Book of Ming Slots
Any good online casino software developer these days should have an Asian-themed slot in their range. With Oriental-themed online slot games there is scope for having luscious graphics, attractive royal symbols, and lots of kick-ass dragons - but especially the kick-ass dragons.
In recent years, developers have tapped into themes like Chinese New Year and the many superstitions with luck that go along with it. A lot of online slots even keep the traditional Mandarin titles too. You need just look at titles like Skywind's Zhao Cai Xiong Mao or Playtech's excellent Long Long Long slot to see that.
Dragons feature in the Book of Ming video slot from British developers, BF Games, as well. The game takes us back to a time of powerful dynasties, huge trade routes, and beautiful vases. And boy, do BF Games go overboard on the beautiful vases. Come with us to China as we explore the hidden treasures of the Book of Ming.
Play 10 Paylines from Just 0.01 a Coin
The Ming dynasty ruled China for nearly 300 years during the 14th, 15th, and 16th centuries. The period was a time of huge change and massive constructions like the Forbidden City. It also saw more and more European traders coming to China.
While most people's knowledge of the Ming dynasty is minimal at best, mostly everyone will have heard of the treasured Ming vase. These prized ornaments, constructed from special Chinese clay, still fetch huge sums today. In 2006, a 600-year-old Ming vase sold to casino mogul Steve Wynn for over $10m.
Celebrating the great Chinese dynasty is UK slots developer, BF Games. The development company is known for its full software platforms as well as producing some sumptuous-looking video slots. But the free Book of Ming slot machine is the firm's first' foray into the Chinese theme.
The game is played on a set of 5 reels and there are just 10 paylines to bet across. Coins begin at just 0.01 but the 5.00 top coin bet should keep a lot of punters interested. As with a lot of BF Games gambling slots, Book of Ming is perfectly mobile-optimized and really works best on a tablet.
With the mobile version, bets can be altered by tapping the casino chips icon. A handy slider moves your coin bet up or down. And after every spin, you have the option of collecting your win by tapping the hand icon or spinning the win up via the gamble feature (look for the playing cards icon next to the reels).
Win a 5000x Jackpot with Five Emperors
While there are only nine regular symbols in Book of Ming, all the graphics are beautifully rendered. The low limit symbols of the 10, J, and Q pay 5-100x the line bet when you land three, four, or five on a win line. The K and A pay slightly better, winning the player 5-150x their line bet.
The high limit symbols are represented by the Ming vase, the dragon, the empress, and the emperor. All high limit symbols pay when you land just two of a kind. The vase pays 5-750x for 2-5 of a kind, as does the dragon. The empress pays 5-2000x, but the mean-looking emperor pays the jackpot of 5,000x if you manage to land five of a kind.
In truth, Book of Ming is a fairly low-variance online slot that seems to dish out a lot of low-paying winners. The empress and her husband are rare beasts to find on a payline.
Trigger Free Spins with an Expanding Symbol
For a game with such great graphics, you might expect a little more in the way of bonus features. In fact, there is just one bonus game to play. Gamblers can win 10 free spins by landing three or more Book of Ming icons anywhere on the reels. As well as free spins, you will win a cash prize worth 20, 200, or 2000x your line bet.
During the free spins round, a special expanding symbol is picked at random from the available icons. This symbol will expand to fill the whole reel during the bonus feature. It will also act as a scatter, paying out regardless of where it lands on the reel layout. The free spins can be retriggered.
The free spins round can be quite lucrative but it's a tricky feature to trigger. We found that players usually hit one or two scatters during a spin for a quick cash prize. It's worth persevering with, though, and trying to trigger those elusive free games.
Try Novomatic for Exciting 10-Payline Gaming
A 3x5 reel set-up with just 10 paylines means you could be spinning for a long time before hitting any meaningful prizes. But BF Games aren't the only developer with a good line in simple 5-reel slots.
Novomatic's excellent Lucky Lady's Charm Deluxe slot is played with 10 paylines on its 3x5 set of reels. Punters can unlock a free spins round where 15 games are awarded with a 3x multiplier. The round can be retriggered, and frequently does. Overall, it's one of the most exciting 5-reel games in the Novomatic range.
If you prefer some classic slots action, give EGT's nostalgic 10 Burning Hot video slot a try. It's one of the simpler games in EGT's range but has possible payouts of up to 100,000 coins. The game is also available in 40-payline and 100-payline varieties.
Try Book of Ming for Free Today
Scour the list of good new online slots and you will find plenty of Asian-themed games on it. Oriental-inspired games will always be a hit with players but they don't always hit the mark.
Book of Ming has some simple thrills but it's not a slot for gamblers who prefer a higher variance. Bigger jackpots and bonus features can be found elsewhere. That said, we did enjoy the expanding scatter symbol that can add exciting bonus wins to your free spins.
You can give the game a play for free right here. If you are into Asian-themed slots, give Book of Ming a try and see if it deserves a place on your list of Oriental must-play games.
