Book Of The Fallen Pros & Cons
Quick breakdown before we dive deeper. The choice mechanic is cool, but the 5,000x max win feels limited compared to modern slots offering 10,000x or more.
- 96.5% RTP beats industry average
- You choose your expanding symbol in bonus
- Super Spin Ante Bet adds base game action
- Min bet £0.10 suits casual players
- Bonus retriggerable indefinitely
- 5,000x max win is low by 2025 standards
- Same Egyptian theme everyone's tired of
- High volatility = brutal dry spells
- RTP versions vary - could be as low as 94.5%
- No progressive jackpot
Book of the Fallen Slot Review: John Hunter's Egyptian Adventure
Another Egyptian tomb, another John Hunter adventure. Book of the Fallen is developed by Pragmatic Play, and honestly, it looks like every other "book" slot you've played. But here's the thing - it's got one twist that makes it different. You get to choose your own expanding symbol during free spins instead of the game picking it randomly. We tested it at SlotsGamblers to see if this choice mechanic is enough to save it from being just another Book of Dead clone. This game has a 5/5 high volatility rating and a default RTP of 96.50%, and the maximum amount you can win on Book of Fallen is 5000 times your bet. The betting range is flexible, starting at £0.10, but don't expect revolutionary gameplay here. It's the same formula with a small but meaningful upgrade.
Released in late 2021, this slot follows the classic 5x3 layout with 10 paylines. The standout feature? Super Spin Ante Bet lets you activate expanding symbols in the base game for 10x your stake. That's actually clever, but it comes at a cost.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Developer | Pragmatic Play |
| Release Date | November 2021 |
| Reels X Rows | 5x3 |
| Paylines | 10 (fixed) |
| RTP | 96.50% (default) |
| Volatility Level | High (5/5) |
| Min Bet | £0.10 |
| Max Bet | £100 |
| Max Win Potential | 5,000x stake |
| Hit Frequency | 1 in 2,118,644 spins (max win) |
| Default Bet Range | £0.10 - £100 |
| Mobile Compatible | Yes (HTML5) |
Symbols & Payouts
10 symbols total, split between premiums and card royals. Egyptian-themed icons dominate the paytable. The game's scatter symbol is also the wild symbol, doing double duty as your key to free spins.
💎 John Hunter Symbol - High Value
John Hunter, the slot's premium symbol, pays 500x for five of a kind on a payline. He's dressed in his explorer gear and looks ready for adventure. This is your money symbol - when he expands during free spins and fills the screen, that's when you hit the 5,000x max win. He's the symbol you want to select as your expanding icon, though he appears less frequently than lower-paying symbols. The design is detailed with good animation.
👑 Pharaoh Symbol - High Value
The golden pharaoh mask pays 200x the bet for five of a kind. It's beautifully designed with intricate gold detailing and captures that ancient Egyptian royalty vibe. Second-best premium symbol after John Hunter. When it lands, you know you're getting a decent payout. Appears more frequently than John Hunter but less than the medium-value symbols—a good middle-ground choice for expanding symbols if you want a balance between frequency and payout.
🐺 Anubis Symbol - Medium Value
The jackal-headed god of the underworld pays 75x the bet for five matches. The black-and-gold color scheme looks sharp against the background. Lands fairly often and contributes to keeping your balance alive between bigger hits. Design is clean, with the distinctive canine head instantly recognizable. Not the best expanding symbol choice, but it'll appear more frequently than premiums during free spins.
⚱️ Ankh Symbol - Medium Value
The golden ankh (Egyptian symbol of life) also pays 75x the bet for five of a kind. Shiny gold design that catches the eye when it lands. Same payout as Anubis, so it's another medium-value option. Appears with similar frequency to Anubis. The symbol is smaller and simpler in design compared to character symbols, but it fits the theme perfectly.
🃏 Ace (A) - Low Value
A symbols are valued at 15x the bet for five of a kind. Standard playing card symbol with Egyptian styling. These show up constantly and keep small wins ticking over between dead spins. The design is simple but fits the theme. Not worth selecting as your expanding symbol - way too low value.
