Banquet of Dead

Oddly enough, despite their widespread popularity, it had been some time since a 'book of' slot made its way onto the review desk, and who better to deliver one than the esteemed software designer, Play'n GO? After all, this is the studio behind renowned slots like Book of Dead, Legacy of Dead, and Ghost of Dead, so it's safe to say they have a knack for both books and the afterlife. With so many of these slots flooding the market, it must be a challenge for game developers to find unique titles. For this latest addition, Play'n GO presents Banquet of Dead, a name that might not sound particularly appealing unless you're absolutely ravenous, but let's dive in and see what it has to offer.

Presumably, Banquet of Dead refers to a feast in honor of departed souls rather than anything sinister, and the edible treats scattered throughout the game are of the ordinary variety. Set against the backdrop of Ancient Egypt, a theme Play'n GO is well-versed in, Banquet of Dead boasts familiar visuals reminiscent of Book of Dead, though it lacks a significant visual impact. While there's nothing to fault in terms of aesthetics, there's a lingering sense of déjà vu, having encountered similar themes countless times before.

For some reason, perhaps nostalgia, Banquet of Dead opts to express many values in coins. Players can select a coin value ranging from 1 cent to $/€2 and choose the number of coins to wager, from 1 to 5. This translates to a betting range of 10 cents to $/€100 per spin. True to tradition, Banquet of Dead features a 5-reel, 3-row layout with 10 paylines. Sporting a default RTP of 96%, the game operates on a highly volatile mathematical model.

Exploring the paytable reveals familiar low-paying symbols, represented by fancy 10 to A card ranks, alongside thematic high-paying symbols such as a fan, a plate of food, a crocodile statue, and a Cleopatra-like figure. Low-paying symbols require a minimum of 3 of a kind to form a win, while high-paying symbols offer rewards for as few as 2 matching symbols. Payouts range from 10x to 20x the bet for five matching card ranks to 60 to 150 times the bet for a line of five premium symbols.

Surprisingly, the Hourglass scatter in Banquet of Dead also serves as a wild symbol, substituting for any non-expanded regular pay symbol. Landing 3, 4, or 5 scatter symbols not only awards payouts of 2.5x, 25x, or 150x the bet but also triggers 7 free spins.

During the Free Spins round, a special expanding pay symbol is randomly selected. After evaluating wins, this symbol may expand to cover an entire reel, paying from any position along all paylines. Moreover, hitting 3 or more scatter symbols during the round retriggers additional free spins, with a maximum potential of up to 30 free spins.

In the optional Gamble Feature, players have the opportunity to increase their winnings by guessing the color or suit of a face-down card. Correctly guessing the color doubles the prize, while correctly guessing the suit quadruples it. This feature can be played up to 5 times in a row, with a maximum limit of 2,500 coins.

Play'n GO struck gold with Book of Dead, and since then, they've revisited the concept numerous times, each with its own unique twist. While Banquet of Dead may not be a groundbreaking masterpiece, it certainly stands out for several reasons. One of its most compelling aspects is its exceptionally high winning potential of up to 35,000 times the bet, making it a tantalizing prospect for high-stakes players. Although Banquet of Dead may not offer the same level of excitement as Legacy of Dead, its unique mechanics, such as removing low-paying symbols during free spins, have the potential to deliver thrilling gameplay experiences.

• Title: Banquet of Dead
• Developer: Play'n GO
• Reels: 5
• Rows: 3
• Paylines: 10
• RTP: 96%
• Max Win: 35,000x
• Volatility: High
• Min/Max Bet: 0.01/100
• Release Date: March 7, 2024