Slots Like Pilgrim of Dead

Pilgrim of Dead separates itself from the rest of Play’n GO’s Dead series through sticky expanding symbols that lock onto reels for the entire bonus duration and a 10,000x win cap that doubles the standard book slot ceiling, and the slots that come closest to replicating that escalating bonus structure are Legacy of Dead, Scroll of Dead, and Ghost of Dead. All three run the same 5×3, 10-payline framework with expanding symbol free spins, but each one handles symbol behaviour inside the bonus differently enough to matter.

Best slots like Pilgrim of Dead: Legacy of Dead, Scroll of Dead, and Ghost of Dead. Provider: Play’n GO. RTP: 96.20%. Max win: 10,000x.

The gameplay fingerprint of Pilgrim of Dead

Pilgrim of Dead uses a 5×3 grid with 10 fixed paylines and a tomb symbol that functions as both wild and scatter – the same dual-role mechanic found across every Dead series slot. Three or more tomb scatters trigger just 5 free spins, which is half the standard allocation in most book slots. Before the bonus begins, a random symbol is selected to become the expanding symbol, and the player can reject that choice once and receive a different random symbol. The defining mechanic is what happens after expansion: once the chosen symbol expands on a reel, it shrinks back to 1×1 size but becomes sticky, locked in position for every remaining free spin. This means any reel that triggers an expansion will contain that symbol permanently, building compound value across the bonus. Retriggering adds another 5 spins, up to a maximum of 30 total. Premium symbol values are deliberately lower than other Dead series entries to offset the sticky mechanic’s accumulating power, and the maximum win reaches 10,000x stake at 96.20% default RTP.

Play’n GO slots ship with multiple RTP configurations and operators choose which version to run, so always verify the RTP inside the game’s help file before playing.

Legacy of Dead

• Mechanical overlap: Legacy of Dead shares Pilgrim of Dead’s core concept of expanding symbols that accumulate across retriggered bonus rounds. Both slots reward extended free spins sessions where multiple symbols end up active simultaneously, creating the same escalating tension as the bonus progresses.
• Where they diverge: The structural overlap sits in the accumulation mechanic, but the execution differs. Legacy of Dead adds a new expanding symbol with each retrigger rather than making existing ones sticky. Symbol values remain standard, and the max win stays at 5,000x – half of Pilgrim’s ceiling. Initial free spins are 10 instead of 5.
• Best for: Players who want Pilgrim of Dead’s building momentum but prefer a longer initial bonus allocation and standard symbol values rather than the compressed 5-spin format.
• Drawback: Expanding symbols reset between spins rather than sticking, so you cannot build compound reel coverage the way Pilgrim of Dead allows. Each spin starts fresh.

Scroll of Dead

• Mechanical overlap: Same Dead series DNA with scatter-triggered expanding symbol free spins on a 5×3 base grid. The bonus trigger frequency and base game rhythm are comparable to Pilgrim of Dead, and both slots push the win ceiling above the standard 5,000x book slot cap.
• Where they diverge: Where Pilgrim of Dead adds sticky symbols, Scroll of Dead adds a 6th reel during free spins. That extra column expands the grid to 6×3 and increases payout potential to 7,500x stake. The approach to boosting win potential is structural rather than behavioural – more reels instead of persistent symbols.
• Best for: Pilgrim of Dead players who want an above-standard win ceiling through a different mechanical path. The 6th reel changes the maths without changing the core expanding symbol formula.
• Drawback: No sticky element means the bonus does not build the same compounding momentum. Each free spin is independent, so the escalating excitement of watching symbols lock into place is absent.

Ghost of Dead

• Mechanical overlap: Ghost of Dead runs the same 5×3, 10-payline expanding symbol free spins with the same bonus trigger mechanic. Within the broader Dead series, it sits alongside Pilgrim of Dead as one of the entries that meaningfully evolved the formula rather than simply reskinning it.
• Where they diverge: If you want the same swing without the same theme, Ghost of Dead offers something Pilgrim does not: a random base game feature called Ghost Spin that fires expanding symbols during regular play. The Awakened Free Spins mode adds a second expanding symbol chosen by the game. However, the max win is capped at 5,000x and symbols do not become sticky.
• Best for: Players who find Pilgrim of Dead’s featureless base game frustrating and want expanding symbol action outside the bonus round.
• Drawback: The 5,000x cap is half of Pilgrim’s ceiling, and 10 initial free spins with non-sticky symbols means the bonus round lacks the compounding power that defines Pilgrim of Dead’s best sessions.

