Release the Kraken by Pragmatic Play - Slot Overview
Release the Kraken by Pragmatic Play is a high-volatility dive into the ocean’s darkest legends, crafted for players who savor the quiet tension before a tidal-wave payout. Played on a 5-reel, 4-row grid, the voyage begins with 20 fixed paylines, which swell to 40 during Free Spins, mirroring the rising surge of the sea itself. With a maximum win of up to 10,000× your stake, the potential payout feels like striking a hidden cache of gold long guarded by the Kraken in the deepest trenches of the ocean.
The setting drifts between beauty and danger - vibrant shoals of fish and scattered relics shimmer across the seabed, while the shadow of the Kraken coils beneath the reels. When it surfaces as the Wild, it seizes control of the reels - unfurling in towering Colossal form, rippling outward as Infectious Wilds, or gripping the grid with relentless Locking variations, each of which can appear unexpectedly at any time during the base game. The Sunken Treasure bonus invites you to pry open hidden chests, while Roaming Kraken Free Spins unleash multipliers and expanded paylines like a storm rolling in from the deep. The result is an immersive descent into myth and motion - calm waters one moment, mythic chaos the next.
Release the Kraken design, RTP and volatility
Release the Kraken feels like a descent into a luminous but unpredictable undersea realm. The 5×4 reel set sits against a deep-ocean backdrop where coral glows in filtered light and shipwreck treasure rests on the seabed. The color palette is vivid and playful - bright fish, turtles, and sharks - while the Kraken itself adds a darker, more mythical edge and a constant undercurrent of menace. Animations are fluid and purposeful, especially when special Wild modifiers erupt across the reels, giving the impression that the ocean itself is shifting.
Behind the swirling currents and towering tentacles lies a carefully tuned engine, with an RTP of around 96.5%, positioning it solidly within the competitive standard for today’s feature-rich casino games. What truly defines the experience, however, is its high volatility. The gameplay is structured around patience and escalation - quieter stretches in the base game give way to dramatic surges when modifiers or Free Spins take hold. That volatility creates a psychological edge: each spin feels like it could be the one that awakens the Kraken. It’s a format that rewards players who are comfortable riding out quieter spins in anticipation of a larger, more meaningful payout.
Special Features of Release the Kraken
What makes Release the Kraken memorable isn’t just its ocean theme - it’s the layered structure of its bonus mechanics. You’re not simply spinning until Free Spins appear - the base game itself carries tension because multiple Wild modifiers can appear at any time. Then, on top of that, you have a pick-style bonus and a Free Spins round that actually evolves while it’s active. It creates a sense that the Kraken isn’t locked behind one feature - it can surface whenever it chooses.
Random Kraken Wild Modifiers
The defining mechanic of the slot is its trio of Wild transformations, which can trigger randomly in the base game.
- Colossal Wilds expand vertically, often covering large portions of a reel and dramatically increasing connection potential.
- Infectious Wilds spread horizontally to neighboring symbols, turning near-hits into full combinations in a satisfying chain reaction.
- Locking Wilds stay anchored in place for additional spins, creating short bursts of momentum and anticipation.
These modifiers inject volatility directly into regular spins, meaning each and every one carries an undercurrent of possibility.
Sunken Treasure Pick Bonus Game
When Bonus symbols align, the Sunken Treasure bonus is triggered. This interactive pick-and-click mini game allows players to open chests revealing instant cash prizes. Some selections can also unlock Free Spins, making the feature feel like both a reward and a gateway. It breaks the rhythm of spinning and adds a tactile pause in the action.
Roaming Kraken Free Spins
The Free Spins bonus round is where the slot truly shifts gears. Paylines expand from 20 to 40, instantly increasing winning potential. During this mode, the Kraken “roams” across the reels, leaving Wilds behind and attaching multipliers that can escalate with consecutive hits. The sense of progression is noticeable.
Release the Kraken Symbols Explained
The symbols in Release the Kraken fully immerse you in its underwater mythology, blending playful marine life with a touch of looming legend. At the center is the Kraken Wild, the most valuable symbol in the game and the visual embodiment of its volatility. The Kraken substitutes for regular symbols and transforms through its Colossal, Infectious, and Locking variations, creating the mechanical heartbeat of the entire experience.
