Book of Shai (Swintt) – Review & Demo Play

Book of Shai - Game Overview

As a Swintt release from 28 March 2023, Book of Shai sticks to a 5x3 grid with 20 fixed paylines. It’s high volatility with an RTP of 95.90% and a max win of 10,325x. Bets run from £0.20 to £20. Hit frequency sits at 28.29%, so wins drop often enough to keep me clicking. The theme leans on ancient Egypt again, but the production values are above average, and the book mechanic adds a neat twist to the classic formula.

Book of Shai Symbols and Paytable

Book of Shai’s dynamic paytable lists 11 pay symbols split into six lows and five highs. Lows are Nines through Aces, topping out at 2.5x for a five of a kind. Highs fit the theme with ankhs, birds, cats, eyes, and scarabs. Scarabs are the most valuable regulars at 15x for five. Wilds also pay on their own, landing 25x, 15x, or 5x for 5, 4, or 3. Book Scatters drive the feature set.

The rest of the premium band steps down cleanly: 10x, 7.5x, 5x, and 4x for five of a kind across the set. Mid pays follow with 2.5x for five, then 1.5x and 1x for the top card ranks. Typical four-of-a-kind returns are 7.5x, 6x, 5x, 3x, 2x, and 1.25x. Three-of-a-kind starts at 4x, then 3x, 2x, 1.5x, 1x, 0.75x, and 0.5x down to 0.4x for the bottom line hits each.

Book of Shai Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	Wild
	5	x25
	4	x15
	3	x5
	5	x15
	4	x7.5
	3	x4
	5	x10
	4	x6
	3	x3
	5	x7.5
	4	x5
	3	x2
	5	x5
	4	x3
	3	x1.5
	5	x4
	4	x2
	3	x1
	5	x2.5
	4	x1.25
	3	x0.75
	5	x2.5
	4	x1.25
	3	x0.75
	5	x1.5
	4	x0.75
	3	x0.5
	5	x1.5
	4	x0.75
	3	x0.5
	5	x1
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.4
	5	x1
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.4
	Scatter

Book of Shai Slot Features

Book Scatters are the engine. In the base game, landing a single Book opens to reveal a pay symbol, and all instances of that symbol transform into Wilds. If two Books appear and reveal the same icon, those matches turn into Expanding Wilds instead. Standard Wilds still substitute to complete wins and carry their own payouts, so even small reveals can stitch together tidy line hits across the 20 fixed paylines.

Hit 3 Book Scatters and you trigger 8 free spins. If the Books open and reveal matching symbols, you get Expanding Wilds with a 2x, 3x, or 5x win multiplier. This is where the slot’s biggest wins come from. A full-reel Expanding Wild on the right symbol with a multiplier can push a round into serious territory, and the 10,325x ceiling suddenly looks within reach when the setup lands just right.

Symbol transformations carry through the bonus with a twist. During free spins, even one Book is enough for Expanding Wilds. Two or three Books that match then add the multipliers on top. If patience isn’t your thing, there’s a Buy Feature priced at 100x the bet. It’s a hefty ask on a high variance model, but the feature entry can save a cold session when you fancy a shot at the multiplier ladders.

Free Spins in Book of Shai

In free spins, the reveal logic ramps up. One Book grants Expanding Wilds straight away, which keeps bonus rounds from fizzling. Land two or three Books that flip to the same symbol and multipliers kick in at 2x, 3x, or 5x. Expanding Wilds pay on all involved lines, so even mid-tier symbols can stack tidy totals once a reel or two locks as wild. That safety net makes bonuses less swingy at the start.

Eight free spins is the starter, and the feature uses your previous stake. Extra spins can be won by landing a Scatter during the round, extending the cycle when the Books keep showing. I’ve had bonuses where a single early expand carried the rest, and others where late multipliers did the heavy lifting. That swingy profile fits the high volatility tag nicely. When the Expanding Wilds land on key reels, even average symbols pull solid totals.

Book of Shai Review Summary

Book of Shai mixes an old-school Egypt setup with colourful, detailed symbols and interesting symbol transformations. The feature flow is engaging, and the jackpot potential sits in the 10,000x+ bracket. On the flip side, the theme feels unimaginative and the RTP at 95.90% isn’t exactly generous for long sessions. I enjoy the ride for the Wild reveals and the 2x-5x multipliers, but for real money I tread carefully and stick to sensible stakes.