Book of 99

• Mechanical overlap: The expanding symbol free spins play out on the same 5×3, 10-payline structure. Both Pilgrim of Dead and Book of 99 push above the standard book slot win cap, with Book of 99 reaching 12,075x – the only widely available book slot that exceeds Pilgrim’s 10,000x ceiling.
• Where they diverge: Book of 99 replaces the sticky mechanic with a 99% RTP and a scatter collection meter that guarantees a bonus trigger after accumulating 99 book symbols. The expanding symbols are standard rather than sticky, so the bonus round does not build compound value the way Pilgrim of Dead does.
• Best for: Players who value mathematical return over mechanical novelty. The 99% RTP makes Book of 99 the highest-returning book slot available, and the collection meter eliminates the possibility of an indefinite dry streak.
• Drawback: No sticky element, no symbol rejection mechanic, and the bonus round plays out as a standard expanding symbol feature without the escalating drama that makes Pilgrim of Dead distinctive.

Rise of Merlin

• Mechanical overlap: Rise of Merlin uses the same expanding symbol free spins mechanic on an identical 5×3, 10-payline grid. Retriggering adds additional expanding symbols, creating the same multi-symbol potential that makes Pilgrim of Dead’s extended bonuses so rewarding. RTP sits higher at 96.58%.
• Where they diverge: The session rhythm carries over because the bonus trigger frequency and base game pacing are comparable, but Rise of Merlin’s expanding symbols do not stick. The Arthurian theme is a complete departure from the Egyptian setting, and the 5,000x cap is half of what Pilgrim offers. Eight initial free spins sit between Pilgrim’s 5 and the standard 10.
• Best for: Players who want Pilgrim of Dead’s retrigger-stacking potential without the compressed 5-spin start and deliberately reduced symbol values.
• Drawback: Expanding symbols reset every spin, the win ceiling is half of Pilgrim’s, and the non-Egyptian theme may feel disconnected from the Dead series experience.

At €10 / $10 / £10 stake, Pilgrim of Dead’s 10,000x max win would return €100,000 / $100,000 / £100,000.

Narrowing it down

If the sticky expanding mechanic is what sold you on Pilgrim of Dead and you want the closest match to that building momentum, Legacy of Dead is the pick – its multi-expanding retriggered bonus creates comparable escalation even without the sticky element. If the 10,000x win cap matters more than how you get there, Book of 99 exceeds it at 12,075x while adding a 99% RTP. If you are tired of the base game being completely passive between bonuses, Ghost of Dead adds the Ghost Spin feature that fires expanding symbols during regular play at roughly one in every 30 spins. And if the 5-spin initial allocation feels too restrictive, both Legacy of Dead and Rise of Merlin start with more spins while keeping the same core mechanic intact.

Common questions

What makes Pilgrim of Dead different from Book of Dead?
Three mechanical changes separate them. Pilgrim of Dead uses sticky expanding symbols that remain locked on reels after expanding, starts with only 5 free spins instead of 10, and caps the max win at 10,000x rather than 5,000x. The symbol values are also deliberately lower in Pilgrim of Dead to balance the sticky mechanic’s compounding potential. Players also get one opportunity to reject the randomly chosen expanding symbol and receive a different one.

Which Dead series slot has the highest max win?
Pilgrim of Dead holds the highest ceiling at 10,000x stake, which is double the 5,000x standard found in Book of Dead, Legacy of Dead, Ghost of Dead, and Rise of Merlin. Scroll of Dead sits between them at 7,500x. Outside the Dead series, Book of 99 from Relax Gaming reaches 12,075x with the same expanding symbol mechanic.

Can you choose the expanding symbol in Pilgrim of Dead?
Not exactly. The game randomly selects a symbol, and the player can reject it once to receive a different random selection. The second symbol must be accepted regardless of what it is. This is different from Ghost of Dead, where players choose from three presented options, but it still gives more control than Book of Dead or Rise of Merlin where the selection is entirely random.

How do sticky expanding symbols work?
During free spins, when the chosen expanding symbol lands on enough reels to trigger expansion, it fills those reels completely and pays as a scatter. After paying, the symbol shrinks back to its original 1×1 size but stays locked in that position for every remaining free spin. This means subsequent spins start with guaranteed instances of the expanding symbol already on the grid, increasing the probability of further expansions and creating a snowball effect across the bonus round.

Verdict

Pilgrim of Dead occupies a specific position in the book slot category: it is the highest-ceiling option within the Dead series and the only one with sticky expanding symbols that build genuine compound value across a bonus round. Legacy of Dead is the closest match for players who want that escalating bonus feel with a more conventional spin allocation and standard symbol values. Scroll of Dead provides an alternative path to above-standard payouts through its 6th reel expansion. Ghost of Dead fills the base game gap that Pilgrim leaves empty. And Book of 99 is the pick when raw mathematical return matters more than mechanical novelty, offering both a higher win cap and the best RTP available in any book slot.