Release the Kraken Slot Demo And Review

Release the Kraken Quick Verdict

Release the Kraken slot review begins with the confirmed figures: Pragmatic Play (part of the PLAY Technologies N.V. group) released this underwater mythology slot on 28 January 2020 with a 96.50% base RTP, high volatility rated 4 out of 5 on the developer’s own scale, and a 10,000x maximum win. The defining mechanic is the Roaming Kraken Free Spins feature, where sticky wilds roam across an expanded 40-payline grid and every wild landed increases a progressive multiplier from 1x up to 10x.

The base RTP of 96.50% is confirmed at VegasSlotsOnline, AboutSlots, BigWinBoard, AskGamblers, ClashOfSlots, and the official Pragmatic Play game page — no conflicting figures identified across 22 sources reviewed. Data confidence for this review is high: all five bonus features are fully documented, the math model is complete, and player sentiment has been gathered from AskGamblers reviews, LCB.org comments, Chipy community ratings, and BigWinBoard editorial analysis.

RTP, volatility, and bonus mechanics are subject to change. Verify current figures at the operator site before depositing.

Math Model

Release the Kraken has a base RTP of 96.50%, confirmed by developer documentation published at pragmaticplay.com. Volatility is high (4/5 on Pragmatic Play’s scale), meaning players should expect infrequent wins that tend to be larger when they occur — extended losing runs are a structural characteristic, and bankroll depth is essential for sustained sessions.

RTP and Variable Settings

Developer documentation published at pragmaticplay.com states the base RTP as 96.50%. This figure is independently corroborated by VegasSlotsOnline, AboutSlots, BigWinBoard, AskGamblers, ClashOfSlots, and Stake.com. However, Pragmatic Play makes Release the Kraken available to operators at configurable RTP settings of 96.50%, 95.50%, and 94.50%. AboutSlots documents these variant settings explicitly. Players may unknowingly be playing a reduced-RTP version — the difference between 96.50% and 94.50% equates to £2 additional expected loss per £100 wagered over time. No feature buy option is available on the original Release the Kraken, so no separate feature buy RTP applies.

Volatility and Bankroll Planning

High volatility at the 4/5 tier means base game sessions frequently return below-average results, punctuated by occasional feature triggers that concentrate value. Player reports from AskGamblers and LCB.org discussion patterns suggest realistic feature wins cluster in the 400x–1,000x range rather than near the theoretical ceiling. Players evaluating concentrated single-spin variance may find our Deal With Death analysis useful — that title shares comparable high-volatility session dynamics with a similarly top-heavy payout distribution.

Max Win Calculation

The 10,000x max win is achievable exclusively within the Roaming Kraken Free Spins feature, where the progressive multiplier can reach 10x on a 40-payline grid filled with sticky wilds. The 10,000x max win at £100 maximum stake equates to £1,000,000. At minimum stake of £0.20, the same win equates to £2,000. BigWinBoard editorial review noted scepticism about Pragmatic Play’s max win claims during the release period. No verified screenshot of the full 10,000x payout was identified across 22 sources reviewed — confirmed player wins cluster at lower tiers.

Bonus Features

Release the Kraken contains five distinct bonus mechanics: three random base game features triggered via a shared tentacle pick event, one pick-and-win bonus, and one primary free spins feature. Each is detailed below with trigger conditions and structural mechanics.

Roaming Kraken Free Spins

The Roaming Kraken Free Spins trigger when Bonus symbols land on reels 1 and 3 alongside the Free Spins symbol (Steering Wheel) on reel 5 — all three positions must be filled simultaneously. The Roaming Kraken Free Spins trigger requires these three specific symbol positions — confirmed in the operator game description at LeoVegas and the Pragmatic Play official game page.

Upon activation, a chest-picking phase determines the number of spins: each chest reveals +1, +2, or +3 additional spins, and picking continues until a Collect symbol appears. The maximum award is 12 free spins. Paylines expand from 20 to 40 for the duration of the feature.

The core mechanic is a progressive win multiplier that starts at 1x and increases by +1 for every wild symbol that lands during free spins. All wilds are sticky — they remain on the grid — and roam to new random positions each spin, creating shifting wild clusters. The maximum multiplier is 10x.

The multiplier progression is front-loaded in probability terms: reaching 3x–5x is achievable with moderate wild frequency, but pushing to 8x–10x requires consistent wild landings across most spins. BigWinBoard and CasinoHipster both note that low-multiplier free spin outcomes (10x–50x total bet) are common, with the variance heavily skewed toward rare high-multiplier completions. Retrigger is not possible.

Sunken Treasure Bonus

The Sunken Treasure Bonus triggers when Bonus symbols land on reels 1 and 3 alongside the Chest Bonus symbol on reel 5. This is a pick-and-win feature: three chests appear, and the player picks one at a time to reveal random cash prizes. Picking continues until a Collect symbol is found, ending the feature and awarding the accumulated total. The number of picks is unknown in advance, creating variable prize potential. This feature does not contribute to the 10,000x max win — it functions as a supplementary cash collection mechanic during sessions.

Kraken Locking Wilds

Triggered randomly when three tentacles appear during any base game spin. The player picks one of three tentacles to activate this feature. Reels continue spinning while treasure chests appear on the grid. Each chest pick reveals one of five outcomes: additional wilds locked onto reels, continued spinning with no effect, all current wins multiplied by 2x and collected, more wilds added plus immediate collect, or a plain collect ending the feature. The interactive element — choosing chests during live reel spins — distinguishes this from static wild placement.

Colossal Kraken Wilds

All Kraken Locking Wilds trigger mechanics apply — random tentacle pick-me event. The structural difference is that a single oversized 3×4 wild symbol is placed randomly across three reels for one spin, covering the majority of the visible grid. This creates immediate high-value combinations by replacing 12 symbol positions simultaneously. The feature operates as a single-spin value injection rather than an accumulative mechanic.

