Book of Atem

Book of Atem is an Ancient Egyptian-themed online slot developed by All41 Studios for Microgaming. The game centers around Atem, an Egyptian god who serves as the main character. The visual presentation is sleek and polished, featuring symbols such as snakes, ancient texts, hawks, and lotus flowers alongside the handsome depiction of Atem himself.

This slot is part of the popular “Book of” series, which originated with the iconic Book of Ra and includes other well-known titles like Book of Dead. These games typically share similar mechanics and features, with Book of Atem offering its own unique twists while staying true to the core concept.

Core Game Mechanics

Book of Atem is played on a 5-reel, 3-row grid with 10 fixed paylines. Players can wager between 0.10 and 25 coins per spin, making it accessible to a wide range of budgets. The game includes an autoplay function for up to 100 spins and allows players to adjust the spin speed in the settings menu.

The slot has a high volatility, meaning wins may be less frequent but potentially more substantial when they occur. Its RTP (Return to Player) is 96.45%, which is slightly above average for online slots. The maximum potential win is 5,000 times the stake.

To form winning combinations, players need to land three or more matching symbols on a payline. Some high-paying symbols also award prizes for two-of-a-kind combinations, increasing the hit frequency. The most valuable regular symbol is Atem himself, paying out 500 times the stake for five on a payline.

Bonus Features

Free Spins with Special Expanding Symbol The main bonus feature in Book of Atem is the Free Spins round, triggered by landing three or more book symbols, which act as both wild and scatter. Upon activation, players receive 10 free spins.

Before the free spins begin, a special expanding symbol is randomly chosen. This symbol will expand to cover entire reels whenever it appears during the bonus round, but only if doing so will create a winning combination. After expansion, a new payout calculation is made.

What sets Book of Atem apart from many of its “Book of” counterparts is that expanded reels can form winning combinations without being adjacent to each other. This means players can win with three-of-a-kind combinations on non-consecutive reels, such as reels 1, 4, and 5 or 1, 2, and 5. This unique mechanic significantly increases winning potential during the bonus round.

The free spins feature can be retriggered by landing three or more scatters on a single spin during the bonus, awarding an additional 10 free spins.

The book symbol not only triggers the free spins but also awards scatter wins. Landing 3, 4, or 5 scatters anywhere on the reels pays 2x, 20x, or 200x the total stake, respectively. The book symbol also functions as a wild, substituting for all other symbols to help create winning combinations. It does this in a way that maximizes potential winnings.

The most intriguing aspect of Book of Atem is its twist on the expanding symbol mechanic during free spins. By allowing expanded symbols to pay as scatters, forming winning combinations even when not on adjacent reels, the game offers a fresh take on the familiar “Book of” format. This feature significantly enhances the potential for big wins during the bonus round, adding an extra layer of excitement to the gameplay.