Release the Kraken splashed onto the scene from Pragmatic Play back in January 2020. This one’s a 5-reel, 4-row beast of a slot, all about deep-sea mythology and those legendary tentacles lurking below the waves.
For anyone who lives for high-quality underwater themes, Release the Kraken is a must-play. The game’s got rotating wild modifiers, a classic pick-chest bonus, and free spins that double your paylines to 40, all while chasing that juicy 10,000x max win.
Pragmatic Play churns out slots for every taste and volatility level, but this one? It’s built for those who don’t mind a little patience in exchange for bigger thrills. I’ve spent hours spinning this Kraken slot, so let’s dive into what makes it tick and why it lands in that medium-high volatility sweet spot.
Honestly, after hammering away on demo mode, I can say the base-game features here are way more engaging than your average aquatic slot. Those random wild modifiers? They create real momentum, even before you trigger the bonus. Every time a tentacle wriggles onto the screen, you feel that pulse of excitement—like something epic could happen at any moment.
Key Takeaways
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Three distinct random wild modifiers keep the base game lively and unpredictable.
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Hit the free spins and you’ll see paylines double from 20 to 40, plus roaming wilds and multipliers up to 10x.
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With medium-high volatility and a 10,000x ceiling, this slot’s best for players who love a bit of suspense and aren’t just looking for quick, tiny payouts.
Quick Verdict And Key Numbers
Release the Kraken stands tall against most video slots in terms of performance and features. With an RTP of 96.5%, it edges out the industry average, which is always a good sign for us reel-spinners.
The base game holds 20 paylines, but when you hit those free spins, you’re playing on a whopping 40 paylines. That’s a huge boost for anyone chasing bigger wins.
Where to Play Release the Kraken
You’ll find this slot at just about every major online casino that carries Pragmatic Play titles. I always recommend sticking to reputable sites, especially when you’re after the full range of features and a fair shot at those big wins.
Check out detailed slot reviews, too—they’ll help you find the best places for real money play and maybe even some extra bonuses.
What This Slot Is Best Suited To
If you’re like me and want more than just “spin and hope,” Release the Kraken is right up your alley. Those three random wild features pop up often enough to keep things interesting, and the pick-chest bonus adds a fun decision-making twist.
Now, if you’re only into ultra-high variance slots with 50,000x potential, this one might feel tame. But for the medium-high volatility crowd, that 10,000x top win is nothing to sneeze at.
How It Compares With Typical Online Slots
|
Metric |
Release the Kraken |
Industry Average |
|---|---|---|
|
RTP |
96.5% |
~96.0% |
|
Volatility |
Medium-High |
Medium |
|
Max Win |
10,000x |
~2,500x–5,000x |
|
Paylines (Base) |
20 |
20–25 |
|
Paylines (Free Spins) |
40 |
Same as base (typically) |
|
Multipliers |
Yes (up to 10x) |
Present in ~60% of titles |
|
Bonus Trigger Frequency |
~1 in 200 spins (est.) |
~1 in 150–250 spins |
Doubling the paylines in free spins is a real standout. Most slots out there just keep their payline count fixed, so this change-up adds a fresh twist when the bonus lands.
Third-Party Community And Aggregator Signals
As of now, I haven’t seen a major slot aggregator publish a huge community score for Release the Kraken. Slot.day tracks it and places it around the 43rd percentile in their catalog, which tells us it’s technically solid, if not a chart-topper.
But here’s what really matters: search volumes are still high—between 88,000 and 108,000 a month, even years after launch. That’s a ton of players still hungry for those tentacles and treasure chests.
