The free spins round in Rise of Merlin is built on a randomly chosen expanding symbol that can fill entire reels and retrigger to add more expanding symbols to the mix, and if that bonus structure is what keeps you spinning, Book of Dead, Legacy of Dead, and Cat Wilde and the Doom of Dead all deliver the same mechanic with their own adjustments to pacing and win potential. Rise of Merlin is effectively Book of Dead in an Arthurian skin, so anything that matches one will match the other.
Top alternatives for slots like Rise of Merlin: Book of Dead, Legacy of Dead, and Cat Wilde and the Doom of Dead. Provider: Play’n GO. RTP: 96.58%. Max win: 5,000x.
Quick answer: Rise of Merlin’s bonus round uses the classic book slot expanding symbol mechanic with retriggers that stack additional expanding symbols. These three alternatives run the same engine:
- Book of Dead – the original Play’n GO book slot and direct mechanical twin
- Legacy of Dead – same mechanic with up to 9 expanding symbols across retriggered rounds
- Cat Wilde and the Doom of Dead – Dead series entry with enhanced base game and Wilde family storyline
The mechanics behind Rise of Merlin
Rise of Merlin plays on a 5-reel, 3-row grid with 10 paylines – identical in structure to Book of Dead and the entire Dead series from Play’n GO. The Crystal Ball acts as both wild and scatter, substituting for all symbols and triggering 8 free spins when three or more land anywhere on the reels. Before the bonus starts, one symbol is randomly selected to become the expanding symbol. When enough of that symbol appears during a free spin, it expands to cover the full reel and pays across non-adjacent positions like a scatter. The critical difference from standard book slots is the retrigger: landing three more scatters during free spins awards another 8 spins and selects a second expanding symbol. This process can repeat until all nine regular symbols are expanding, though that scenario is exceptionally rare. Volatility is high at 8 out of 10, and the maximum win sits at 5,000x stake with the default RTP of 96.58%.
| Slot Name | Provider | RTP (%) | Volatility | Max Win (x stake) | Key Feature |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rise of Merlin | Play’n GO | 96.58 | High | 5,000x | Multi-expanding via retrigger |
| Book of Dead | Play’n GO | 96.21 | High | 5,000x | Original book expanding symbol |
| Legacy of Dead | Play’n GO | 96.58 | Very High | 5,000x | Up to 9 expanding symbols |
| Cat Wilde Doom of Dead | Play’n GO | 96.25 | High | 5,000x | Enhanced base game scatters |
| Book of 99 | Relax Gaming | 99.00 | High | 12,075x | 99% RTP, collection meter |
Operators configure Play’n GO slots across multiple RTP tiers, so check the in-game help file to confirm which version your casino offers.
Book of Dead
- Mechanical overlap: Here’s the real overlap – Book of Dead and Rise of Merlin share the same game engine. Both use a 5×3 grid with 10 paylines, a combined wild/scatter symbol, and free spins built around a randomly chosen expanding symbol. The bonus frequency, hit rate, and payout distribution are functionally identical.
- Where it diverges: Book of Dead awards 10 free spins instead of 8, and retriggering does not add a second expanding symbol. Each retrigger simply adds 10 more spins with the same single expanding symbol active. RTP is slightly lower at 96.21%.
- Session fit: Players who enjoy Rise of Merlin’s core loop but want a longer initial bonus allocation will prefer Book of Dead’s 10-spin format. The trade-off is losing the multi-expanding retrigger mechanic that gives Rise of Merlin its top-end potential.
Legacy of Dead
- Mechanical overlap: Legacy of Dead shares Rise of Merlin’s retrigger-stacking mechanic almost exactly. Three scatters trigger free spins, a random symbol is chosen to expand, and each retrigger adds a new expanding symbol to the mix. Both slots can theoretically reach up to 9 expanding symbols across extended bonus sessions.
- Where it diverges: The trade-off is simple – Legacy of Dead pushes volatility even higher to accommodate the multi-expanding potential. The base game offers nothing beyond standard spins, so the rhythm between bonuses is more punishing than Rise of Merlin, which already tests patience.
- Session fit: Direct upgrade for players who want Rise of Merlin’s retrigger mechanic with higher volatility and an Egyptian theme. Same 96.58% RTP and 5,000x cap.
Cat Wilde and the Doom of Dead
- Mechanical overlap: Bonus-wise, this is the closest to Rise of Merlin within the Dead series branding. The free spins play out with an expanding symbol on a 5×3, 10-payline grid. The trigger mechanic, symbol expansion rules, and non-adjacent scatter pays all work identically.