Infectious Kraken Wilds

All Kraken Locking Wilds trigger mechanics apply — random tentacle pick-me event. The structural difference is that at least one Infectious Kraken Wild is guaranteed to land, and it converts all adjacent symbols into wilds. The infection mechanic creates expanding wild clusters that can cover significant grid area from a single wild placement, making it the most spatially efficient of the three random features.

Base Game

Release the Kraken uses a 5-reel, 4-row grid with 20 fixed paylines. The layout is a standard fixed grid — no cascading, shifting, or expanding mechanics apply during the base game.

Special Symbols

The Wild symbol (depicted as a bubble) substitutes for all symbols except the Bonus, Free Spins, and Chest Bonus symbols. It pays the same as the highest regular symbol at 25x stake for five of a kind. The Release the Kraken Logo is the highest-paying regular symbol, appearing stacked on the reels. A full screen of Logo symbols returns 500x total bet. The Bonus symbol (Ship) must land on reels 1 and 3 to contribute to feature triggers. The Free Spins symbol (Steering Wheel) on reel 5 combined with Bonus symbols on reels 1 and 3 triggers Roaming Kraken Free Spins. The Chest Bonus symbol on reel 5 combined with the same Bonus symbol positions triggers the Sunken Treasure Bonus. Players interested in how other fishing and sea-themed Pragmatic Play titles handle wild mechanics may find our Le Fisherman slot guide useful — that title shares a comparable underwater theme with a distinct free spins wild structure at similar stake ranges.

Bet Range and Compatibility

Bets range from £0.20 to £100 per spin. Mobile compatibility is confirmed — the game is built in HTML5 and functions on iOS and Android devices without loss of features or layout adjustment.

Where to Play

Release the Kraken is available at multiple UKGC-licensed casinos enrolled in GamStop. The table below lists verified options.

Casino availability and welcome offers subject to change. Confirm current terms at each operator site. UKGC account numbers were not independently verified for these operators in the research data — confirm licensing status in the casino footer before registering.

Operators can configure Release the Kraken at lower RTP settings of 95.50% or 94.50% without prominent disclosure. The 96.50% headline figure applies only at the highest setting. UKGC-licensed operators must display the configured RTP within the game interface — check the help panel before depositing. This review was unable to verify which RTP setting is active at individual operators.

A free demo version of Release the Kraken is available to play without registration — use the demo player above to test the bonus mechanics before committing real money.

For a broader view of reviewed titles across different volatility tiers and mechanics, our Slots review page indexes all independently assessed games by RTP, developer, and feature type.

Similar Slots

Players who enjoy the progressive multiplier free spins and underwater mythology theme of Release the Kraken may also consider the following titles. The table below includes direct sequels and mechanical alternatives.

RTP figures for Beat the Beast: Kraken’s Lair and Octopus Treasure reflect third-party database data and have not been independently confirmed from developer documentation.

Release the Kraken 2 increases volatility to 5/5 and introduces Wild Respins absent from the original, but the max win drops to 5,000x — players who value a higher theoretical ceiling should stay with the original. Release the Kraken Megaways is the most accessible entry in the series at medium volatility with up to 117,649 ways, suiting players who want the theme without punishing dry spells. Big Bass Bonanza offers a higher confirmed base RTP of 96.71% within the same Pragmatic Play underwater family but caps at 2,100x — it suits players prioritising return rate over max win potential. Beat the Beast: Kraken’s Lair from Thunderkick provides an alternative Kraken mythology angle with expanding win mechanics rather than progressive multipliers, better for players who prefer deterministic symbol expansion over incremental multiplier growth. Octopus Treasure from Play’n GO delivers four random base game modifiers and random multipliers in a subsea setting — a fit for players who want frequent base game interruptions without relying on a single primary free spins feature.

Release the Kraken Verdict

Release the Kraken suits experienced high-volatility players who value interactive bonus mechanics — the five distinct features maintain session variety despite long base game dry spells.

Strengths: The confirmed 96.50% RTP sits above the industry average for high-volatility titles, verified across eight independent sources and developer documentation. The Roaming Kraken Free Spins feature offers a genuinely distinctive mechanic — progressive multipliers tied to sticky roaming wilds on an expanded 40-payline grid create meaningful decision context around session length. Three random base game features triggered via the tentacle pick-me event provide supplementary value between feature triggers, keeping sessions structurally varied. The complete absence of a feature buy means all bonus access is earned through natural play, which some players prefer.

Weaknesses: The 10,000x max win is largely theoretical based on available player evidence — documented wins cluster at 400x–1,000x, and no verified screenshot of the full ceiling was identified. Free spins are notoriously difficult to trigger, requiring three specific symbols on designated reels simultaneously. Low-pay playing card symbols (9 through Ace) feel incongruent with the underwater theme according to consistent player feedback across AskGamblers and LCB.org. The variable RTP configurations (down to 94.50%) represent a meaningful risk if operators deploy reduced settings without prominent disclosure.

Responsible Gambling

Release the Kraken is a high-volatility slot where extended sessions without feature triggers are common. Set a budget and a time limit before starting any session — both are equally important. UKGC-licensed operators provide mandatory deposit, loss, and session time controls in your account settings. Use them before spinning.

The RTP figure in this review applies at the highest operator setting of 96.50%. Lower variants of 95.50% or 94.50% may be active at your chosen casino — verify in the game information panel before depositing.

If gambling is affecting your wellbeing, GamStop registers you simultaneously with all UKGC-licensed operators for a chosen self-exclusion period. GamCare provides free counselling and support. BeGambleAware offers tools and information for safer gambling. Gamban blocks gambling sites and apps across all your devices.