Book of Ra Review
If you love action, adventure and the the beautiful mystery of the Ancient Egyptian world, then you’ll love the Book of Ra game from Novomatic.
This slots title has enjoyed huge success since its initial release in 2005. And slots fans all over the world still list it as one of their favourites of all time.
So, join us today for our Book of Ra slot review. We’re going to pick this title apart and tell you absolutely everything you need to know about this iconic slots game.
Real money casinos for Book of Ra
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Playing Book of Ra
In this review, we’re going to give you the rundown on how to play Book of Ra. As well as how the bonus features work and how to get the most out of your gameplay. Plus, where you can find free spins to use at a Book of Ra casino.
Whether you’re playing for real cash, or for fun on the Book of Ra demo version, this epic slots extravaganza from Novomatic has more than enough to keep you entertained for hours.
So, without further ado, let’s get stuck in.
Paylines and Paytable
This game follows the classic casino format of 5 reels and 3 rows. Given that Novomatic are one of the biggest providers of traditional casino games machines, it makes sense that their online slots games carry on the tried and tested formula. And fans love the simplistic and straightforward approach they’ve taken with this title.
Novomatic’s Book of Ra is played by matching winning combinations of symbols across the reels, either horizontally or diagonally, from left to right.
The symbols have different values; with the handsome explorer being worth the most, and the eponymous book of the sun god, Ra, letting you access the free spins rounds. Then you also have a beautiful array of Ancient Egyptian symbols, such as scarab beetles and a sarcophagus, plus the usual letter symbols you find on every slots game.
These all vary in value and we’ve detailed what each of them mean in the Symbols section below.
The game has 10 paylines. And you can choose to cover all of them, or select the amount of lines you wish you bet on. This is great for low bettors, who like to play a little more strategically, rather than covering all lines every time.
When you open the game, you’ll see a mini dashboard at the bottom of the screen. This is where you can select the paylines you want to bet on. As well as how much you’d like to bet on each spin.
Then it’s time to play. Being a high volatility game, it means that it pays out very generous prizes. However, they don’t come along as often as with some other titles. This high volatility is great for players who enjoy a long game.
Wager limits on Book of Ra
One of the great things about this game is the variety of bets you can place. This is because you can choose the amount of paylines you want to cover with each spin, from 1 to 10.
Minimum bets start at just one coin, which has a value of 4p in GBP. So to cover all 10 paylines, you’ll be looking at 40p per spin. Whereas, if you want to up the stakes, literally, then the max bet is £40 per spin.
So, with a possible 5,000x win, you could be looking at a cool £200,000 Book of Ra jackpot.
What’s Book of Ra like to play?
Becoming a Book of Ra winner might take a little bit of patience, thanks to the high volatility of the game. That said, there’s a lot going on in this game. And it’s not all about the big wins. What makes this game so classic is that punters love the gameplay, which is fun and ever-changing.
With so many special symbols, combos and features, you can spend hours glued to this game without being too concerned about landing the jackpot.
So what makes this game so good? Let’s take a closer look.
Theme and Graphics
First up, the graphics on this game are fun and retro. They’re not as sharp and crisp as more modern-day titles you’ll find at the best slot sites. But this game has managed to stay at the top of the pile, despite being more than 15 years old. A testament to classic imagery standing the test of time.
The theme of Ancient Egypt is done well here. All the symbolism you’d expect is present and accounted for, such as scarab beetles, sarcophaguses, spectacular pillars and golden artefacts scattered around. And all set on a pitch-black, Egyptian desert backdrop. Add in some casino-like bright reels and arcade sounds, and you’ve got a strange mix of old meets new. Which, somehow, works really well!
One of the best things about the Book of Ra slots game is its ability to harness all the imagery of Ancient Egypt, and tie it together with traditional land-based casino stylings, to create a crazy, unique action-adventure game. This is all thanks to Novomatic’s legendary skills when it comes to producing some of the best games in the gambling industry.
Symbols in Book of Ra
There are lots of fun symbols in the Book of Ra slot; from the classic letters you find on most games, to fun and quirky special images that equal free spins and big wins.
So, to give you a better idea of how to get the most out of your game, let’s look at each of the symbols individually:
- Q, J, 10: match 3 of the same symbol for 5x win. 4 matches = 25x and 5 matches = 100x win
- K, A: match 3 of the same symbol for a 5x win, 4 = 40x and 5 = 150x win
- Scarab beetles and Ra, the sun god: find 2 of the same for 5x win. Find 3, 4 or 5 for 30x, 100x and 750x win, respectively
- Sarcophagus: match 2, 3, 4 or 5 times for 5x, 40x, 400x or 2,000x win, respectively
- Explorer: find 2, 3, 4 or 5 for 10x, 100x, 1,000x and 5,000x win, respectively
- Book of Ra: between 2x and 1,000x win. Plus, 10 free spins rounds
Book of Ra Features
The Book of Ra slot machine game has lots of special features, but lacks a proper bonus game. Instead, Novomatic have chosen to concentrate on free spins, which isn’t such a bad thing, in our humble opinion.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at exactly what bonus features this title comes with.
