate with Rich Wilde. Do you think Play’n GO (and other studios) will continue to draw upon Egypt for inspiration?
Absolutely, Rich Wilde and Egypt go hand-in-hand. Despite having travelled to exotic locations around the world, whenever people think of Rich, their minds immediately go to Egypt because of Book of Dead. Yes, it’s a popular theme, and yes, every studio has an Egyptian game (or two), but that’s only because they’re so popular with players everywhere.
There’s no knowing where Rich Wilde’s adventures will take him next, but we know that there’ll always be ancient Egyptian mysteries to be uncovered.
If you had to convince our players to give Rich Wilde and the Tome of Dead a spin, what would you say?
Whenever we develop a brand-new Rich Wilde game, we’re essentially combining our most popular game mechanics with our most successful IP, It’s a recipe for success, and we can guarantee an exciting outcome with such a fantastic hybrid. This release is going to be a big one for us, and I don’t say that lightly.
