Book of Ra, reviewed in full
Design, maths, features and versions: what each part of the game adds to the experience.
Design and theme#
Book of Ra looks like what it is: a 2005 slot built around an Egyptian adventure. An explorer hunts for a golden book in the pyramids, and the reels carry him alongside a mummy, a statue, a scarab and the card royals from Ace down to 10. The presentation is direct, with the symbols large and easy to read, and nothing pulls your eye away from the reels.
That simplicity is part of the appeal. Each symbol has a clear value, the Book stands out from everything else on the screen, and when the Free Games start the change of mood is unmistakable. Players who know the land-based version Novomatic launched in 2005 will feel at home from the first spin.
Maths: what the numbers mean for you#
Two figures shape every session. Novomatic rates Book of Ra 5 on its 0.5 to 5 volatility scale, and about 30% of spins land a win with all 9 lines active. Together they describe a game of frequent small returns and rare large ones, where the Free Games arrive on average once every 150 to 200 games.
The return to player depends on the casino. Novomatic supplies seven configurations, from 88.21% to 96.99%, and the operator decides which one the lobby runs, so a quick look at the game’s information screen is worth the time. The Book of Ra RTP page lists every configuration and what it means in practice.
Features: one bonus round, done well#
The Book is the whole story. It completes lines as a wild, pays 2x, 20x or 200x the total bet as a scatter, and three or more of them start 10 Free Games. Before the round begins, one symbol is chosen at random as the Special Expanding Symbol. Whenever it lands, it covers all three positions on its reel and pays on every selected line, on adjacent and separated reels alike. Books landing during the round can retrigger the feature.
That design tells you exactly where the value sits. The base game tops out at 5,000 times the line bet for five Explorers, while one Free Game can reach 45,000 times the line bet. The Book of Ra free spins page walks through every symbol and the full paytable.
Versions and the free demo#
Novomatic has built a whole series on this game. Book of Ra Deluxe adds a tenth line, Deluxe 6 brings a sixth reel through Extra Bet, and Magic adds a new expanding symbol with every retrigger. The Book of Ra versions page compares them, and the Book of Ra demo lets you try the Deluxe edition with fun credits before you decide.
The verdict in practice#
Book of Ra suits players who like a clear, classic slot and are happy to wait for the moment it comes alive. Set a budget that covers a few hundred spins, play all 9 lines so the expanding symbol pays across the board, and treat the Free Games as the event of the session. When you are ready, the where to play Book of Ra page covers the real-money route, and Play Book of Ra on your phone shows how it runs on mobile. The original’s full profile lives on the Book of Ra game page.