The word “iconic” gets thrown around frequently in the slots industry, but it fits the original Book of Dead by Play’n GO. Released in 2016, it became a genre-defining title. Now, the studio has decided to revisit this classic with Book of Dead GO Collect. This new release attaches the studio’s “GO Collect” jackpot concept to the familiar “Book of” mechanics, along with a graphical update. We tested the game to see if this is a worthwhile evolution or just an attempt to squeeze more life out of a famous brand.
Book of Dead GO Collect Overview
Play’n GO has given this version a visual makeover. While the setting is still undeniably ancient Egypt—featuring columns, stonework, and familiar artifacts—the background imagery is more elaborate than the 2016 original. It feels familiar but refreshed.
Here are the basic specs for the game:
- Developer: Play’n GO
- Theme: Ancient Egypt / Adventure
- Grid: 5 reels, 3 rows
- Pay System: 10 paylines
- Bet Range: $/€0.10 to $/€50 per spin
- Max Win: 10,000x the bet
The symbols remain consistent with the series. You have the standard 10-A playing card ranks for low pays, while high-value symbols include bird jewelry, Anubis, a pharaoh, and the explorer Rich Wilde. The game setup allows for full-screen wins due to the expanding symbols mechanic.
How the Game Plays in Real Sessions
In terms of gameplay, Book of Dead GO Collect operates on a standard 5×3 grid with 10 fixed paylines. You cannot adjust the number of active lines, simplifying the betting process.
During our testing, the base game felt very similar to the original, but with the added distraction of the collection mechanic. The “Gold Staters” (coins) appear attached to regular symbols. These are collected when they land, and accumulating them is supposed to increase the chance of triggering the “Treasure Vault” feature.
The session flow is typical for a high-volatility “Book” slot. You will likely encounter periods of dead spins or low-value wins (5-of-a-kind royals pay 10x-15x) while waiting for the bonus features to trigger. The graphical update is noticeable, but it doesn’t fundamentally change the rhythm of the spins compared to the original.
Book of Dead GO Collect RTP and Volatility in Practice
The game is classified as highly volatile. In practice, this means the balance can swing significantly. The theoretical Return to Player (RTP) comes in multiple configurations, maxing out at 96.2%. As always, players should check the specific RTP used by their chosen casino, as it can be lower.
The volatility is evident in the feature triggers. The collection mechanism for the Treasure Vault adds a layer of anticipation, but it doesn’t guarantee frequent payouts. The game relies heavily on hitting the bonus rounds to achieve substantial returns, which aligns with the high variance rating.
Book of Dead GO Collect Bonus Features and Free Spins
This version attempts to combine the classic “Book” mechanics with a hold-and-win style feature.
Free Spins
The core feature remains the Free Spins round, triggered by landing 3 or more Tomb scatters.
- Trigger: 3, 4, or 5 scatters award 2x, 20x, or 200x the bet respectively, plus 10 free spins.
- Mechanism: A symbol is randomly chosen to expand. These symbols pay anywhere on active lines, even if non-adjacent.
- Retrigger: Landing 3 scatters adds 10 more spins.
GO Collect & Treasure Vault
This is the new addition. Gold Staters collected in the base game ostensibly improve the odds of entering the Treasure Vault.
- Treasure Vault: Starts with 3 respins. Landing new staters resets the count.
- Values: Regular staters range from 1x to 5x.
- Jackpots: Bonus staters include Mini (10x), Minor (20x), Major (100x), and Grand (500x).
Treasure Gamble
There is also a gamble option to multiply winnings up to four times. You must land more “Brilliant Staters” than “Broken Staters” to double your win; otherwise, you lose the round’s winnings.
While the max win has been doubled to 10,000x (compared to the original’s 5,000x), the addition of the Treasure Vault feels like a standard hold-and-win feature rather than a revolutionary gameplay element.
Where to Play Book of Dead GO Collect
Degenious Slot Rating
Book of Dead GO Collect is a functional slot, but it feels like a lukewarm revisit rather than a necessary sequel. The graphical refresh is decent, and the increased max win potential (10,000x) is a mathematical improvement. However, the GO Collect feature feels tacked on to leverage a famous brand name rather than to innovate the gameplay. It’s the original game with a minor hold-and-win round and modest jackpots attached.
Score: 3/5 Stars
- Gameplay: Familiar mechanics with a standard collection addition.
- Bonuses: The mix of expanding symbols and hold-and-win is okay, but not exciting.
- Volatility: High, suited for players comfortable with risk.
- Fairness: Standard Play’n GO math model with variable RTP ranges.
- Overall: A decent game that lives in the shadow of its predecessor.
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The Stuff Everyone Wants to Know
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What is the max win in Book of Dead GO Collect?
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How do I trigger the Free Spins?
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What is the GO Collect feature?
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Is this game different from the original Book of Dead?
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Can I adjust the paylines?