🃏 King (K) - Low Value
K symbols are valued at 15x the bet—another royal card with the same payout as the Ace. You'll see these all the time in the base game. They're filler symbols that pad out the paytable but won't excite anyone. The design is a basic card royal with a slight Egyptian flair.
🃏 Queen (Q) - Low Value
Q symbols are valued at 10x the bet for five matches. Lower payout than A and K. These are your most common winning combinations. Design matches the other card royals - functional but forgettable. Skip these completely when choosing expanding symbols.
🃏 Jack (J) - Low Value
J symbols are valued at 10x the bet. Same deal as Queen - frequent but low-paying. You'll rack up tiny wins with these between bonus rounds. Nothing special about the design, just a standard slot filler.
🃏 Ten (10) - Low Value
Ten symbols are valued at 10x the bet for five of a kind. Lowest-paying regular symbol. Shows up constantly, pays basically nothing. Design is minimal - just the number with slight theming. Completely ignore this for expanding symbol selection.
📖 Book Symbol - Special (Wild & Scatter)
The golden book with the Eye of Ra is your key to everything. The book symbol is both the scatter and wild symbol of the game and can replace any regular symbol on the slot. Collecting 3-5 book symbols on the reel comes with a reward of 200x the bet. It triggers free spins when you land 3+ anywhere on the reels. As a wildcard, it substitutes for all pay symbols. The design is ornate with gold detailing and mystical glow effects. This is the most critical symbol in the game - it's your ticket to the bonus round where the real money happens.
| Symbol | 5 of a Kind | 4 of a Kind | 3 of a Kind | 2 of a Kind | Special Properties |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
John Hunter
|
500x | 100x | 25x | - | Top premium symbol |
|
Pharaoh
|
200x | 50x | 10x | - | High premium |
|
Anubis
|
75x | 25x | 5x | - | Medium premium |
|
Ankh
|
75x | 25x | 5x | - | Medium premium |
|
Ace (A)
|
15x | 5x | 2x | - | Low value |
|
King (K)
|
15x | 5x | 2x | - | Low value |
|
Queen (Q)
|
10x | 4x | 2x | - | Low value |
|
Jack (J)
|
10x | 4x | 2x | - | Low value |
|
Ten (10)
|
10x | 4x | 2x | - | Low value |
|
Book
|
200x | 20x | 2x | - | Wild + Scatter, triggers free spins |
Bonus Features
Two main features here - the standard free spins bonus and the Super Spin Ante Bet. The free spins are where you'll make your money. The Super Spin is interesting but pricey.
| Feature | Trigger Method | Description | Max Potential Win | Frequency | Re-trigger |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Free Spins
|
3+ Book scatters | 10 Free Spins with manually selected expanding symbol | 5,000x stake | Medium (1 in 200-300 spins approx) | Yes (indefinitely) |
|
Super Spin Ante Bet
|
Buy for 10x stake | Choose expanding symbol for base game spin | 5,000x stake | On demand | N/A (single spin feature) |
|
Bonus Buy
|
Pay 100x stake | Trigger Free Spins Bonus for 100x stake, RTP 96.48% | 5,000x stake | On demand | N/A |
RTP & Volatility
96.50% RTP is above average, and high (5/5) volatility means infrequent but potentially large payouts. Max win is 5,000x your bet.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
|
Min Bet
|
£0.10 |
|
Max Bet
|
£100 |
|
Max Win
|
£500,000 (at max bet) |
|
RTP %
|
96.50% (default) / 96.49% (Super Spin) / 96.48% (Bonus Buy) |
|
Volatility
|
High (5/5) |
|
Hit Rate (Max Win)
|
1 in 2,118,644 spins |
Mobile
Works perfectly on mobile. The Book of the Fallen slot was developed with HTML5 so that you can spin it on your Android or iOS mobile phone. Or, if you want to play it on a bigger screen, you can use a tablet; it scales nicely—no lag, no issues, loads instantly.