Wild
5 x25
4 x10
3 x2.5
Kraken
5 x25
4 x10
3 x2.5
Kraken Wild
Bonus
Free Spins
Shark
5 x12.5
4 x5
3 x2
Sea Turtle
5 x10
4 x4
3 x2
Blue Reef Fish
5 x7.5
4 x3
3 x1
Tropical Fish
5 x5
4 x3
3 x1
A (Ace)
5 x4
4 x1
3 x0.5
K (King)
5 x4
4 x1
3 x0.5
Q (Queen)
5 x2
4 x0.5
3 x0.25
J (Jack)
5 x2
4 x0.5
3 x0.25
Supporting the Kraken are the premium marine creatures - most notably the shark and turtle - which occupy the upper tier of the paytable and deliver the strongest regular symbol payouts after the Wild. These are followed by mid-tier aquatic life such as brightly colored tropical fish and crabs, which maintain the reef-like vibrancy of the reels while offering moderate returns. At the base level sit the classic A, K, Q, J, and 10 card ranks, stylized to match the oceanic palette. They function as the structural backbone of the game, appearing frequently and balancing hit rate without overshadowing the themed icons.
How to Play Release the Kraken
Set your course
Set your bet before you dive in. Adjust the stake to suit your bankroll - from cautious exploration to bold treasure hunting.
Launch the spin and watch for matching symbols
Hit the spin button and let the reels descend into motion. Symbols cascade across the 5×4 grid, and winning combinations are formed across 20 fixed paylines - or 40 if Free Spins are active.
Unleash the Kraken
Keep your eyes on the Wild symbol. When the Kraken surfaces, it can expand, spread, or lock into place through its special modifiers. These random Wild variations can transform an ordinary spin into something far more dramatic.
Discover hidden treasure
Land the required Scatter symbols to trigger the Sunken Treasure bonus. Open chests for instant cash rewards - and possibly gain entry to the Free Spins round, where the real surge of potential begins.
Ride the Free Spins storm
If you unlock Roaming Kraken Free Spins, paylines expand and the Kraken moves across the reels, leaving Wilds and multipliers behind. This is where volatility peaks - and where a patient player may haul in the biggest treasure of the session.
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Release the Kraken - Your Questions, Answered
Can I play Release the Kraken for free?
Yes, you can play Release the Kraken for free in demo mode at many online casinos that feature Pragmatic Play titles and slot sites that offer game previews. This lets you spin the reels and explore features without risking real money, which is a great way to learn the mechanics and bonus interactions before wagering actual funds.
How does the Roaming Kraken mechanic work?
The Roaming Kraken mechanic comes into play during the Free Spins feature, where the Kraken actively moves across the reels instead of staying in one position. As it travels, it leaves Wild symbols behind and can attach multipliers to wins it helps create. This movement adds a sense of progression to the bonus round, allowing winning potential to build from spin to spin rather than resetting each time.
Is there a jackpot in Release the Kraken?
The slot does not feature a progressive or fixed jackpot. Instead, its win potential is driven by multipliers and Wild combinations within the core game and bonus features.
What is the max win in Release the Kraken?
The slot game offers a maximum payout of up to 10,000× your stake. This top win is typically achieved through stacked Wild modifiers and multipliers during the Free Spins feature.
Do the bonus features affect paylines?
They do! During Roaming Kraken Free Spins, paylines expand from the base game’s 20 to 40 ways to win, effectively doubling your winning routes during the bonus round. This expansion significantly increases combination potential, especially when paired with roaming Wilds and multipliers - making Free Spins the most dynamic and rewarding phase of the game.
Can I play Release the Kraken on mobile?
Yes, you can play Release the Kraken on mobile. The game is built in modern HTML5, so it runs smoothly on both smartphones and tablets without needing any downloads. Whether you’re on iOS or Android, the visuals, animations, and bonus features adapt cleanly to smaller screens, making it easy to dive into the deep-sea adventure on the go.
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