The Book of Ra is a legendary slot machine game developed by Novomatic, an Austrian gaming company. Released in 2005, it has become one of the most popular and iconic slots of all time, captivating players worldwide with its ancient Egyptian theme and engaging gameplay.
Theme and Design
As soon as you start playing The Book of Ra, you are transported to a mystical world of try this slot pharaohs, pyramids, and golden treasures. The game’s background is set against a sprawling desert landscape, complete with towering sandstone monuments and the distant silhouette of the Great Pyramid of Giza. The reels themselves are adorned with colorful symbols depicting various Egyptian gods, artifacts, and characters from ancient mythology.
The overall design of the game is characterized by bold lines, bright colors, and a dash of mysticism. Players can choose from several background options to suit their taste, including a classic stone façade or an intricately decorated chamber filled with treasures. The visual effects are stunning, with animated particles swirling around the reels as you spin.
Symbols
The Book of Ra features an extensive collection of symbols that pay homage to ancient Egyptian culture and mythology. These include:
- Low-value symbols: Ace (A) through 10, each designed in a stylized hieroglyphic font
- Medium-value symbols:
- Scarab beetle (a symbol of rebirth)
- Sphinx
- Ankh (the key to eternal life)
- Egyptian queen
- High-value symbols:
- Explorer’s map (features the Great Pyramid and surrounding landscape)
- Book of Ra (the game’s iconic wild symbol)
Payouts
The payout structure in The Book of Ra is designed to reward players for creating winning combinations. The number of paylines is fixed at 9, with a maximum possible win of 2,000 coins per spin. Here are the payouts for each symbol:
- Ace (A) through 10: 3-50 coins
- Scarab beetle: 5-100 coins
- Sphinx: 20-200 coins
- Ankh: 30-300 coins
- Egyptian queen: 40-400 coins
- Explorer’s map: 80-500 coins
- Book of Ra (wild): 90-600 coins
Wilds and Scatters
The Book of Ra features a unique wild symbol – the explorer. This character serves as both a wild substitute and scatter. When two or more explorers appear, they award free spins and bonus rounds.
In addition to the regular game symbols, The Book of Ra also includes an Exploding Blocks feature, where adjacent reels with identical symbols explode, leaving space for new combinations.
Bonus Features
The most exciting aspect of The Book of Ra is its Free Spins Bonus Round. Triggered by landing two or more explorers (wilds), this round awards 10-200 free spins at a fixed bet level, depending on the number of wilds and scatters that initiated it.
During the bonus rounds, players can choose to hold any combination of reels in place or replace them with new symbols. The goal is to form winning combinations using as many held reels as possible.
Free Spins
The Book of Ra offers two types of free spins:
- 10 Free Spins: awarded by landing one explorer (wild)
- 15, 20, 25, and 30 Free Spins: granted for each subsequent wild/symbol found
In all cases, the minimum bet is used during the bonus round. Players can expect higher wins due to increased reel chances.
RTP and Volatility
The Return-to-Player (RTP) percentage of The Book of Ra slots averages around 94.26%. This means that for every £100 staked, players can expect an average return of approximately £94.26 in winnings over a long period of play.
As for volatility, we rate the game as medium to high. While it pays out occasionally with smaller wins, larger rewards are often tied to successful completion of bonus rounds and free spins.
Betting Range
The Book of Ra offers an adaptable betting system suitable for players across various budgets. Bet levels range from 0.01 coins up to a maximum of 100 credits (depending on the variant). The minimum bet per spin is £0.10, with higher stakes offering more lucrative rewards.
In addition, some versions of The Book of Ra slot allow players to adjust their betting limits and take advantage of special features like ‘Bet Max’ or ‘Expert Mode’, which can enhance gameplay experience but also increase potential losses if not managed properly.
Max Win
The maximum payout in The Book of Ra is capped at 10,000 times the initial bet. Given its medium-to-high volatility rating and an RTP percentage higher than 90%, we believe that this ceiling provides players with reasonable odds for securing substantial winnings while maintaining game balance and excitement levels.
Gameplay
Navigating through The Book of Ra slot machine is straightforward:
- Set your preferred bet using the coin value selector (0.01 to £10).
- Choose from available lines or go for Max Bet.
- Click Spin to start.
- Track potential wins as you hit combinations and keep track of Free Spins, wilds, scatters, Exploding Blocks, etc.
Mobile Play
Novomatic has made sure that The Book of Ra experience can be enjoyed on both desktop and mobile platforms. Players who prefer gaming-on-the-go will find their favorite slot machine accessible through various compatible devices running iOS or Android operating systems.
A high-quality touchscreen interface adapts seamlessly to the smaller screen dimensions, making it easier for players to explore and navigate through menus without sacrificing game performance.
Player Experience
Players’ opinions on The Book of Ra tend towards praise. With such a robust design and rich storyline combined with rewarding gameplay features (like the Free Spins Bonus), this slot creates an immersive experience that’s hard to put down once you begin playing.
Some players appreciate its moderate volatility, while others take advantage of the numerous bonus opportunities, citing these aspects as contributing factors for sustained player engagement over extended periods of play.