Book of Dead vs Legacy of Dead vs Book of Ra: The Book Slot Identity Crisis
Three “book slots,” two studios, and one genuine identity crisis. Book of Ra (Novomatic) invented the format in 2005. Book of Dead (Play’n GO) adapted the expanding-symbol format in 2016 around its own Rich Wilde explorer character. Legacy of Dead (also Play’n GO) is the in-house sequel that dropped the explorer entirely. Here’s who actually made what.
Where to Play Book Slots
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Reviewed by Brian TaylorPublished: August 2026
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Book of Dead vs Legacy of Dead vs Book of Ra: head to head
| Book of Ra Deluxe | Book of Dead | Legacy of Dead | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Studio | Novomatic | Play’n GO | Play’n GO |
| First released | 2008 (Deluxe; original 2005) | 2016 | 2020 |
| Layout | 5×3, 10 paylines | 5×3, 10 paylines | 5×3, 10 paylines |
| RTP | 94.26 to 95.50% (source/build dependent) | 96.21% headline build; reduced builds documented | 96.58% headline build; reduced builds down to 84.55% documented |
| Max win | 5,000x | 5,000x | 5,000x |
| Core mechanic | Special symbol expands to fill a reel | Special symbol expands to fill a reel | Stacking expanding symbols, a genuine upgrade |
| Theme character | Generic explorer, no name | Play’n GO’s Rich Wilde explorer | No explorer at all, straight Egyptian theme |
Book of Ra came first and is owned by an entirely different studio, Novomatic, not Play’n GO. Book of Dead is Play’n GO’s own take on the format, built around its own licensed Rich Wilde character. Legacy of Dead is Play’n GO’s later, in-house sequel that keeps the mechanic but drops Rich Wilde entirely, and actually upgrades the core feature to stacking expanding symbols.
Who actually made what (the identity crisis, resolved)
This is the confusion in one sentence: Book of Ra and Book of Dead are NOT related, despite looking and playing almost identically. Novomatic released the original book-format slot in 2005 (Book of Ra), and it became one of the most-copied slot mechanics in the industry. Play’n GO built its own version over a decade later with Book of Dead, adapting the expanding-symbol idea around Play’n GO’s own Rich Wilde explorer character, a deliberate homage, not a sequel or a shared-studio product. Legacy of Dead then came from Play’n GO itself, reusing Book of Dead’s engine but removing Rich Wilde altogether and upgrading the core mechanic to stacking expanding symbols, which is a genuine gameplay improvement rather than just a reskin.
If you’ve been searching for “the book slot” and landed on any of these three, know which one you’re actually looking at: Novomatic’s original concept (Book of Ra), Play’n GO’s licensed homage (Book of Dead), or Play’n GO’s own mechanically-upgraded spin-off (Legacy of Dead).
Verdict by player type
| If you prioritise… | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Highest published default RTP | Legacy of Dead | 96.58% headline build, but reduced configurations down to 84.55% are documented, check the installed paytable |
| The genre’s original lineage | Book of Ra Deluxe | Novomatic’s 2008 Deluxe edition follows the 2005 original that established the format |
| The named explorer and widest character family | Book of Dead | Rich Wilde connects it to Play’n GO’s broader explorer series |
| The strongest expansion mechanic | Legacy of Dead | Stacking expanding symbols can place several special symbols across retriggered free spins |
The wider families
Each of these has its own family worth exploring separately. Book of Dead is the anchor of Play’n GO’s Rich Wilde sister games guide, which covers Tome of Madness, Shield of Athena, Amulet of the Dead and more. Legacy of Dead has its own dedicated guide untangling its Play’n GO Book-of-Dead-adjacent offshoots. Book of Ra’s own Novomatic family guide covers Deluxe, Magic and Deluxe 6.
FAQs
Are Book of Ra and Book of Dead the same game?
No, they’re made by entirely different studios (Novomatic and Play’n GO respectively) and aren’t related despite the similar format.
Is Legacy of Dead part of the Rich Wilde series?
No. It’s a Play’n GO in-house spin-off that reuses the mechanic but drops the licensed Rich Wilde character entirely.
Which has the best RTP?
Legacy of Dead has the highest published headline build at 96.58%, ahead of Book of Dead at 96.21%; both have reduced configurations, so check the installed paytable.
Which came first?
Book of Ra, originally released by Novomatic in 2005, over a decade before Book of Dead existed.
How this comparison was researched
This is documented editorial research, not a real-money play test. Figures were reconciled against the linked provider material and the corresponding SlotsLike family guides on 10 July 2026. RTP is a theoretical long-run figure and may vary by installed build; availability at one operator is not inferred from a supplier licence.
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Sources & Verification
- Play’n GO: Rich Wilde and the Book of Dead, release date, layout and expanding-symbol rules.
- Play’n GO: Legacy of Dead launch, 2 January 2020 release and studio attribution.
- Greentube Q1 2018 catalogue, Book of Ra Deluxe layout, published 95.10% configuration and expanding-symbol feature.
- UKGC account 55949 (Play’n GO Malta Limited) and account 45352 (NOVOMATIC AG).
Selectable RTP ranges and ceilings are cross-checked against the site’s published Rich Wilde, Legacy of Dead and Book of Ra family records. Where the exact installed build is unknown, the table says so rather than treating one configuration as universal.