Book of the Fallen Slot by Pragmatic Play

Pragmatic Play's Book of Dead

Book of the Fallen is Pragmatic Play's most direct response to Play'n GO's Book of Dead. Same 5x3 grid, same 10 paylines, same expanding symbol free spins, same Egyptian adventure theme with a treasure-hunting protagonist. The explorer here looks close enough to Rich Wilde that the comparison writes itself. Where it separates: a 96.50% RTP (versus Book of Dead's 96.21%), a Super Spin ante bet, and a bonus buy option. Three additions that didn't exist in the 2016 original.

This is the seventh entry in Pragmatic Play's John Hunter series, following the explorer through Aztec temples, Bermuda islands, Mayan ruins, and now a forgotten Egyptian tomb. The brand carries weight in casino lobbies.

Paytable and Base Game

The explorer tops the paytable at 5,000 coins for five of a kind - the single highest-paying regular symbol across Pragmatic Play's "Book of" games. The female explorer pays 2,000. Scarab and snake both sit at 750. Five card royals round out the table between 100 and 150 coins. The book itself works as both wild and scatter: three or more trigger 10 free spins, and five books pay 200x total bet independently.

Base game is straightforward left-to-right payline action. No mystery symbols, no base game bonus mechanics. You're spinning for scatter triggers or playing the ante bet.

Super Spin: The Ante Bet Worth Knowing

Pay 10x your total bet per spin and every base game spin plays like a free spin with an expanding symbol. You pick which symbol expands. Wins are calculated on the base bet, not the inflated 10x amount, so the math stays honest. It's expensive - a $2 base bet becomes $20 per spin - but it gives you the bonus mechanic without waiting for three scatters.

The strategic layer here is real. Pick a low-value symbol and expansions trigger often with small payouts. Pick the explorer at 5,000 coins and you're chasing rare full-screen fills. The ante bet RTP sits at 96.49%, nearly identical to the regular 96.50%, so there's no mathematical penalty for using it.

Free Spins and Expanding Symbols

Three books award 10 free spins. Before the round begins, one symbol is selected as the special expanding symbol. When that symbol appears and forms a win, it expands to cover all three positions on each reel where it lands. The expansion pays across non-adjacent reels, which is where the big money comes from - three scattered premium symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5 still pay as a five-of-a-kind if they expand.

Retriggers add 10 spins each with no upper limit. The buy option costs 100x total bet for a guaranteed 10-spin round with 3, 4, or 5 scatters.

The Honest Assessment

Book of the Fallen does one thing and does it competently. The expanding symbol mechanic works, the Super Spin adds genuine flexibility, and the John Hunter branding gives it casino lobby visibility. But with no mystery symbols in base game (unlike Book of Aztec King), no jackpots (unlike Book of Candy), and only one expanding symbol in free spins (versus Aztec King's two), this is the most basic version of Pragmatic Play's "Book of" formula. The 5,000x cap matches Book of Dead exactly, and the high volatility means long stretches of nothing between payouts. It's a safe, recognizable choice. Not a remarkable one.