Slot guide
Rich Wilde and the Tome of Madness slot review: clusters, portal and wilds
Play'n GO's 2019 Rich Wilde grid slot: clusters of four or more, cascades and a portal meter that unlocks bonus features.
Rich Wilde and the Tome of Madness is a Play'n GO grid slot released on 27 June 2019. Instead of reels and paylines it uses a 5x5 grid that pays for clusters of four or more matching symbols, with cascades after every win and a portal meter that unlocks bonus features once it is fully charged. The listed RTP is 96.59%, volatility is high and the published top win is 2,000x the stake.
Rich Wilde and the Tome of Madness: spec sheet
From the provider's published game sheet.
- Provider
- Play'n GO
- RTP
- 96.59%
- Volatility
- High
- Max win
- 2,000x stake
- Reels
- 5
- Rows
- 5
- Ways
- Cluster pays (4+ matching symbols, cascading)
- Released
- 27 June 2019
Features
- 5x5 cascading cluster grid
- Tome of Madness special wild and Rich Wilde 2x multiplier wild
- Portal charge meter unlocks bonus features
RTP can be set lower by some casinos; the game's own help screen shows the figure that applies. 18+ only.
Clusters and cascades on a 5x5 grid
A win needs four or more identical symbols touching horizontally or vertically. Winning symbols are removed, the rest fall, new ones drop in, and the grid is checked again. One spin can therefore produce a chain of wins, or nothing at all. Grid slots can feel slower to read than a line game at first, because wins form in shapes rather than left to right.
The two wilds and the charging portal
Two special symbols do most of the work. The Tome of Madness acts as a special wild, and Rich Wilde himself appears as a multiplier wild that doubles the wins he helps to form. Every win also adds charge to the portal beside the grid. When the portal is full it unlocks the game's bonus features, so cascading chains matter twice: once for the win itself and again for the meter.
High volatility with a 2,000x ceiling
High volatility means the return arrives unevenly: long runs of small or no wins, then occasional larger results when the portal features land. The 2,000x maximum comes from one database only, so it is a guide rather than a certainty. Neither figure changes the long-run return, which is set by the RTP; the slot volatility guide explains the difference. In Great Britain the stake on online slots is capped at £5 per spin, or £2 if you are 18 to 24.
Where it sits in the Rich Wilde series
Rich Wilde is Play'n GO's recurring explorer, and the name appears on several unrelated games. This one is the grid slot. It is not Book of Dead, the 10-line game with an expanding symbol, nor Rich Wilde and the Amulet of Dead. Each has its own maths, so the figures on this page apply only to the Tome of Madness. Play'n GO's other cascading grid from the same period, Rise of Olympus, uses a different multiplier system.
Tome of Madness demo and Play'n GO lobbies
No demo runs on this site. Play'n GO lists the game on its own website, and licensed casinos may offer a demo mode after age checks. Several licensed casinos name Play'n GO among their providers; they appear beside this review. Lobbies change and RTP builds can differ, so open the game's information screen to confirm the version before you stake.
18+ only. The responsible gambling page explains deposit limits, time-outs and where to get help.
UK-licensed casinos, ranked by our score
Order = score out of 10. Every operator holds a Gambling Commission licence.
| # | Casino | Score | Welcome offer and significant terms | Payments | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place 1 |  Magical VegasRank Interactive (Gibraltar) Limited | Score: 8.1 out of 10, very good | 100 bonus spins after a £10 deposit and £10 stake Significant terms Min deposit £10 and £10 stake; Paysafecard excluded; 10x wagering; max win £200; spins on The Goonies Quest for Treasure Jackpot King |
| Visit Magical Vegas (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Magical Vegas |
| Place 2 |  Bella CasinoRank Interactive (Gibraltar) Limited | Score: 7.9 out of 10, good | 100 bonus spins on Kong 3 Even Bigger Bonus when you deposit and stake £10 Significant terms New players; min deposit £10 (Paysafecard excluded) and £10 stake on Kong 3 Even Bigger Bonus; 10x wagering; max win £200 |
| Visit Bella Casino (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Bella Casino |
| Place 3 |  666 CasinoJupiter Gaming Limited | Score: 7.8 out of 10, good | 20 spins on Big Bass Splash when you deposit and wager £20 Significant terms 18+, new players, first deposit; £20 must be wagered on Big Bass Splash within 7 days; spins on Big Bass Splash; 0x wagering on winnings | Not listed | Visit 666 Casino (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: 666 Casino |
| Place 4 |  Amazon SlotsJumpman Gaming Limited | Score: 7.7 out of 10, good | Chance to win up to 500 bonus spins on Starburst Significant terms 18+, new players, £10 min fund; bonus spins winnings subject to 10x wagering; max bonus conversion equal to lifetime deposits up to £250; only bonus wagers count |
| Visit Amazon Slots (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Amazon Slots |
| Place 5 |  Pub CasinoL & L Europe Limited | Score: 7.4 out of 10, good | 50 cash spins on Octobeer Fortunes after depositing and wagering £10 Significant terms Deposit and wager £10; activate before depositing; spins £0.20 each, winnings paid as cash, no max cash out; Skrill deposits excluded; spins expire in 48 hours |
| Visit Pub Casino (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: Pub Casino |
| Place 6 |  LuckyMateAnakatech Interactive Limited | Score: 7.4 out of 10, good | 50 bonus spins on Big Bass Splash when you bet £10 on slots Code MATE50 Significant terms £10 min deposit; £10 in slot bets; 50 spins at £0.10 (£5 total); x1 wagering, £1 max bet contribution; £100 max cashout from winnings; 7-day expiry; selected payment methods only | Not listed | Visit LuckyMate (opens the operator site in a new tab)Read the review: LuckyMate |
Ad We may earn a commission if you open an account through links on this page; it does not change our scores or the order of operators. How we score · Advertising disclosure
Questions readers ask
How does Rich Wilde and the Tome of Madness pay?
It pays for clusters of four or more matching symbols on a 5x5 grid. Winning symbols disappear and new ones cascade in, so one spin can bring several wins.
What does the portal do?
Each win charges the portal. When it is full, it unlocks the game's bonus features.
What is the RTP and volatility of Tome of Madness?
The listed RTP is 96.59% with high volatility. Check the in-game information screen, as casinos can run different builds.
Is it the same as Book of Dead?
No. Book of Dead is a 10-line slot with an expanding symbol. Both feature Rich Wilde, but they are separate games.