Core Specifications And Setup
|
Metric |
Value |
|---|---|
|
Provider |
Pragmatic Play |
|
Release Date |
January 28, 2020 |
|
RTP |
96.5% (operator-configurable versions may vary) |
|
Volatility |
Medium-High |
|
Max Win |
10,000x bet |
|
Hit Frequency |
Not publicly disclosed |
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Bonus Trigger Frequency |
~1 in 200 spins (estimated) |
|
Reels / Rows |
5 reels × 4 rows |
|
Paylines (Base Game) |
20 fixed |
|
Paylines (Free Spins) |
40 fixed |
|
Min Bet |
$0.20 |
|
Max Bet |
$100.00 |
|
Mobile Compatible |
Yes |
|
Demo Mode |
Yes |
Reels Rows And Betting Range
The 5×4 setup is a bit taller than your standard 5×3 grid, which is great for symbol exposure. That extra row is key—especially when the colossal 3×4 wild modifier decides to show up and nearly fills the screen. It’s a rush every time you see it creep onto the reels.
With a $0.20 minimum bet, even low-rollers can get in on the action. High-stakes players can crank it up to $100 per spin, so there’s room for everyone at this table.
Volatility RTP And Configurable Versions
The 96.5% RTP is generous, but keep in mind some casinos run lower RTP versions. Always check the version at your chosen casino before you dive in for real money.
Medium-high volatility means you’ll get steady enough hits in the base game, but the real fireworks usually come in the bonus. Don’t expect constant wins—this is a slot that can go cold, then suddenly erupt with a big payout if you catch the right streak.
Demo Access And Session Expectations
You can play a free demo almost everywhere, and I highly recommend it. Try out all three random wild features before you put real money on the line. Variance is real here—sometimes you’ll spin 50 or even 80 times before seeing the free spins, so plan your bankroll accordingly.
How The Base Game Works
How To Play Release the Kraken
Getting started is simple. Set your bet with the stake controls, hit Spin, and watch the action unfold.
All wins pay left to right along 20 fixed paylines. You’ll need at least three matching symbols on a payline to score a win, and honestly, nothing beats watching those tentacles line up across the reels.
The 20 paylines stay fixed—no need to fiddle with payline selection. Any random feature can turn things around in a heartbeat, and every spin brings fresh hope for a big hit.
Paytable And Standard Winning Symbols
The high-value symbols stick to the theme: Kraken (your top payer at up to 50 coins for five of a kind), Shark, Turtle, and Fish. Lower-paying symbols are the usual card ranks—A, K, Q, and J.
The Kraken symbol delivers the biggest base-game win if you land five on a payline, no wilds needed. It’s a rare sight, but when it happens, it’s pure adrenaline.
The Wild symbol is a whirlpool and can sub in for any regular symbol. It shows up on all five reels, but it won’t replace bonus symbols. When those wilds hit, the reels come alive—especially if you’re one away from a big combo.
Wild Symbol And Bonus Trigger Pattern
The standard Wild jumps in and fills those pesky missing symbols on active paylines—nothing fancy, just classic slot action. Where Release the Kraken really flexes, though, is with three enhanced wild types that swap in for the standard Wild when you hit one of those randomly triggered base-game features. This is where the reels come alive and you start leaning in, waiting for the magic to strike.
Bonus symbols are your ticket to the main feature. You need a bonus on reel 1, another on reel 3, and then either a Free Spins symbol or a Chest Bonus symbol on reel 5 to get things going. No shortcuts here—it's gotta be all three, which keeps the bonus feeling rare and special. In my experience, you’re looking at around a 1-in-200 shot per spin, so when it lines up, yeah, you’ll feel it.
When the pick chests mechanic fires (that's when the Chest Bonus lands on reel 5), you get to pick from three chests, again and again. Each chest can drop more Wilds, let you keep spinning, double all wins, or just end the feature. It’s a little nerve-wracking because you never know when you’ll hit that Collect and the round’s over.
