Review of Return of the Dead Slot by Pragmatic Play
Return of the Dead is an online slot game from Pragmatic Play that takes players on an exciting and mysterious journey into the ancient world of Egypt. With a captivating theme inspired by ancient Egypt, high-quality graphics, and a solid selection of features, this slot offers an immersive experience filled with adventure, treasure, and fortune. In this extensive review, we’ll explore everything there is to know about Return of the Dead, including its theme, game mechanics, features, payouts, RTP, volatility, and more.
Overview and Theme
As the name suggests, Return of the Dead takes players deep into the tombs of ancient Egypt, where they’ll encounter mysterious symbols, treasures, and ancient gods. The game’s theme revolves around the allure of Egyptian mythology, which has always been a popular choice for slot developers. The central plot of the game focuses on the discovery of long-lost riches hidden inside ancient tombs, with the player trying to unlock the secrets of these treasures.
Visually, Return of the Dead takes inspiration from the grandeur of ancient Egypt. The reels are set against a backdrop of a dark tomb illuminated by torches, with the stone walls adorned with hieroglyphics and golden treasures. The symbols themselves include traditional Egyptian icons, such as the Eye of Horus, scorpions, pharaoh masks, and gods like Anubis and Osiris. The game’s colors are rich, with gold and dark tones dominating the design, creating a sense of mystery and hidden wealth.
The soundtrack adds an extra layer of immersion with ambient sounds reminiscent of ancient Egyptian rituals, with drum beats and mystical tunes. This audio-visual experience contributes to the overall excitement, drawing players into the heart of the game.
Game Mechanics and Setup
Reels and Paylines
Return of the Dead features a 5-reel, 3-row layout, which is quite standard for most modern video slots. There are a total of 10 fixed paylines, which means that you must land matching symbols on one of the paylines to score a win. These paylines run from left to right, and winning combinations are formed by landing at least three matching symbols in adjacent positions on a payline.
The simplicity of the 10 fixed paylines makes the game easy to follow, even for new players, while still offering plenty of opportunities to win. This setup ensures that the game is both accessible and engaging, with consistent winning potential throughout the base game and bonus features.
Symbols and Payouts
The symbols in Return of the Dead are all inspired by the rich world of ancient Egypt, and they are divided into low-paying and high-paying categories.
- Low-paying symbols: The low-paying symbols include the standard card symbols (10, J, Q, K, A), which are adorned with Egyptian motifs. These symbols provide smaller payouts, but they appear more frequently on the reels.
- High-paying symbols: The high-paying symbols are represented by iconic Egyptian treasures and deities, such as the Eye of Horus, golden pharaoh masks, and scarabs. These symbols offer much higher payouts, and landing multiple high-paying symbols on the reels can result in significant rewards.
- Wild symbol: The Wild symbol in Return of the Dead is represented by the mummy (the pharaoh’s tomb) and acts as a substitute for all other symbols, except the Scatter, to help form winning combinations. Wilds are especially useful for completing paylines, increasing the likelihood of landing a win.
- Scatter symbol: The Scatter symbol is the golden sarcophagus. This symbol plays a key role in triggering the Free Spins feature, one of the main attractions of the game. Scatter symbols do not need to be aligned on a payline to trigger a win, as they only need to appear anywhere on the reels.
Bonus Features
Free Spins Feature
The most exciting feature in Return of the Dead is the Free Spins feature, which is triggered by landing three or more Scatter symbols (the golden sarcophagus) anywhere on the reels. The number of Scatters you land will determine how many Free Spins you receive:
- 3 Scatters = 10 Free Spins
- 4 Scatters = 12 Free Spins
- 5 Scatters = 15 Free Spins
Once you activate the Free Spins, the game takes an exciting turn. Before the Free Spins round begins, you’ll be presented with a special expanding symbol, which will be randomly chosen from the list of standard symbols. This symbol will expand to cover the entire reel during the Free Spins round, potentially leading to massive wins when it appears across multiple reels. The expanding symbol greatly increases the chances of landing a winning combination and contributes to higher payouts during the bonus round.
