Book of Ra Deluxe — Game Overview
Book of Ra Deluxe is Novomatic's enhanced version of the original Book of Ra, released in 2008 with an additional payline (10 vs 9 in the original), improved graphics, and refined audio design. The core Book mechanic remains unchanged — the Book symbol acts as both scatter and wild, and a randomly selected expanding symbol fills entire reels during the free spins round — but the visual upgrade and additional payline make it the more widely distributed and commercially dominant version.
The extra payline is a meaningful structural difference. With 10 paylines compared to the original's 9, the additional line runs diagonally and creates new winning combinations that the original grid could not produce. This modestly increases the base game win frequency without changing the fundamental probability model of the expanding symbol feature.
Novomatic's graphic improvements for the Deluxe version addressed the most dated aspects of the 2005 original. The symbol artwork is more detailed, the win animations are more polished, and the audio has been recomposed with higher production values — changes that helped sustain the game's relevance as player expectations for visual quality rose across the industry.
Book of Ra Deluxe became the reference version for most operators looking to offer the Book of Ra experience, and it remains one of the most-played online slots in German-speaking markets. For players new to the Book of Ra franchise, Deluxe is the standard starting point — it preserves everything that made the original commercially successful while addressing the most obvious areas where the first release showed its age.
Bonus Features
- ♦ 10 free spins triggered by 3+ Book scatter symbols
- ♦ One randomly selected expanding symbol for the bonus round
- ♦ Expanding symbol pays on any position across multiple reels
- ♦ Free spins re-triggerable during the bonus
Verdict
Book of Ra Deluxe is the definitive version of Novomatic's flagship franchise, offering marginally improved RTP (95.10%) and an extra payline over the original. For players new to the Book format, the Deluxe version is the recommended entry point. The gameplay is identical to the original at its core, with the visual refresh making it more palatable for modern online play.