Release the Kraken Slot

First Glance

The slot provider Pragmatic Play launched Release the Kraken on 30 January 2020, setting it in the depths of the ocean where a mythical sea creature hides beneath calm waters. The game features a cartoon underwater theme, characterised by bright blue tones.

We found the visual presentation to be strong since it worked well together as an overall design, although it felt overly glossy for extended play. The animation from spin to spin flows easily into tentacle animations that give the game character life, without being frenetic or overwhelming on the screen. The graphics establish a fun slot that is warm and welcoming during play.

The audio design effectively supports the underwater theme with gentle ambient sounds that transition into tense audio signals when something uneasy occurs in the Kraken’s motions.

This earlier version of Release the Kraken is lighter, simpler and more relaxed in contrast to the more complex, themed, heavy and darker tones of the Megaways version. This online slot maintains a bright and approachable quality, thus keeping the visual design assets accessible.

Mechanics and Key Game Elements

The Release the Kraken slot is a classic line-bet payout setup where you’ll be rewarded with combinations of three or more matching symbols from left to right. The slot isn’t your typical spinning reels, because there is a multi-layered bonus-type system wrapped around the base game, where a random wild event and then a free spins round with wilds roaming on the reels will activate some movement in the base play.

Symbols

• Low-value: J, Q, K, A.
• High-value: Green Fish, Blue Fish, Turtle, Shark, Game Logo.
• Special: Wild (bubble WILD), Ship BONUS, Free Spins, Chest BONUS.

Symbol spread is sensible: lows stay modest, mid-tier fish carry the line hits, and the logo acts as the clear premium. The overall payout balance feels a touch top-heavy, meaning the strongest returns tend to cluster within the bonus features rather than in the base game.

Jamie Wall Casino Analyst

Bonus Features

The Release the Kraken slot game keeps its bonus system varied yet cohesive, combining triggered features with random wild modifiers.

Wild symbols: Wilds substitute for regular symbols and can appear on all reels. In random features, they may lock, arrive as a 3×4 colossal wild, or infect adjacent tiles to turn them wild. Wilds do not replace the Bonus/Free Spins/Chest symbols.

Free Spins and Multipliers: Landing the Ship BONUS on reels 1 and 3, along with the Free

Spins symbol on reel 5 activates the Roaming Kraken Free Spins. Before the round begins, players pick treasure chests to reveal extra spins until a Collect symbol appears, with a maximum of 12 free spins available. Each wild that lands increases the win multiplier by +1, and these wilds stay on the reels, moving to new positions with every spin. The feature can’t be retriggered but holds the game’s highest payout potential.

Sunken Treasure Bonus: Triggered by the Ship BONUS on reels 1 and 3 plus the Chest BONUS on reel 5, this is a pick-and-collect round where each chest reveals an instant cash prize. Picks continue until a Collect chest ends the round.

Random Wild Features: On any spin, three tentacles may rise, prompting players to choose one of three random events:

• Kraken Locking Wilds: Respins continue as chests appear, adding more wilds or multipliers until you collect.
• Colossal Kraken Wilds: A single 3×4 wild drops onto the reels for one powerful spin.
• Infectious Kraken Wilds: One guaranteed wild land, spreading to nearby tiles to create extra wilds.

The pay table shows all winning symbol values in Release the Kraken. Premium icons, including the Logo and Wild, pay the most, while sea creatures form mid-tier wins. The slot’s max win reaches 10,000× the stake.

Release the Krakenpay table

Next, we’ll explain how to play Release the Kraken, covering its other key gameplay details that shape each spin.

Gameplay and Betting Range

The layout of the Release the Kraken slot machine consists of 5×4, played on a standard reel format that requires three or more matching combinations starting from left to right to pay.

Users can adjust their wager per spin from £0.20 to £100 by using the plus and minus buttons within the control panel. The panel also provides easily visible access to the pay table, spin settings, and bet levels directly from the bottom of the screen. The game features Autoplay, Quick Spin, and Turbo features, depending on the casino’s version of the game.

The RTP is known to be 96.5% and is classed as high volatility, which generally indicates that players can win less frequently but could receive bigger wins.

During my test, the controls felt sharp and immediate, with Autoplay running without interruption. Quick and Turbo spins helped shorten rounds while keeping visuals stable. The broad betting range supports a flexible strategy, letting cautious players stay steady while higher-stakes users chase larger returns.

Jamie Wall Casino Analyst

Test Notes

Our team tested Release the Kraken across several UK slot sites to assess how its bonuses, payout rhythm, and volatility behave in real sessions.

During my test, the base game of Release the Kraken felt balanced, with tentacle features triggering roughly every 40-50 spins. The Kraken Locking Wilds provided steady wins between 3× and 8× my stake, while the Roaming Kraken Free Spins triggered after about 160 spins, paying close to 80× with a multiplier that climbed to ×4. The Sunken Treasure Bonus added smaller top-ups of 10×-25×. Compared with Release the Kraken 2, this version plays slower but more methodically, with no gamble feature and a focus on consistent pacing over rapid triggers, a solid match for those preferring a measured strategy in high volatility play.

Jamie Wall Casino Analyst

Our Verdict

We believe that Release the Kraken strikes the ideal balance between entertaining visuals and high-volatility gameplay. Below the cartoon surface lies a slot that greatly benefits timing and patience. The roaming wilds, multipliers and random bonus feature keep each session unpredictable in a good way. Should you wish to explore Release the Kraken but are worried about spending cash, you can always play Release the Kraken for fun first to get a sense of the rhythm before you risk your bankroll.

• Pros:
• Roaming wilds
• Growing multipliers in free spins
• Three random modifiers
• Clear layout and fast spin options

• Cons:
• Long gaps between major wins
• No gamble feature
• Free spins can be brief