During the Free Spins feature, you can also retrigger additional free spins by landing more Scatter symbols on the reels. This adds an extra layer of excitement, as the Free Spins round can continue to deliver big rewards if you manage to land more Scatters and expand the special symbol.
Expanding Symbol Mechanic
The Expanding Symbol feature is one of the most significant aspects of Return of the Dead. This feature adds a level of unpredictability to the Free Spins round, as you don’t know which symbol will be chosen to expand before the round begins. The special symbol will cover the entire reel when it lands, leading to potentially massive payouts when multiple symbols land on a payline.
The fact that the expanding symbol can be any of the high-paying or lower-paying symbols means that you are always in with a chance of securing big wins during the Free Spins round. The Eye of Horus, pharaoh masks, and scarabs are some of the high-paying symbols that can provide significant rewards when they expand.
RTP and Volatility
Return of the Dead comes with a 96.71% RTP (Return to Player), which is considered to be above average for online slots. The RTP indicates the expected return of the game over a long period of play, meaning that the game is relatively fair in terms of payouts.
The game is classified as high volatility, which means that while wins may not come frequently, they can be very large when they do. The Free Spins feature, Expanding Symbols, and the potential for retriggering free spins all contribute to the game’s high volatility. Players who enjoy chasing big payouts will find the high volatility of Return of the Dead appealing, although it may not be the best option for those seeking frequent, smaller wins.
Betting Range and Payouts
The betting range in Return of the Dead is designed to accommodate a wide variety of players. The minimum bet starts at 0.10 credits per spin, making it accessible for players with smaller bankrolls. The maximum bet can go up to 100 credits per spin, which caters to high rollers who prefer to bet large amounts for higher potential payouts.
The maximum payout in Return of the Dead is 5,000x your stake, which can be achieved by landing multiple high-paying symbols, such as the Eye of Horus, across the reels, combined with the Expanding Symbol feature during the Free Spins round. This high payout potential makes the game attractive to players looking for a chance to hit big wins.
Mobile Compatibility
Like most slots developed by Pragmatic Play, Return of the Dead is fully optimized for mobile play. Whether you are using a smartphone or tablet, the game runs smoothly across all devices. The graphics scale well on smaller screens, and the game remains responsive, making it a great choice for players who enjoy playing on the go.
The user interface is well-suited for mobile play, with easily accessible controls for adjusting your bet, spinning the reels, and activating the bonus features. The game retains its captivating soundtrack and visual style on mobile devices, providing a seamless experience for players across different platforms.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Exciting Free Spins feature with Expanding Symbols, which can lead to massive wins.
- High RTP of 96.71% and a 5,000x maximum payout, offering a good return on investment and potential for big rewards.
- High volatility provides the opportunity for large payouts, ideal for players who prefer high-risk, high-reward gameplay.
- Re-triggerable Free Spins add extra excitement and the potential for even bigger wins.
- Simple mechanics and 10 fixed paylines, making it easy to play for both newcomers and experienced players.
- Fully mobile-optimized, providing a seamless experience on smartphones and tablets.
Cons:
- High volatility may not appeal to players who prefer more frequent, smaller wins.
- The Expanding Symbol mechanic is random, which means you may not always get the most profitable symbol as your expanding symbol during Free Spins.
- Base game can feel slow: Without triggering the Free Spins or Expanding Symbol features, the base game can be relatively less exciting.
Final Verdict
Return of the Dead is a thrilling slot with a compelling Egyptian theme, solid bonus features, and the potential for massive payouts. The Free Spins feature with Expanding Symbols creates a dynamic and exciting experience, offering the chance for big wins. The high RTP and 5,000x maximum payout make it an attractive choice for players seeking high-reward gameplay. With its mystical Egyptian atmosphere, high volatility, and exciting bonus features, Return of the Dead is an excellent choice for players who enjoy a blend of mystery, adventure, and treasure hunting in a visually stunning package.
The game may not appeal to those who prefer lower-risk gameplay or more frequent payouts, but for high-risk, high-reward players, Return of the Dead offers an exciting opportunity to uncover hidden riches and explore the wonders of ancient Egypt.