- Where it diverges: The base game is slightly more active than Rise of Merlin, with scatter enhancements that create additional trigger paths. The Wilde family storyline connects it to Book of Dead’s protagonist rather than standing alone thematically.
- Session fit: Good match for Rise of Merlin players who want the same bonus structure with a marginally more engaging base game. RTP sits at 96.25%, splitting the difference between Book of Dead and Rise of Merlin.
Book of 99
- Mechanical overlap: What connects them is the expanding symbol free spins mechanic on a 5×3, 10-payline grid. Book of 99 plays out its bonus round identically to Rise of Merlin – a random symbol is chosen, it expands when enough land, and retriggering adds 10 more spins.
- Where it diverges: The 99% RTP is the headline difference, sitting roughly 2.4 percentage points above Rise of Merlin. A collection meter that fills as you gather scatter symbols during the base game provides a second path to triggering free spins, reducing reliance on the standard three-scatter trigger. Max win reaches 12,075x stake.
- Session fit: The value pick for RTP-conscious players. The collection meter also means you are mathematically guaranteed to reach a bonus round eventually, which removes the frustration of extended dry stretches that both Rise of Merlin and Book of Dead can produce.
At $20 / £20 / €20 stake, Rise of Merlin’s 5,000x max win would return $100,000 / £100,000 / €100,000.
If you loved Rise of Merlin but hated one thing
If the Arthurian theme feels disconnected from the genre and you would prefer the classic Egyptian aesthetic that most book slots use, Book of Dead is the identical mechanic in its original setting. If the 8-spin initial allocation feels too short and you want more runway before needing a retrigger, Book of Dead awards 10 spins per trigger instead. If the 5,000x win cap feels restrictive after you have seen what other slots offer, Book of 99 lifts that ceiling to 12,075x while also running a 99% RTP. And if the base game drags because there is nothing happening between bonuses, Ghost of Dead from the same Dead series adds a random Ghost Spin feature that fires expanding symbols during regular spins at roughly one in every 30 spins.
What players usually ask
Is Rise of Merlin the same as Book of Dead?
Mechanically, yes. Play’n GO built Rise of Merlin on the same engine as Book of Dead with a fantasy theme swap and one meaningful upgrade: retriggering free spins adds a second expanding symbol rather than simply extending the round. The grid layout, paylines, wild/scatter function, and bonus trigger all work identically. The RTP is slightly higher at 96.58% compared to 96.21%.
Which book slot has the highest RTP?
Book of 99 from Relax Gaming holds that position at 99%. Among Play’n GO book mechanic slots, Rise of Merlin and Legacy of Dead share the top spot at 96.58%. These are default values though – Play’n GO operates multiple RTP tiers as low as 84%, so the version at your casino may differ from the maximum.
Can Rise of Merlin trigger multiple expanding symbols?
Yes. Each retrigger during free spins selects an additional expanding symbol, and this process can repeat up to nine times since there are nine regular pay symbols. Landing a retrigger with the right expanding symbols active is where the 5,000x max win becomes achievable, though the probability of reaching maximum exposure is approximately 1 in 8.7 million spins.
Are there non-Egyptian slots with this mechanic?
Rise of Merlin itself is proof that the book mechanic works outside Egypt. Other non-Egyptian options include Book of 99 with its Greek mythology theme and Ramses Book from Gamomat, which uses similar mechanics in a slightly different visual style. The expanding symbol free spins formula has been adapted across dozens of themes by multiple providers.
Does Rise of Merlin have a bonus buy?
No. Play’n GO does not offer bonus buy functionality on any title. All free spins in Rise of Merlin must trigger organically through scatter landings, which averages around 100-130 base game spins per trigger depending on payline configuration.
Start here
Book of Dead is the natural starting point because it is the mechanical foundation that Rise of Merlin was built on, and understanding one means understanding both. From there, Legacy of Dead adds the multi-expanding retrigger that Rise of Merlin shares, but with higher volatility and the Egyptian setting that dominates this category. For players ready to move beyond the standard 5,000x ceiling, Book of 99 offers the same expanding symbol bonus with a 12,075x cap and 99% RTP. Any of these four slots will feel immediately familiar to a Rise of Merlin player because they share the same core engine – the differences are in theme, bonus length, and how expanding symbols accumulate during retriggered rounds.