Bonus games
As we’ve mentioned, this game doesn’t have a unique bonus game like some other slots out there. However, it’s better to do one thing well than to do many things poorly. And Novomatic have put all their eggs in the free spins basket – so to speak.
Therefore, while there isn’t a bonus game, as such, there are lots of chances for free spins in the base game. And it’s in these free spins rounds where you can see your treasure start to pile up.
Free spins games
The free spins feature is triggered by finding 3 or more scatter symbols. The scatter symbol is the Ra book itself, which sparkles beautifully on the reels.
Once you’ve landed your scatters, you’ll be given up to 10 free spins rounds. Use these rounds to try and snatch as many explorer symbols as you can. As these are the key to unlocking some serious cash!
Gamble feature
A fun added extra to this game is the gamble feature. This is triggered when you win any amount in the base game. And you can choose whether or not you’d like to gamble this amount.
If you want to gamble, you’ll be taken to another screen with a deck of playing cards on it. The rules are simple enough: guess if the card drawn from the deck will be red of black.
If you get it correct, you will double your prize. But if you get it wrong, say goodbye to your winnings from that spin!
Book of Ra free spins offers
Aside from the free spins offered throughout the game, you can also snatch some bonus spins from the casino sites themselves. If you’re a new or existing customer at an online casino, there are plenty of ways to grab some free spins to use on this game, as well as many others.
New player free spins
As a new customer at a casino, you’ll be offered a welcome package. These often include free spins as part of the deal. And one of the most popular sign-up offers is a free spins no deposit bonus. This is when the casino will give you a number of free spins, without you having to make a deposit with them. Sounds awesome, right?
The one thing to remember is that, with no deposit offers, the rewards are quite low in value. But they’re not to be sniffed at! For no financial risk at all, you could snap up a decent handful of bonus spins – 10 to 20 being the UK average.
However, if you want to get lots of extra spins, then you should consider a deposit bonus. This is where your rewards will be unlocked once you’ve made a deposit with the casino site. Because you’re now paying into the site, these deals are always a lot more lucrative. And some sites have been known to give away well over 100 free spins to their new players.
Existing player free spins
If you’re already a customer at an online casino, then you could also find some free spins to play with. Slot games are the most popular offering on casino sites, so bonus spins are given away frequently, to keep customers happy.
If you’re signed up to the casino’s mailing list, then check your inbox for any spins offers that the casino has put out. Or, simply visit the promo page on the casino’s website. This will tell you about any spins bonuses they have on. As well as when the next ones are coming up.
But remember, as with any casino deal, always make sure you read and understand the T&Cs before signing up.
Progressive jackpots
The ‘Ra’ series has produced many instalments of this popular slot. However, the original does not have a progressive jackpot. That said, the max price of 5,000x your original stake is still pretty generous.
However, if you love progressives, then check out the ‘Jackpot’ version of the game. Perhaps you’ll become one of the mighty few Book of Ra Jackpot winners!
Book of Ra RTP
The original Book of Ra slot RTP is 96.12%. This means that the games producer, Novomatic, predict that you should see that percentage of your original stake come back to you over a period of gameplay.
RTP refers to return-to-player. And punters love high RTP games, as they give them a better chance of walking away with a win. Of course, we hope you take out much more than you put in. But with a high RTP, you can still more or less break even by playing a game for an extended period.
Anything over 96% is considered a decent RTP for a slots game. So this title sits happily just above the average.
Advantages and Disadvantages
- Classic graphics and solid gameplay
- Fantastic free spins rounds
- Fun gamble feature and autospins
- No extra bonus game
- No progressive jackpot
Our rating of Book of Ra
To summarise, this game caters to a lot of tastes. If you love traditional casino slots, then you’ll love the vintage graphics and arcade sounds. But, if you like lots of variety – the type you get with more modern slots – then there’s still plenty here to scratch that itch.
All in all, a great title. It’s no surprise that Book of Ra slot UK has become one of Novomatic’s most popular games. And has inspired countless copies from other providers.
Our rating
Theme and design: 4/5
RTP: 3/5
Originality: 4/5
Features: 4/5
Overall rating: 4/5
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FAQ
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