Scales of Dead

A journey straight into the Egyptian sun

Picture this: dunes rolling out across an endless desert, heat shimmering in the air, ancient pyramids looming just on the horizon. The soundtrack kicks in—think sweeping, cinematic score, something that wouldn’t be out of place in an epic adventure movie. Even the spin of the reels has this metallic clink, like striking gold in a forgotten tomb. That’s the world Scales of Dead drops you into, and honestly, Play’n GO knows how to make a theme stick. The background glows with golden sand and piercing blue sky, with clouds idly drifting and pyramids watching in the distance. For the symbols, expect vivid jeweled scarabs, fierce cobras, and haunting images of Anubis and Ra, all animated in gemstone colors that pop out from the screen. It’s pure ancient Egypt—the kind that fans of the theme know well, but with enough polish to feel fresh again.

A closer look at how the Scales of Dead slot plays

If you’ve played any of the classic ‘Book of’ slots, this one feels right at home. The setup is simple but tough to beat: five reels, three rows, and 10 paylines working from left to right. You get that snappy Play’n GO pace—the kind that makes each spin feel immediate and exciting, especially considering the game’s high volatility. Scales of Dead does not hold your hand—expect fast swings. You might go several spins without much, then suddenly bag a hit that’ll make your heart race.

The betting range is broad enough for pretty much everyone, starting at just 0.10 a spin and ramping all the way up to 100, whether you’re more cautious or chasing bigger rewards. The RTP sits at 96.21%, sneaking above the industry average, which is always good to see. Autoplay is available if you want to go hands-off, although with a slot this swingy, it’s probably worth keeping an eye on things yourself.

Bonus rounds that actually keep you watching

Bonus features in Scales of Dead might seem familiar, but there’s enough twist to keep them interesting. The wild tomb symbol does double-duty—it’s both your wild and your scatter, substituting for everything but the Special Expanding Symbol. Land three or more scatters and you’ll trigger eight free spins, which is where the magic happens.

Before free spins kick off, a random symbol gets picked to be a Special Expanding Symbol. This one’s important: when two or more (depending on the symbol) land anywhere, they stretch upwards or downwards across the entire reel, ignoring the usual payline rules. It’s a chance to hit those bigger wins, the kind of swing that’ll keep you glued to the reels.

But there’s another layer—the Sandstorm Free Spins. If you land two or more Golden Tomb scatters during free spins, you’ll trigger three Sandstorm spins. This time, not only do you get a new random Special Expanding Symbol, but those symbols come with win multipliers, up to 4x. And you can retrigger more Sandstorm spins up to 30 total. When that sandstorm hits—reels obscured, multipliers flashing across the screen—it’s pure slot drama.

Paytable and what to look for when playing

Top-paying symbols follow the playbook but do it with style: gods like Anubis and Ra, that searing cobra, and jeweled ankhs and scepters are what you want to see lining up. Nail five god symbols and you’re looking at up to 500x your bet just from a single line (before you even start thinking about multipliers or expansions). The Golden Tomb wild/scatter outmuscles them all, with up to 1,000x for five on a line plus the trigger for all bonus features.

Low-paying symbols come dressed up as classic card values—10 through Ace—but in decadent gold and jewel tones, which does help the overall look. Animations do their job: symbols glimmer, gods erupt in color, and, most importantly, those expanding symbols have a real presence when they hit. It’s surprisingly immersive for a slot in a jam-packed genre.

Trying out Scales of Dead and how to get started

Scales of Dead is easy to pick up, even if you’re just starting out or testing the waters with the Scales of Dead demo or Scales of Dead free play. Set your bet by clicking the plus and minus near the spin button, open the info menu for paytable details, and then just hit spin. Everything else is window-dressing—just line up three or more symbols from left to right and watch what happens. If you’re used to Play’n GO releases, everything will feel instantly familiar.

Does Scales of Dead stand out in a crowded tomb?

Egyptian-themed slots are everywhere, but regular players will spot the difference here. It’s closer to Book of Dead or Legacy of Dead in vibe, but the addition of expanding symbols paired with sandstorm multipliers gives it a little more spark. Win potential is up there with the best, maxing out at 10,000x. If you love high volatility slots that can surprise you with sudden hits, you’ll probably find Scales of Dead worth a spin. It does everything a fan of the theme could want, and throws in a few extra surprises.

What to play next if you like this kind of action

If ancient Egypt is your thing, Play’n GO has a whole lineup—the original Book of Dead, but also Legacy of Dead if you want different tweaks on the same recipe. For those chasing multipliers and bonus layers, you might want to branch into Relax Gaming’s Epic Joker or Torii Tumble. Scales of Dead free play options are a solid way to test whether the volatility suits you before you up your stakes.

Final thoughts for real slot fans

Scales of Dead throws you into a dramatic desert world and backs it up with seriously punchy gameplay. It can be a bit of a grind between wins, but when the game lines up and those expanding symbols kick in—especially during a sandstorm—the excitement’s hard to beat. It’s smooth, flashy, and cleverly built for the players who like their slots with a bit of bite. As always, take a spin or two on Scales of Dead demo first to get your bearings, but don’t be surprised if a session here ends up a memorable one.