Short answer: Almost the same RTP, opposite characters. Starburst's expanding wilds give frequent small wins; Book of Dead's expanding symbol gives rare large ones.
Side by side
| Detail | Starburst | Book of Dead |
|---|
| Developer | NetEnt | Play'n GO |
|---|
| Default RTP | 96.09% | 96.21% |
|---|
| Volatility | Low | High |
|---|
| Layout | 5 reels, 3 rows | 5 reels, 3 rows |
|---|
| Ways to win | 10 paylines, paying both ways | 10 paylines |
|---|
| Maximum win | 500x | 5,000x |
|---|
| Top prize at £5 | £2,500 | £25,000 |
|---|
| Main mechanic | Expanding wilds | Expanding symbols |
|---|
The mechanics
Starburst
There is one feature. A Starburst wild stretches over its whole reel, locks, and triggers a re-spin. If a second or third wild appears they do the same, so the best outcome is three wild reels across the middle.
Book of Dead
Before the free spins begin, the Book opens to reveal one ordinary symbol. Whenever enough of that symbol land, each expands to cover its reel, and they pay on all lines even if the reels are not side by side. A premium symbol can produce the game's 5,000x maximum.
What really separates them
This is the clearest pair for understanding volatility. Both expand something across a reel. Starburst does it often, for small line wins, with a 500x cap. Book of Dead does it only in free spins, with a symbol drawn by chance, for up to 5,000x.
An hour on each
| Slot | Staked | House edge | Average cost |
|---|
| Starburst | £120 | 3.91% | £4.69 |
|---|
| Book of Dead | £120 | 3.79% | £4.55 |
|---|
600 spins. A long-run average; any one hour can differ widely.
Which to play
Play Starburst for
a calm session and a simple game.
Play Book of Dead for
one feature that can decide everything.
Full profiles
Where to play both
Ad 18+ only. We may earn commission from these links. Advertiser disclosure
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More slot match-ups: Book of Dead vs Gates of Olympus, Starburst vs Fluffy Favourites and Big Bass Bonanza vs Sweet Bonanza.
Slot figures are developers' published defaults, each confirmed against two sources; a casino may run a lower RTP. Offer terms dated 5 October 2026. How we check. 18+. Free help: 0808 8020 133 or safer gambling.
