Book of Ra Deluxe review
Released in 2008, Book of Ra Deluxe is a 5-reel and 10-payline video slot created by Green Tube (Novomatic). It is an exciting upgrade of the initial Book of Ra slot that was published in 2005.
Just like its original, Book of Ra Deluxe comes with an ancient Egypt theme. It features wilds, free spins, and expanding symbols. You stand a chance of winning the maximum prize of 5,000 times your stake on a single spin.
Keep on reading our Book of Ra Deluxe review to get more insights on the slot's theme, payout, bonuses, symbols, and lots more.
Book of Ra Deluxe Theme and Design
The slot takes you on an adventure with a famous explorer into ancient Egypt. You will have to join the explorer to unveil some treasures that have been long hidden by the Pharaohs. The guide to unveiling these treasures has been detailed in the book.
For a game with an Egyptian theme, we expected more from the graphics. However, Book of Ra Deluxe has a retro look. While the graphics are not so impressive, it’s still an improvement on the original release. It’s perfect for any player who loves to enjoy the classic slot machines at land-based casinos.
The gameplay takes place on dark reels, with many of its symbols looking like ancient Egyptian carvings. The backdrop of the slot is a sunset landscape with two pyramids standing afar off.
Accompanying the gameplay are sound effects that make you remember land-based machines and olden-day Mario games. There are a few animations and extra exciting sound effects when winning combos are formed.
Mechanics and Gameplay
Book of Ra Deluxe offers 5 reels, 3 rows, and 10 paylines which can be adjusted. You can decide to activate just 1 payline or play on all available ones for maximum winning chances. A winning combination is formed when 2 or more matching symbols land on an active payline, from left to right.
You’ll find the controls at the bottom of the screen, well-placed and easy to use. To set your bet, use the + and – icons on the bet button. You can also click on the “Max Bet” button on the right-hand side to activate the highest bet amount for the active paylines.
The minimum bet amount is $0.01 and can only be set when only one payline is active. You can bet up to $50 on a spin with all 10 payline active.
Simply tap the “Start” button whenever you’re ready to start spinning the reels. There’s an “Auto” button beside the start button which can be used to set continuous spins.
Symbols and Paytable
The ancient Egypt slot features ten symbols out of which are 9 regular symbols and a special symbol. The regular symbols include 5 low-value symbols and 4 high-value symbols.
Low-value symbols contained in this slot are card suits - A, K, Q, J, and 10. They award 0.5x to 15x the stake for winning combos with 3 to 5 matching symbols.
The iconic images such as the scarab beetle, Horus, Pharaoh Tutankhamun, and Indiana Jones (the explorer) are the high-value symbols in the slot. You could get 0.5x to 500x your stake for landing 2 to 5 matching symbols on a payline.
In Book of Ra Deluxe, the same symbol is used for the wild and scatter. It is denoted by the Book of Ra icon itself and it substitutes for all other regular symbols on a payline to complete wins. It also awards payouts when you land up to 3 symbols anywhere on the reels.
Below is the slots paytable:
Bonuses and Special Features
There are two major features in Book of Ra Deluxe – free spins and expanding symbols. These symbols are connected as the expanding symbols only occur during the free spins game. More explanation below
Free Spins & Expanding Symbols
To activate the free spins, you need to land at least three scatters anywhere on the reels. In addition to paying out cash, it will trigger 10 free spins. Landing 3 more scatters during the free spins triggers an additional 10 spins.
Before the free spins begin, a symbol is randomly selected to expand. During the free spins, this symbol may expand to cover three positions on the grid when there are enough symbols to complete a win. The expanded symbol pays like the regular symbols but also pays on non-adjacent positions.
If the chosen expanding symbol lands on all 5 reels, it will cover all positions on the grid. This will trigger a big payout, depending on the symbol. If you manage to cover all positions with Indiana Jones, you will trigger the maximum 5000x stake win.
Here’s what you get for each symbol that covers the whole grid:
- Q, J, or 10 – 100x stake
- A or K – 150x stake
- Beetle or Horus – 750x stake
- Tutankhamen – 2000x stake
- Indiana Jones – 5,000x stake
Book of Ra Deluxe Online Slot RTP and Volatility
The RTP of the slot varies, depending on the version and your location. It has a 94.26% version and a 95.1%, which is more popular. Nevertheless, both RTPs are not impressive as they’re lower than the industry’s average.
Book of Ra Deluxe also has high volatility with a hit frequency rate of 30%. You’ve got to be patient to expect wins in the game. Thankfully, it has a low betting limit, so everyone can play.
Mobile Compatibility of the Slot
Novomatic has updated Book of Ra Deluxe to make it available across all platforms. You can play on your PC, smartphone, or tablet device. It works on all operating systems, whether iOS, Android, Windows, or Mac.
Book of Ra Deluxe Slot Free Play
You don’t have to play Book of Ra Deluxe for real money if you’re unsure about the gameplay or not ready to play with cash. Many casino sites offer the Book of Ra Deluxe slot demo on their sites, so you can try out the game without betting any money. The demo game offers all the same features as the real money version.
Conclusion
To sum up, Book of Ra Deluxe slot machine is certainly not the best if you’re looking for high returns. Its low RTP and high volatility are quite disappointing. Nevertheless, the slot is loved by many who prefer simple gameplay with retro themes.
Despite its classic look, the slot comes with a good free spins game. You get 10 free spins and can retrigger them as many times as possible. The expanding symbol is another good feature that can help you trigger the maximum 5000x stake payout.
The slot’s availability on mobile devices makes it easily accessible. You can play for real money anytime and anywhere you find yourself. You can also try out the free version on our site or at the numerous Book of Ra Deluxe online casinos we’ve listed.
There are also a few other slots in the Book of Ra series you may want to check out. Best of wishes as you journey into Ancient Egypt with Indiana Jones.