Release the Kraken Slot Review
Release the Kraken is a medium-high volatility underwater-themed slot by Pragmatic Play with an RTP of 96.50%. It features a 5x4 grid with three randomly triggered Kraken wild features in the base game, expanding paylines in free spins (20→40), and roaming sticky wilds with escalating multipliers up to 10x for a maximum win of 10,000x.
What is Release the Kraken?
Release the Kraken, launched by Pragmatic Play in January 2020, takes the mythological sea monster theme and builds a genuinely layered gameplay experience around it. The 5x4 grid with 20 paylines may sound modest, but the slot's real identity emerges through three distinct randomly triggered Kraken wild features in the base game — Locking Wilds, Colossal Wilds (a massive 3x4 block), and Infectious Wilds that spread to adjacent positions. These tentacle-driven interventions keep the base game active in a way most slots at this volatility level don't attempt. The bonus round is where the math opens up: paylines double from 20 to 40, sticky wilds roam the grid (changing position each spin but persisting), and every wild that lands increments a multiplier that climbs up to 10x. An interesting design footnote: the sequel Release the Kraken 2 actually halved the maximum win from 10,000x to 5,000x — making the original the higher-ceiling version, which is unusual in slot sequel design.
RTP, Volatility & Max Win
Release the Kraken's headline RTP of 96.50% is above average and consistent with Pragmatic Play's premium titles of that era. However, operator-configurable RTP variants exist at 95.50% and 94.50%, meaning the house edge can range from 3.5% to 5.5% depending on the casino — a significant difference over extended play. The medium-high volatility rating (4 out of 5 on Pragmatic's scale) creates a session profile with more base game activity than extreme volatility titles, supplemented by the three random Kraken features that distribute value outside of the bonus round. The 10,000x maximum win cap is strong for a 2020 release and notably double what the sequel offers. Reaching this ceiling requires the perfect storm: maximum multiplier (10x), full roaming wilds coverage, and premium symbols aligned across all 40 expanded paylines. The math model shares characteristics with Pragmatic Play's Hercules & Pegasus — volatile sessions with unpredictable feature distribution. The dual bonus trigger system (reel 5 decides whether you get Treasure Bonus or Free Spins) adds an unusual element of variance to the bonus trigger itself.
How Release the Kraken Works
The base game operates on a 5x4 grid with 20 fixed paylines. On any spin, three tentacles may appear from the edges of the screen, initiating a pick-me mechanic where the player chooses one of three Kraken wild features. Locking Wilds place wilds on the grid and offer additional chest picks for more wilds, a continue option, a 2x multiplier on all wins, or collect. Colossal Kraken Wilds drop a massive 3x4 wild symbol covering three full reels for one spin — effectively guaranteeing wins across most active paylines. Infectious Kraken Wilds place at least one wild that then spreads to adjacent positions, creating expanding wild coverage. While the pick-me mechanic gives a sense of player agency, the outcomes are predetermined by the RNG — the choice is an engagement illusion, not a strategic decision.
Bonus Round & Free Spins
The bonus trigger requires bonus symbols on reels 1 and 3 plus a specific symbol on reel 5. If reel 5 shows the Free Spins symbol, the Roaming Kraken Free Spins begin — players pick chests to determine the number of spins (up to 12). During the bonus, paylines expand from 20 to 40, doubling the potential winning combinations. The multiplier starts at 1x and increases by 1x for every wild that lands, climbing to a maximum of 10x. Wilds are sticky but roam — they persist across spins but change positions on the grid each turn. This creates a compounding effect: as more wilds land and the multiplier climbs, each subsequent spin becomes more valuable. The exponential scaling of roaming wilds plus escalating multiplier across doubled paylines is the mathematical path to the 10,000x maximum win.
Special Features
If reel 5 shows the Chest Bonus symbol instead of Free Spins, the Sunken Treasure Bonus activates — a pick-and-click feature where players open chests for instant cash prizes until one reveals 'Collect.' This is a fixed-prize feature without the escalating potential of free spins, but it provides guaranteed returns without the variance of a full bonus round. The dual-trigger system on reel 5 is a distinctive design choice: the same initial trigger condition (bonus symbols on reels 1 and 3) leads to fundamentally different bonus experiences depending on a single reel position. This adds an extra layer of anticipation — and occasional disappointment when you wanted free spins but got the treasure bonus instead.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Three distinct randomly triggered Kraken wild features keep the base game genuinely engaging between bonuses
- 10,000x maximum win cap is strong — notably double what the sequel Release the Kraken 2 offers
- Roaming sticky wilds with escalating multiplier create real compounding win potential in free spins
- Payline expansion from 20 to 40 during bonus structurally doubles winning opportunity
- Above-average RTP of 96.50% with engaging base game activity at medium-high volatility
Cons
- Free spins are difficult to trigger — long dry spells between bonus rounds are common
- The pick-me mechanic in Kraken features creates an illusion of choice that is actually RNG-predetermined
- Bonus round results are highly volatile — rounds can return as little as 10-20x despite the 10,000x ceiling
- Operator RTP variants go as low as 94.50%, creating a significant house edge increase
Common Misconceptions
What Players Say About Release the Kraken
Release the Kraken receives generally positive but understated community attention. Players consistently highlight the base game Kraken features as the slot's strongest element — the random wild interventions prevent the monotony that plagues many medium-high volatility games. The cartoon-style underwater graphics and soundtrack receive praise for atmosphere. The most common complaint targets the difficulty of triggering free spins and the wide variance in bonus results. Several community members describe it as a slot that 'burns through balance quickly without the right feature hits.' An interesting point of discussion: players who discover that the original has double the max win cap of the sequel often express surprise and reconsider the game. Release the Kraken occupies a 'solid mid-tier' position in community rankings — respected but not iconic.