Tips
Choose John Hunter as your expanding symbol
Yeah, he's rare, but when he hits during free spins, that's where the 5,000x max win lives. Lower symbols appear more but pay way less.
Skip the Super Spin Ante Bet unless you're flush
Paying 10x per spin for expanding symbols in the base game is expensive and rarely worth it. Save your money for free spins.
Check the RTP version before playing
SlotsGamblers continuously checks this. Casinos can offer 94.5% versions instead of the 96.5% default. That's a massive difference over hundreds of spins.
Budget for high volatility
Bring at least 100x your bet size as a bankroll. This game can go 50+ spins without a decent hit, so don't expect your money to last if you're betting too big.
Retriggers are your friend
The bonus round can retrigger indefinitely. If you hit 3+ books during free spins, you get another 10 spins with the same expanding symbol. That's where big wins stack up.
Similar Games
If you like Book of the Fallen, try these other Egyptian book slots:
Book of Dead (Play'n GO)
The original that everyone copies. Same expanding symbol mechanic during free spins, but you don't get to choose which symbol expands. Slightly lower RTP at 96.21% but smoother gameplay.
Legacy of Dead (Play'n GO)
Sequel to Book of Dead with similar mechanics but higher volatility and a 5,000x max win. Features win both ways and expand symbols.
John Hunter and the Book of Tut (Pragmatic Play)
Previous John Hunter book slot from the same developer. Nearly identical stats with 96.50% RTP and 5,000x max win, but you can't choose your expanding symbol.
Book of Gold: Symbol Choice (Playson)
Another slot where you choose your expanding symbol during free spins. More colorful visuals, but less polished than Book of the Fallen. Same 5,000x max win potential.
Play Responsibly - 18+ Only
Gambling should be entertaining and fun. Remember that slots are games of chance, and there's no guaranteed way to win. Never gamble more than you can afford to lose, and always set limits for yourself. If you feel gambling is becoming a problem, please seek help immediately.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
How do you choose your expanding symbol in Book of the Fallen free spins?
When free spins begin, players have a decision to make – with a choice of any expanding symbol. The game pauses after you trigger the bonus, and you manually select which symbol you want to expand. Pick wisely - high-value symbols pay more but appear less often.
What's the difference between Book of the Fallen and Book of the Dead?
The main difference is that you choose your expanding symbol in Book of the Fallen instead of the game randomly selecting it. RTP is slightly higher at 96.5% versus Book of Dead's 96.21%. Gameplay is basically identical otherwise.
Is the Super Spin Ante Bet worth the 10x cost?
Not really, honestly. Wins are calculated according to the regular base bet, not the 10x increased value, so you're paying 10x for a feature that might not even trigger a big win. Save your money for the actual bonus round.
Can you retrigger free spins in Book of the Fallen?
Three or more Book scatters will award 10 Free Spins, which can be indefinitely retriggered. Land 3+ books during your free spins, and you get another 10 spins with the same expanding symbol you chose.
Why is the max win only 5,000x when newer slots offer way more?
It's Pragmatic Play's standard for book slots. They cap most of their Egyptian-themed games at 5,000x. Feels outdated compared to modern slots hitting 10,000x or 20,000x, but that's what you get with this series.
What's the best symbol to choose as your expanding icon?
John Hunter at 500x for five of a kind is the max win option. SlotsGamblers tested both high and low symbols - John Hunter is way more volatile but hits harder. Pharaoh at 200x is a decent middle ground if you want more frequent expansions.
Does Book of the Fallen have better RTP than other Pragmatic Play slots?
96.50% RTP is above average compared to many Pragmatic slots, sitting at 96% or lower. But watch out - Pragmatic Play will release Book of Fallen with several RTP models, including 95.50%, 94.50%, and possibly lower. Check before you play.
How often does the free spins bonus trigger?
Roughly every 200-300 spins, based on our testing, but high volatility means it varies wildly. We've gone 400+ spins dry, then hit it twice in 50 spins. That's just how volatile slots work.