Scales of Dead

Our Scales of Dead review takes an in-depth look at the latest title in the famed Book of Dead series from Play’n Go. The award-winning developer once again takes us treasure hunting in ancient Egypt, courtesy of this September 2023 release.

Lucky players can claim up to 10,000x in this high volatility slot. You’ll uncover many features to help you achieve this, including wilds, scatters and two free spins games. Read on to discover more.

Scales of Dead Details, RTP and Volatility

The Scales of Dead slot expands on the popular Rich Wilde series, notably Book of Dead, from Play’n Go. As such, it follows the typical 5x3 reel layout with 10 fixed paylines. 

The optimal RTP is pegged at a slightly-above-average value of 96.21%. However, some online casinos use lesser figures of 94.21%, 91.21%, 87.21% and 84.21%. Wherever you opt to play, it’s possible to do so from $0.10 up to $100 per spin.

Scales of Dead features a high level of volatility, awarded a 9/10 rating by the provider, so don’t expect frequent payouts. However, if you do land a winning combination, it can be highly rewarding - up to 10,000x, in fact.

Theme & Graphics in Scales of Dead

Scales of Dead features a typically Egyptian theme. Upon loading the game, you’re immediately greeted by a dramatic score and a sandy background, with the famous pyramids off to the left. The reels quickly cover this scene, but they fit the theme perfectly. 

Expect to see plenty of gold, for instance, while the lower-paying playing card symbols are styled to look like hieroglyphs. There’s a lot of detail in these symbols, especially the representations of Anubis and Horus. 

Another nice touch is the tomb symbol, with its flickering torches burning brightly either side. But then we’ve come to expect this sort of thing from a top-class developer like Play’n GO.

Scales of Dead Slot Features

Play’n Go has incorporated many rewarding features into this slot, including wilds, free spins and a gamble feature. The following section of our Scales of Dead review will now cover these in more detail. 

Regular Symbols

There are ten symbols in total. The traditional playing cards A through 10 represent the lowest-paying regular symbols. You’ll earn between 8x and 15x your total wager whenever you match five on a payline, with 0.4x to 0.5 for three-of-a-kind.

In contrast, the higher-paying symbols are represented by a Cobra, Anubis, Horus and an Ankh. The Cobra pays the highest, supplying up to 500x when you land five. With all of these symbols, you only need two to earn a prize.

Wilds

The tomb featuring a golden snake is the wild symbol. It can substitute any other regular symbol to complete a winning combination. Landing between two and five on the reels earns you 1x, 10x, 100x and 500x your wager, respectively. 

Scatters

The same snake tomb symbol also serves as the Scales of Dead scatter. Landing three or more scatters on the reels triggers the free spins round. 

Free Spins Feature 

This round begins with eight free spins, with one regular symbol transforming into a special expanding symbol. Rack up enough and they’ll expand, covering the reels and triggering bigger payouts. 

Sandstorm Feature 

Landing two scatter symbols during the free spins game activates the Sandstorm bonus feature. Here, you'll receive four Sandstorm free spins, with multipliers of up to 4x. You can retrigger this feature with a further two scatters, allowing up to 30 free spins. 

Gamble Feature 

Our Scales of Dead review won’t be complete without mentioning the optional gamble feature that’s available after every base game win. This simple game of chance requires you to guess elements of the next card drawn. 

If you correctly choose the card’s color, you’ll double your win. In contrast, correctly guessing the suit awards a 4x multiplier. 

How to Play Scales of Dead Online

Enter your preferred bet amount using the plus and minus buttons and press the green button with circular arrows to spin. If you prefer, the autoplay option, directly beside the spin button, facilitates up to 100 hands-free spins. 

Note that winning combinations are created from left to right. Land between two and five symbols on a payline for a winning combination. The golden tomb is the symbol to watch out for, serving as both the wild and scatter.

Try the Scales of Dead Demo for Free before playing for real money

Before you try a game for real money, it’s wise to play our free slots first. This way, you can learn the game’s features and rules without risking your cash. Take advantage of the free Scales of Dead demo today.

Scales of Dead Review – Our Final Verdict

If you’re a fan of “Book of” online slots, Scales of Dead is certainly worth checking out. You’ll feel right at home with the familiar Egyptian theme and well-designed symbols, while the dramatic soundtrack adds an air of excitement and intrigue.

What’s more, there are enough features to keep you entertained, backed up by a solid RTP and perfectly reasonable maximum win of 10,000x. This is better than the famed Book of Dead slot that inspired these copycat games, which only features a 5,000x maximum win. The free spins within a free spins element is also interesting, though no longer unique.

Although it’s possible for casual gamers to play from just $0.10 per spin, the extremely high volatility might not be suitable. However, if you have the bankroll, the potential returns could be worth it; particularly with the exciting gamble feature.

Similar Slot Games

If the Scales of Dead slot sounds enjoyable, you might also enjoy the following games:

• Book of Dead: The inspiration for Scales of Dead, also from Play’n Go. It features a 96.21% RTP and high volatility, but a lower maximum win of 5,000x.
• Legacy of Dead: Another iconic and highly-volatile 5x3 game from Play’n Go with a similar Egyptian theme. It also features a lower 5,000x max win. 
• Book of Ra: This Egyptian-themed title by Novomatic matches the maximum 10,000x but offers a lower RTP of 95.50%.