Session Notes
Testing Release the Kraken across extended sessions revealed a slot with more base game personality than most Pragmatic Play titles. The random Kraken features triggered every 30-50 spins, keeping sessions from feeling stale. Colossal Kraken Wilds produced the most visually impressive moments — a 3x4 wild block covering three reels generated substantial wins even on the base 20 paylines. Free spins proved difficult to trigger, averaging roughly once every 200+ spins. The Sunken Treasure Bonus appeared approximately as often as free spins but returned modest fixed prizes (5-15x range). The free spins rounds showed extreme variance: two rounds returned under 15x total, while one round with 4 accumulated wilds and a 5x multiplier produced a 340x win — the kind of dramatic swing that defines the medium-high volatility profile.
Expert Assessment
Release the Kraken stands out for its triple random wild feature system that keeps the base game engaging — a quality many medium-high volatility slots struggle to achieve. The 10,000x cap (double the sequel) and roaming sticky wild mechanics provide credible big-win potential. The 96.50% RTP is competitive, though operator variants drop to 94.50%. The main weakness is inconsistent bonus trigger frequency. A well-designed slot that deserves more attention than it gets.
Is Release the Kraken Worth Playing?
Release the Kraken is one of Pragmatic Play's more underappreciated designs from 2020. The three-way random Kraken feature system gives the base game genuine personality that many higher-profile slots lack — you're not just waiting for a bonus trigger, you're experiencing meaningful wild interventions regularly. The 10,000x cap is strong (and ironically superior to the sequel), and the roaming sticky wild plus escalating multiplier mechanic in free spins creates a mathematically satisfying compounding effect. Where it falls short: free spins are hard to trigger, and when they do trigger, the variance is steep enough that disappointment is a regular companion. For players who want an active base game experience with a credible big-win ceiling, Release the Kraken delivers. For bonus-hunting purists who want frequent and reliable free spins, this isn't the right title.
How Release the Kraken Compares
| Slot | Provider | RTP | Volatility | Max Win | Why Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release the Kraken | Pragmatic Play | 96.5% | High | 10,000x | This slot |
| Cash Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | 96.5% | High | 5,000x | Pragmatic Play's expanding grid approach vs. Kraken's expanding paylines — different methods of scaling win potential in bonuses |
| Gates of Olympus | Pragmatic Play | 96.5% | High | 5,000x | Pragmatic Play's later tumble design with different multiplier philosophy — global random vs. Kraken's position-based escalating system |
| Great Rhino Megaways | Pragmatic Play | 96.58% | High | 20,000x | Similar Pragmatic Play era and volatility class, but Megaways vs. fixed payline approach to win generation |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RTP of Release the Kraken?
Release the Kraken has a default RTP of 96.50%. Operator-configurable variants exist at 95.50% and 94.50%. The difference between the highest and lowest settings nearly doubles the house edge (3.5% vs. 5.5%). Check the in-game info panel to confirm which version your casino runs.
How do the three Kraken wild features work?
On any base game spin, three tentacles may appear offering a pick-me choice between three wild types: Locking Wilds (sticky wilds with chest pick extras), Colossal Wilds (a massive 3x4 wild block covering three reels), and Infectious Wilds (wilds that spread to adjacent positions). The outcomes are RNG-predetermined — the pick is an engagement mechanic, not a strategic choice.
What is the maximum win on Release the Kraken?
The maximum win is 10,000x your total bet — notably double the 5,000x cap of the sequel Release the Kraken 2. This ceiling requires maximum multiplier (10x), full sticky wild coverage, and premium symbols across all 40 expanded paylines during free spins.
How do free spins work in Release the Kraken?
Free spins are triggered by bonus symbols on reels 1 and 3 plus a Free Spins symbol on reel 5. Players pick chests to determine spin count (up to 12). During the bonus, paylines expand from 20 to 40, wilds are sticky but roam (changing position each spin), and every new wild increases a multiplier that climbs to 10x.
What is the Sunken Treasure Bonus?
If the reel 5 trigger symbol shows a Chest instead of Free Spins, the Sunken Treasure Bonus activates. Players pick treasure chests for instant cash prizes until one reveals 'Collect.' It provides guaranteed returns but without the escalating potential of the free spins round.
Is Release the Kraken better than Release the Kraken 2?
It depends on your priority. The original has a 10,000x maximum win — double the sequel's 5,000x cap. The sequel introduced different features but sacrificed raw upside. If maximum win potential matters to you, the original is the superior choice.