The Way of the Dead (GameArt) – Review & Demo Play

GameArt’s The Way of the Dead: between Egyptian sands and Lock&Win

I’ve spent time with The Way of the Dead from GameArt, and it lands as a 5x3, 10-line video slot that ties its pace to Lock&Win and Free Spins with an expanding symbol. Released on 11 February 2025, it uses a steady math model that fits quick base spins and then tight respin phases when Books stick. The setup feels familiar yet focused, with the Book driving progress and Wilds doing the neat finishing work across those ten fixed lines.

I treated it as a steady tester in demo with virtual credits first, just to get the feel for how often Books cluster. The engine is JS and HTML5, so it runs cleanly in a browser on mobile or desktop. Stakes start at 0.10 and go up to 10 a spin on ten fixed lines. The emphasis sits on rhythm rather than raw cap claims, with the Lock&Win grid locks providing those hold-your-breath moments between quick base spins.

The Way of the Dead Symbols and Paytable

The presentation leans into temple stone, torchlight, and gilded glyphs, with percussion that swells during features. On the reels, Anubis is the premium, paying up to 100x for the best line. The Egyptian warrior reaches up to 50x, the queen up to 25x, and the sacred falcon up to 15x. High cards A and K top out at 10x, while Q, J, and 10 cap at 3x. It’s a clean ladder that matches the classic “book” feel.

Wild substitutes for regular pay symbols, but not the Book. The Book is the special piece. It can land with direct prizes or a MINI, MINOR, or GRAND tag, and it powers both Lock&Win and the route to Free Spins. Pays are counted left to right on 10 fixed paylines, and the premium tiers scale in a way that rewards five-of-a-kind, with mid symbols stepping down through tidy 2.5x and 1.5x style brackets as shown in the paytable.

The Way of the Dead Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	5	x100
	4	x25
	3	x7.5
	2	x2
	5	x50
	4	x10
	3	x2.5
	2	x1.5
	5	x25
	4	x5
	3	x2
	2	x1
	5	x15
	4	x3
	3	x2
	2	x1
	5	x10
	4	x2.5
	3	x1.5
	5	x7.5
	4	x2
	3	x1.5
	5	x3
	4	x1.5
	3	x1
	5	x3
	4	x1.5
	3	x1
	5	x3
	4	x1.5
	3	x1
	Scatter
	Wild

Features and Bonus in The Way of the Dead: from Lock&Win to Free Spins with expanding symbol

Lock&Win triggers when 6 or more Book symbols land anywhere. You get 3 respins, and during this phase only Books can appear, each holding a coin value or a fixed jackpot label. Any new Book resets the counter back to 3, so the round stretches as long as fresh Books keep dropping. When the counter reaches zero the feature closes and all shown values are paid. It’s a neat pause in pace that concentrates the game’s volatility into short, tense bursts.

Free Spins come via Lock&Win. Revealing a MINI awards 10 spins, while a MINOR grants 25. Before they begin, one pay symbol is chosen as special. When two or more of that symbol land, they expand to cover their reels and pay in the familiar “book” fashion, not bound by adjacency across the lines. In practice, I’ve seen even middling symbols carry rounds when three reels expand together, while premiums can swing sessions if they line up during the bonus.

Wilds keep the base steady by filling gaps, though they sit out Lock&Win. The jackpot path is straightforward. MINI and MINOR open Free Spins, while the GRAND arrives only if all 15 positions fill with Books during Lock&Win. That target sits high, but the chase adds purpose to every respin. My flow has been to play for Lock&Win entries, nudge the grid along, and let the expanding symbol bonus take care of upside when the MINI or MINOR drops.

Statistics and Maths in The Way of the Dead

On the numbers, The Way of the Dead runs at 96% RTP with low volatility on a 5x3, 10-line layout. Bets span 0.10 to 10 per spin, so I can pace sessions without big jumps. Wins pay left to right on fixed lines, and the game leans on Lock&Win for bursts rather than raw base game spikes. A stated max win isn’t provided in the public sheets, while fixed MINI, MINOR, and GRAND jackpots frame the peaks you’re playing toward.

Verdict on The Way of the Dead: a modern book with Lock&Win that makes the difference

I rate it as a modern “book” that routes everything through Lock&Win, and it works. The cadence feels cinematic, with quick spins giving way to held reels, then a cut to Free Spins if MINI or MINOR lands. The art sells the theme without fuss, and the pay ladder is readable at a glance. Low volatility keeps the balance ticking along, while the GRAND sits as a long shot. I’m happy grinding for respins and letting the bonus do the lifting.