Feature Breakdown And Bonus Value
|
Feature |
Trigger Condition |
Description |
Win Potential |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Kraken Lockin Wilds |
Random base game activation |
Reels keep spinning; you pick chests to add locking Wilds or win multipliers |
Moderate; gets better with each lock |
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Colossal Kraken Wilds |
Random base game activation |
A huge 3×4 Wild block lands after the spin stops |
High; covers up to 12 spots |
|
Infectious Kraken Wilds |
Random base game activation |
At least one Wild lands and spreads to adjacent symbols, turning them wild |
High; can cover a big chunk of the grid |
|
Sunken Treasure Bonus |
Bonus on reel 1 and 3, Chest on reel 5 |
Pick-chest mechanic for Wilds, multipliers, or collect |
Moderate to high—depends on your luck with the chests |
|
Roaming Kraken Free Spins |
Bonus on reel 1 and 3, Free Spins on reel 5 |
10 free spins on a 40-payline grid; a roaming Wild moves right each spin, multiplier grows |
Up to 10,000x if you nail it |
Kraken Lockin And Locking Wild Sequences
The Kraken Lockin feature is, hands down, the most interactive of the three base-game wild modifiers. When it kicks in, the reels keep spinning and you get a series of three-chest picks. Each pick can hand you more locked Wilds, a win multiplier, or just end the round with a collect. The thrill here is real—every chest is a little jolt of hope or disappointment, and if you keep hitting More Wilds, the tension just builds.
Those chest sequences can stack up a bunch of locked Wilds, and that’s when the base game suddenly comes to life. I’ve had sessions where this feature alone turned everything around.
Colossal And Infectious Wild Modifiers
The Colossal Kraken Wilds feature drops a massive 3×4 Wild block onto the reels after the spin. On a 5×4 grid, that's 12 out of 20 symbols—so if you’re a fan of big, in-your-face wins, this is where it gets exciting. Watching that block land is a rush every time.
With Infectious Kraken Wilds, at least one Wild lands, then infects all the adjacent symbols, flipping them wild too. Where that first Wild lands is everything—the infection can spread wide in a single spin. Visually, it’s the wildest of the bunch, and it never gets old watching the grid transform.
You don’t have to do anything to trigger these—they just pop up at random, which always keeps you guessing.
Sunken Treasure Bonus
The Sunken Treasure bonus comes alive when Bonus symbols hit reels 1 and 3 and you land the Chest symbol on reel 5. Three chests show up, and you pick one each round. Prizes? More Wilds for your current spin, a multiplier on all wins, another spin with locked Wilds, or the dreaded Collect that ends it all.
Sometimes, that Collect comes with a 2x multiplier, so it’s not all bad. The real dream is stringing together More Wilds and multipliers before the Collect shows up—those are the moments you remember.
Roaming Kraken Free Spins
The Roaming Kraken Free Spins round is the main event, no question. You need Bonus symbols on reels 1 and 3 plus the Free Spins symbol on reel 5, and then you're in for 10 free spins on a 40-payline grid.
Here’s what you’ll experience: a Roaming Wild drops on reel 1 to start. Each spin, it slides one reel to the right, and the multiplier climbs by 1x every time. If you get to reel 5, you’re at a juicy 10x multiplier. Sometimes you’ll land extra Wilds, and that’s when the multipliers start stacking and things can get wild—literally.
With 40 paylines in play during free spins (double the base game), every spin feels loaded. Combine that with a 10x multiplier and some well-placed Wilds, and you can hit the slot’s biggest wins right here. This is why I keep coming back.
Theme Feel And Similar Slot Picks
Underwater Presentation And Symbol Identity
The whole game just oozes deep-ocean vibes. The reels float above a shipwreck, piles of treasure, and that moody, glowing blue-green light. Every spin feels like you’re sinking deeper, and the Kraken pops up in all sorts of ways—never feels stale or repetitive, which is rare for themed slots.
Colors are dark and rich—think deep blues, greens, and flashes of amber. It’s not your typical candy-bright Pragmatic slot. The soundtrack? It’s cinematic, a little eerie, but not annoying, even after a long session. I appreciate that.
