John Hunter and the Book of Tut Respin Slot Review
Free demo, RTP, volatility and max win
7.8Value score · Good · how it works
John Hunter and the Book of Tut Respin review: Pragmatic Play's 2022 sequel with expanding mystery symbols, respins, free spins and a 4,000x max win.
- #795by RTP of 3,708 slots
- #72by value of 193 slots from 2022
- #1400by value of 3,708 slots
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Basic information
| Software | Pragmatic Play |
|---|---|
| Release year | 2022 |
| Theme | Egyptian slots, Book slots |
| RTP | 96.5% |
| Volatility | Not published |
| Max win | x4,000 |
| Hit frequency | Not published |
| Win system | Paylines |
| Features | Bonus buy, Free spins, Respins, Paylines |
| Named in the rules | Free Spins, Buy Free Spins |
| Game type | Slot |
| Data verified | 2026-09-28 |
Source: Pragmatic Play game page; RTP database by toolsgambling.com (CC BY 4.0); image: Pragmatic Play promotional image from the official game page. How we collect data · Report a mistake
John Hunter and the Book of Tut Respin review
Pragmatic Play brought its Egyptian explorer back in 2022 with a version built around respins. In the main game, one symbol is picked at random to act as a mystery symbol. If it lands, it stretches to fill its whole reel and the other reels spin again. The idea is simple to follow, and it gives the base game a feature of its own instead of leaving all the action to the bonus round.
How a spin pays
This is a payline slot. Wins are counted from left to right on adjacent reels, following the official rules. The mystery symbol sits on top of that foundation: it does not change how regular symbols are paid, it only changes what happens after they have been paid.
The studio's description calls the game an upgrade of a familiar format. The rules show a three-row reel set, since the expanded symbols cover all 3 positions on a reel.
Mystery symbol and respins
On random base game spins, the game selects one mystery symbol. Regular wins are paid first. Then every mystery symbol on the screen expands vertically to cover its reel, stays locked in place, and the remaining reels respin.
If more of the same mystery symbol land during that respin, they expand and lock too, and the reels spin once more. The studio says this continues until the chosen symbol fails to appear. The chain length is therefore open-ended, and a long one fills more of the screen with the same symbol.
Expanding mystery symbol
One symbol is chosen for the spin. Any copy that lands grows to fill all three positions of its reel and stays fixed while the other reels respin. Each new hit of the same symbol extends the sequence. The rules say the same behaviour carries into the free spins.
Free spins and buying them
The studio says at least three book scatters unlock 10 free spins. Before the round begins, the rules describe a random paying symbol being selected as the mystery symbol, while the studio copy says the player chooses it. We report both. What is clear is that the buy option explicitly lets you pick the symbol.
During the round, the mystery symbol expands and triggers respins in the same way as in the base game. The respins run until no more land or until the screen is full of expanded symbols. Three or more book symbols inside the round award 10 more spins with the current mystery symbol.
Free Spins
Ten spins are awarded. A single mystery symbol applies to the whole round and expands with respins as in the main game. Landing three more books during the round adds another 10 spins, which makes the round longer without resetting the chosen symbol.
Buy Free Spins
The round can be bought directly from the base game for 100x the current total bet. Before it starts, you select which symbol acts as the mystery symbol. Buying skips the base game wait, but it is a paid shortcut and a stake of 100 bets is spent at once.
The numbers
Our catalogue lists one RTP, 96.5%, which means a house edge of 3.5% and an average cost of about $35 for each $1,000 wagered. The official rules PDF gives a theoretical RTP of 95.5%. Operators can run different published versions, so check the figure in the game's own info screen before you rely on either number.
The maximum win is 4,000x the bet. At a $0.20 bet that is $800, at $1 it is $4,000 and at $5 it is $20,000. For session costs, 100 spins at $0.20 average $0.70, at $1 they average $3.50 and at $5, or $500 wagered, $17.50. The catalogue has no volatility label for this game, so the studio's own text gives us nothing to quote on that point.
Series and alternatives
The catalogue holds one earlier title in the franchise, John Hunter and the book of Tut from 2020, also at a 96.5% RTP. This respin version came two years later.
Among games with similar numbers, Happy Hooves and Release the Kraken 2 both list 96.5% and a 5,000x max win, Gold Party reaches 5,163x, and Tiny Toads from 2024 matches the 4,000x cap with a 96.51% RTP.
Pros
- Mystery symbols give the base game its own respin feature
- Free spins can be retriggered with 3 more books for 10 extra spins
- Max win of 4,000x, or $4,000 at a $1 bet
- Free official demo available
Cons
- No volatility label in our catalogue
- Catalogue RTP of 96.5% differs from the 95.5% in the official rules, so the version in use needs checking
- Buying the free spins costs 100x the bet
Verdict
John Hunter and the Book of Tut Respin is a payline slot whose appeal lies in one idea: an expanding mystery symbol that chains respins, in the base game and again in the 10 free spins. The 96.5% RTP implies a 3.5% house edge, and the top prize is 4,000x the bet. Volatility is not published, so use the free demo to see how the pace suits you, and treat spending as the cost of entertainment.
Sources: Pragmatic Play official game page; RTP, volatility and max win from the open Slot RTP Database.
John Hunter and the Book of Tut Respin series
1 other game of the same franchise by Pragmatic Play, oldest first.
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John Hunter and the Book of Tut Respin RTP
The data lists one RTP for John Hunter and the Book of Tut Respin. Versions are not tracked for Pragmatic Play games, so other versions may exist; check the game's info screen.
- 96.5% $35 lost per $1,000
Cost of 100 spins
| Bet | Wagered | Average cost at 96.5% |
|---|---|---|
| $0.20 | $20 | $0.70 |
| $1 | $100 | $3.50 |
| $5 | $500 | $17.50 |
Averages computed from the published RTP; real sessions vary widely around them. RTP calculator
John Hunter and the Book of Tut Respin max win, volatility & stats
- Value score
- 7.8 / 10
- Lost per $1,000 (average)
- $35
- Max win at $1 bet
- $4,000
- Wins on average
- –
Percentiles compare this game with the 3,708 games in the catalogue. Max win: 4,000×.
