Scales of Dead (Play'n Go) Slot Review

Scales of Dead: Slot Overview 

Scales of Dead, released by Play’n GO on September 7, 2023, is the studio’s latest entry in their long-running and ever-popular “Book of” style slot series. As with other titles in this tradition, it sends players into the sands of Ancient Egypt, digging through temples, tombs, and golden relics in search of riches — and expanding symbols. 

But unlike many of its predecessors, Scales of Dead attempts to heat things up a little by layering in a Sandstorm Free Spins twist that injects a fresh dose of volatility and big-win potential. With its sleek visuals, a classic 5×3 layout, 10 fixed paylines, and a top prize of 10,000x the stake, this game plays like a spiritual successor to Legacy of Dead, but with a slightly hotter climate — both thematically and mathematically. 

At its core, Scales of Dead is a familiar adventure with some exciting additions, offering that balance of high-risk, high-reward gameplay that has made the “Book of” genre such a staple in online slots.

Design and Graphics 

Scales of Dead doesn’t go wild with its visuals, but it delivers a polished and thematic presentation. The backdrop features distant pyramids, sun-scorched dunes, and a shifting desert haze that reflects the title’s connection to heat, sand, and ancient secrets. It’s clear that Play’n GO opted for a clean and elegant aesthetic here — modern enough to look sharp, but traditional enough to evoke the golden age of Egypt-themed slots. The symbols are a blend of royal card values (10 to A) and highly stylized high-paying Egyptian imagery, including: 

A jackal-headed god (likely Anubis) 

A sacred bird 

The golden ankh 

A cobra 

A richly illustrated scarab 

The premium symbols are vividly colored and frame the game’s high volatility well — they look like they’re worth something. The most impressive is the Tomb symbol, which serves as both wild and scatter and features ornate golden architecture with glowing hieroglyphics. It’s central to both triggering bonuses and unlocking those elusive top-tier wins.

Gameplay Mechanics 

Scales of Dead keeps its base gameplay simple, using a 5-reel, 3-row grid and 10 fixed paylines. Wins occur by landing three or more identical symbols on a payline from left to right, starting from the first reel. Premium symbols, however, only require two for a win. 

What makes the gameplay interesting is its focus on expanding symbols and bonus multipliers, especially once free spins are triggered. There’s no tumble mechanic, no stacking wilds, no cascading reels — it’s all about hitting those special symbols and triggering features at the right time. 

This simplicity allows the high volatility (9/10) to shine. Players can experience long dry spells, but the potential for huge bursts of reward via full-screen expanding symbols keeps the tension alive with every spin.

Sound and Music 

The sound design in Scales of Dead is fittingly mysterious and immersive. You’re treated to a background score filled with windy ambiance, whispers of sand, and ancient Egyptian melodies that play subtly in the background during the base game. 

When wins land or features trigger, the intensity rises with dramatic stingers, rumbling effects, and mystical cues — especially when the Tomb scatter appears. The sound during the Sandstorm Free Spins is particularly notable, where everything feels dialed up with urgent, desert storm-themed audio cues, drawing players deeper into the slot’s atmosphere. 

While the music won’t win awards for innovation, it does a fine job of enhancing the theme and experience without becoming overwhelming.

Bonus Features 

Free Spins 

Triggered by landing 3 or more Tomb scatter symbols, the bonus round awards 8 Free Spins and selects one random regular pay symbol as the Expanding Symbol. When this symbol appears during the round, it expands to cover its entire reel and pays across all paylines, regardless of reel position — a hallmark of “Book of” mechanics. 

This is the classic “Book-style” bonus, and it can pay huge if a high-value symbol is chosen and lands frequently. The round can also be retriggered by landing 3+ Tomb symbols again, awarding 8 additional spins. 

Sandstorm Free Spins 

The real twist in Scales of Dead is the Sandstorm Free Spins feature. During the standard free spins, if 2 or more Tomb scatters land, players are awarded 3 extra Sandstorm Free Spins. Here’s where it gets exciting: 

The same Expanding Symbol from the main free spins is used. 

A random multiplier (x2, x3, or x4) is applied to each expanding win. 

+2 additional Sandstorm Free Spins are awarded if more scatters land during Sandstorm mode. 

Players can earn up to 30 Sandstorm Free Spins per trigger, meaning the bonus can snowball dramatically. 

The addition of the multiplier mechanic is a fantastic tweak that elevates the “Book of” formula, making this more than just another clone. 

Gamble Feature 

After any base game win, players can activate the Gamble feature, allowing them to double or quadruple their prize by guessing the color or suit of a face-down card. This can be repeated up to 5 times in a row, offering a high-risk/high-reward side hustle — especially for smaller base wins.

Betting Options and Payouts 

Scales of Dead is available across all devices and supports a broad bet range from €0.10 to €100 per spin, catering to both cautious and bold players. 

Low-paying symbols (10-A) pay between 8x to 15x the bet for five of a kind. 

High-paying symbols (Anubis, birds, cobras, ankhs) range from 75x to 500x for five. 

The Tomb wild/scatter pays up to 200x your stake for five of a kind and is crucial to unlocking the game’s best potential. 

The theoretical RTP is 96.21%, which is respectable, though it’s worth checking your casino’s version, as multiple RTP settings are common. 

With a maximum win of 10,000x, Scales of Dead offers serious potential, especially when a full-screen Expanding Symbol lands during Sandstorm Free Spins with a 4x multiplier in play.

Conclusion 

Scales of Dead is both a love letter to — and a clever evolution of — the traditional “Book of” formula. While it leans heavily on familiar mechanics, Play’n GO has made a smart move by adding the Sandstorm Free Spins mode with random multipliers, creating just enough differentiation to stand out in a crowded genre. 

Visually polished, technically sound, and capable of delivering high volatility thrills, this is a title best suited for fans of Legacy of Dead, Book of Dead, or Cat Wilde and the Lost Chapter. The bonus game’s layered mechanics — especially the interaction between expanding symbols and random multipliers — can generate genuine excitement, and the 10,000x win cap gives players something worth chasing. 

If you’re looking for refined “Book of” gameplay with a fiery new twist, Scales of Dead is more than worthy of a spin. It may not be Play’n GO’s flashiest release, but it’s a solid, dependable, and occasionally explosive entry into the Egyptian pantheon.