How It Differs From Release the Kraken 2
Release the Kraken 2 is technically the sequel, but honestly, it’s a different beast. They went full Megaways (that’s Big Time Gaming’s mechanic), so you lose the fixed 20 paylines and get a massive, ever-changing grid. That means more ways to win, but also a much higher variance—so buckle up if you’re chasing the sequel.
The original sticks to its fixed-payline guns, except for those 40 lines in free spins. If you like knowing exactly what you’re working with, and want a more predictable ride, the first Kraken is your jam. The sequel’s higher variance can mean brutal dry spells, so keep that in mind if you’re not a fan of long losing streaks.
Best Alternatives For Similar Mechanics Or Risk Profile
|
Slot Name |
Provider |
Similar To This Slot On |
|---|---|---|
|
Piranha Pays |
Pragmatic Play |
Same provider, underwater theme, medium-high volatility, wild-led features |
|
Siren's Lure |
Pragmatic Play |
Underwater theme, similar fixed-payline structure, comparable volatility tier |
|
Mighty Kraken |
Yggdrasil |
Shared kraken/ocean mythology theme, wild expansion features |
|
Rage of the Seas |
NetEnt |
Ocean adventure theme, roaming/expanding wild mechanic, medium-high volatility |
|
Dead or Alive 2 |
NetEnt |
Sticky wild free spins driving max win potential, comparable medium-high volatility |
|
Wild Depths |
Pragmatic Play |
Pragmatic underwater title, wild modifier features, overlapping player audience |
Pros Cons And Final Take
Four Reasons It Works
|
Strength |
Why It Matters |
|---|---|
|
Three distinct base-game wild modifiers |
Keeps sessions lively—Colossal, Infectious, and Locking Wilds all feel unique and break up the grind |
|
Paylines double to 40 in free spins |
That’s a real boost when it counts; most fixed-payline slots never let you play more lines |
|
10,000x max win ceiling |
Way higher than the 2,500x–5,000x norm—if you’re chasing big bonuses, this one’s worth a look |
|
96.5% RTP above market average |
That extra 0.5% over the 96% standard means better long-term returns—every little bit helps |
Four Reasons It May Not Suit You
|
Weakness |
Why It Matters |
|---|---|
|
Estimated ~1-in-200 bonus trigger frequency |
Sometimes, you’ll wait through long dry spells between features. That’s a lot more downtime than most medium-volatility fans expect. |
|
10,000x ceiling modest vs. high-variance competitors |
If you’re chasing those wild 20,000x or even 100,000x theoretical wins, this one just won’t deliver those sky-high peaks. |
|
No bonus buy option |
You can’t skip the base-game grind and buy straight into free spins. That’s a feature a lot of Pragmatic Play slots now offer, but not here. |
|
Pick-chest outcomes are random despite appearing interactive |
Those Sunken Treasure chests? The choices feel interactive, but honestly, it’s all random under the hood. If you like skill-based picks, this might get under your skin. |
Closing Assessment
Release the Kraken really stands out as a medium-high variance slot that rewards patience. It doesn’t punish casual play too harshly, which I appreciate after so many brutal high-volatility sessions elsewhere.
When those three random wild modifiers hit, the reels come alive. There’s real momentum in the base game, and the Roaming Kraken Free Spins round brings that escalating multiplier action that makes you sit up and pay attention.
The RTP sits at 96.5%, which is a hair above the average, and that 10,000x ceiling is nothing to sneeze at for this format.
It’s not for everyone, though. If you want fast bonus access or crave those wild, ultra-high variance swings, you’ll probably get antsy here.
No bonus buy, and a 1-in-200 bonus trigger means you need a comfy bankroll and a little patience. But if you’re into layered features and a slot with a real sense of visual style, this one still holds up, even a few years down the line.
Looking for something different? You can check out our full slot reviews collection on FreeCasino.co. And hey, always play responsibly—no Kraken win is worth chasing losses.
