Book of Ra vs Book of Dead – At a Glance
| Feature | Book of Ra | Book of Dead |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Novomatic | Play’n GO |
| Released | 2005 (original) / 2008 (deluxe) | 2016 |
| Grid | 5×3 | 5×3 |
| Win Mechanics | 9/10 Fixed | 10 Fixed |
| RTP | 92.13% | 96.21% |
| Volatility | High | High |
| Maximum Win | 5,000x | 5,000x |
Originality: Who Came First?
Likely before Rich Wilde was even born, Novomatic had already struck gold with Book of Ra in 2005.
This classic Egyptian slot became a cult classic and a constant fixture across European casinos and pubs, helping to popularise the Book slot plot we know and love. They then released an updated version, the one you see online, in 2008, titled Book of Ra Deluxe.
Fast forward over a decade later and Play’n GO released Book of Dead in 2016, starring the handsome explorer Rich Wilde. Gameplay-wise, it follows a similar format to Book of Ra with the 5×3 grid, expanding symbols in the Free Spins, and fixed paylines.
While Book of Dead gets a fedora-tip for becoming the more recognisable of the two games, Book of Ra deserves its own kudos for laying the foundations and getting there more than a decade earlier.
🏆 Winner: Book of Ra
Base Game: Which Plays Better?
There’s not much between these two when it comes to the base game. Both feature a traditional set-up: 5-reels, 3 rows, although the original Book of Ra has nine paylines, compared to Book of Dead’s ten.
Neither offers anything of the flashy bells and whistles you’d expect from modern slots.
Instead, it’s good ol’ fashioned fixed line wins making it easy to track combinations, with the Book symbols acting as both Wilds and Scatters. Land enough, and the Free Spins feature unlocks.
It’s too close to call as both games play very similarly, but Book of Dead secures a slight edge thanks to its extra payline and Gamble feature, triggered through any base game win, to potentially quadruple your winnings.
🏆 Winner: Book of Dead
Bonus Features: Which Is More Fun?
Both slots revolve around the same tried-and-tested formula seen across most Book slots: land three or more Book Scatters to trigger ten Free Spins, with one randomly selected paying symbol becoming the Special Expanding Symbol.
When enough matching symbols land to form a win, they expand to fill their reels and can create additional winning combinations. Naturally, getting a premium high-payer as the expanding symbol is where the big money lies.
Both games also allow Free Spins retriggers, so there’s always a chance to extend the run, with additional gamble rounds.
🏆 Winner: Draw
RTP and Volatility: Which Has Better Returns?
If you’re a player that cares about stats, this is the section to pay attention to. The original Book of Ra has a commonly cited RTP of around 92.13%, while Book of Dead’s highest published RTP is 96.21%.
That gives the Play’n GO adventure a slight edge on paper, with Book of Dead offering a theoretical return that’s over four percentage points higher than its rival.
However, it’s worth keeping in mind that both slots have several versions and RTP configurations, meaning the version at your chosen casino may offer a slightly lower theoretical return.
Always check the in-game information before playing, rather than assuming you’re getting the highest possible RTP.
🏆 Winner: Book of Dead
Maximum Win – Which Pays the Most?
Though both games are about plundering pyramids and promose untold riches at the heart of Egyptian’s biggest pyramids, neither original game breaks any max-win records.
Both Book of Ra and Book of Dead are commonly listed with a maximum win of 5,000x, putting them on equal footing in the treasure-hunting department.
The biggest potential payouts come in the Free Spins features, where expanding premium symbols can turn spins into something worth writing in the history books, but getting the right symbol selected is easier said than done.
🏆 Winner: Draw
Graphics and Theme: Which Looks Better?
Both games transport players back in time to Ancient Egypt in the middle of a pyramid, with golden artifacts and hieroglyphics, but there’s a pretty clear difference in presentation when you play them both side-by-side.
Book of Ra is very much a product of its time: it looks dated, with simple symbols, a no-frills interface, and darker visuals that would look right at home on an old-school fruit machine. There’s a nostalgic essence to it, but let’s not pretend it’s aged like fine wine.
Book of Dead, meanwhile, feels very crisp and polished in comparison, as the rugged Rich Wilde himself takes centre stage against a bright Egyptian pyramid backdrop. The soundtrack also helps to create a proper tomb-raiding experience, even though the explorer looks like he’s been taking fashion advice from Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones.
🏆 Winner: Book of Dead
Sequels and Spin-Offs: Which Has the Bigger Franchise?
You can’t keep a good book closed, and Novomatic has certainly milked its Egyptian cash cow for all its worth, with enough sequels to fill a small library.
There’s Book of Ra Deluxe, Book of Ra Magic, Book of Ra Mystic Fortunes, and a few more, with Novomatic tinkering with the formula, adding a few new plot twists like extra reels, new features, and more ways to win.
Book of Dead hasn’t been gathering dust, either. Rich Wilde has become one of Play’n GO’s most successful characters, starring in adventures like Tome of Madness, Amulet of the Dead, Legacy of the Dead, and Pearls of India, to name a few examples.
Rich Wilde has a few more stamps in his passport than the nameless adventurer from Book of Ra, hence why Book of Dead takes this round.
🏆 Winner: Book of Dead
Book of Ra vs. Book of Dead: Final Scores
| Category | Winner |
|---|---|
| Originality | 🏺 Book of Ra |
| Base Game | 📖 Book of Dead |
| Bonus Features | Draw |
| RTP and Volatility | 📖 Book of Dead |
| Maximum Win | Draw |
| Graphics/Theme | 📖 Book of Dead |
| Franchise | 📖 Book of Dead |
Final Score: Book of Dead 4 – 1 Book of Ra, with two draws
Book of Dead and Book of Ra Free Demos
So… Which Is Better?
So, which book deserves a place on your TBP (To Be Played) shelf?
If you’re looking for a trip down memory lane, Book of Ra or its Deluxe counterpart should scratch that nostalgia itch, as both releases came before the Play’n GO blockbuster. On the other hand, Book of Dead is a better shout for higher theoretical returns and a more polished visual experience overall.
Both games stick to the same gameplay loop, with expanding-symbol Free Spins and the same advertised maximum wins, so not much splits the two in the gameplay department.
Still sitting on the fence? Check out our in-depth slot reviews for a closer look between the lines at each game’s features and read our honest first impressions. You can even give them a try with our free demos to see which you prefer, all without spending a penny.
Slot battles are what we’re known for here at Fruity Slots, so why not check out our previous month’s editions, where we’ve pitted Gates of Olympus against Starlight Princess and Fishin’ Frenzy against Big Bass?
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