Release the Kraken is a maritime-themed Pragmatic Play slot: a 4×5 grid with 20 lines in the base game, random features possible at any spin, and a free spins round with roaming wilds and a progressive multiplier. The provider's game page publishes a 96.50% RTP. Lottomart, a UK operator, lists 92.10% and stakes of £0.20 to £5.00. The Bigwinboard review puts the potential at up to 10,000 times the stake.
It is a busier game than its reel set suggests, because three separate mechanics sit on top of the lines: random wild modifiers, a chest-picking cash bonus and the free spins. Each is explained below in the order you are likely to meet it, followed by the return, the volatility - on which the sources do not agree - and the official demo.
Release the Kraken in figures
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Provider | Pragmatic Play | Bigwinboard review |
| Format | 4×5 grid, 20 lines | Provider's game page |
| Default RTP | 96.50% | Provider's game page |
| RTP at Lottomart | 92.10% | Lottomart (UK operator) |
| Volatility | Medium; medium to high; 4/5 lightning bolts | Lottomart details; Lottomart overview; Bigwinboard |
| Maximum win | Up to 10,000 times the stake | Bigwinboard review |
| Stake at Lottomart | £0.20 to £5.00 | Lottomart (UK operator) |
| Free spins lines | 40 paylines | Bigwinboard review |
No saved source gives a release date, so this page does not state one.
The base game: lines and symbols
The base game pays on 20 paylines when symbols of three or more match. Low pays are card royals of J to A; high pays are four sea creatures - a green fish, a blue fish, a turtle and a shark. The game's logo is the most valuable regular symbol, with five of a kind paying 25 times the stake. The standard wild substitutes for any symbol except the Bonus, Free Spins and Chest Bonus symbols.
On its own this is a conventional line slot. What changes a session is how often the extras arrive, and that cannot be predicted: the modifiers are random, and the two bonuses need particular symbols on particular reels.
Random modifiers: three kinds of Kraken wild
At any moment, three tentacles can appear over the reels waving a Pick Me sign; choosing one unlocks a modifier for that spin. There are three of them.
- Infectious Kraken Wilds: at least one such wild is added, and these wilds turn adjacent symbols into wilds as well.
- Colossal Kraken Wilds: a giant 3x4 wild that always lands on the reels, though it might not cover a full 12 positions.
- Kraken Lockin Wilds: a new wild enters the game, three chests appear on the reels and the player opens them one by one.
The pick decides which modifier you get, not whether the spin wins. A modifier improves the chances on that spin and promises nothing beyond it.
Sunken Treasure Bonus
Bonus symbols on reels 1 and 3, and a Chest Bonus on reel 5, start the Sunken Treasure Bonus, which appears only during the base game. Three chests appear on the screen and are opened one at a time to reveal prizes; the feature runs until one of them reveals Collect. Lottomart describes the hidden values as multipliers, the highest being x25. How many picks you get before Collect is down to chance.
Opens the official demo on an external site. No deposit, no sign-up with us. www.pragmaticplay.com
Release the Kraken free spins: roaming wilds
Roaming Kraken Free Spins are triggered with Bonus symbols on reels 1 and 3, along with the Free Spins symbol on reel 5. There is no set number of spins. The player first opens chests that reveal +1, +2 or +3 spins and keeps picking until the collecting message ends the selection; Lottomart counts 10 hidden items on the stage.
The round itself runs on 40 paylines instead of the 20 of the base game, with a win multiplier that starts at x1. Every time a wild lands, it remains on the reels and roams, and increases the multiplier by +1. So the round rewards wilds arriving early and in number - and if few land, the multiplier stays low and the round can pay little. That dependence on a handful of events is why reviewers describe sessions as able to go either way.
RTP and volatility: two readings each
The provider states 96.50% as the default return, and the Bigwinboard review repeats 96.5%. Lottomart runs the game at 92.10%. Pragmatic Play titles are supplied in several configurations, and the operator chooses one; the figure that applies to you is in the information screen of the game at your casino. RTP is a theoretical long-run average across a very large number of spins, so it describes the cost of playing over time, not the result of a session.
Volatility is reported three ways. Lottomart's detail box says Medium, its overview says medium to high, and Bigwinboard notes 4/5 lightning bolts on the provider's own scale. The safe reading is that returns are uneven and concentrated in the bonuses. The potential of up to 10,000 times the stake is an upper limit, not an expectation. Each spin is random and independent; no stake size, pick or timing alters the odds.
Series and lookalikes
The sources saved for this review describe only this title, so we make no claims about other games carrying the Kraken name. If you meet one in a lobby, treat its figures as its own and read its information screen. Bigwinboard notes that the mathematical model shares a lot with Hercules & Pegasus, another Pragmatic Play slot - a comparison of style, not a statement that the numbers match.
What we like
- The provider publishes the default RTP on its game page
- Each feature has a clear trigger tied to named reels
- Free spins run on 40 paylines with a multiplier that grows with every wild
- Official free demo available
What to keep in mind
- Lottomart's configuration returns 92.10%, well below the default
- Volatility is described differently by different sources
- No release date and no provider statement of the maximum win in the saved sources
- Many moving parts for a newcomer to follow
Who will get on with it
Players who enjoy pick-and-reveal features and do not mind learning several rules will find plenty to watch. Those who prefer a plain slot, or steady small returns, will not. If you play for money, fix a budget first and treat it as spent on entertainment. The demo shows the modifiers and both bonuses without any stake.
Where we land
Our rating sits in the upper middle of the scale. The game documents its features well, the provider states the default RTP, and the demo is official. Marks come off because the published picture has gaps: the maximum win and the volatility come from reviewers and an operator, not from the provider's page, and the one UK return we could verify is much lower than the default. The rating is an opinion on how clearly the product is presented, and carries no implication about winnings.
Variance simulator
Simplified model based on the published RTP and volatility, not the game's real math. For learning only — results are random and prove nothing about future sessions.
Release the Kraken FAQ
What is the RTP of Release the Kraken?
The provider's game page lists 96.50%. Lottomart lists 92.10%. Operators can run different configurations, so check the information screen where you play.
Who made Release the Kraken?
Pragmatic Play.
What is the Release the Kraken max win?
The Bigwinboard review puts the potential at up to 10,000 times the stake. It is a ceiling, not a likely outcome.
Is there a Release the Kraken demo?
Yes. Pragmatic Play hosts an official demo on its game page, behind an age confirmation. It needs no deposit.
How do the free spins start?
With Bonus symbols on reels 1 and 3 and the Free Spins symbol on reel 5. The number of spins is set by the chests you open before the round begins.
Can I play Release the Kraken on mobile?
Lottomart, a UK operator that carries the game, is available in the browser (Safari & Chrome) for mobile, tablet, and desktop. Check device support with your own casino.
