Release the Kraken is a 5-reel, 4-row Pragmatic Play pokie with 20 paylines in the base game and 40 paylines during Free Spins. The slot uses a lot of feature movement: random Kraken modifiers, Wilds, pick chests, Sunken Treasure and Roaming Kraken Free Spins with a rising multiplier.
last updated 19 June 2026
Release The Kraken Pokie Review
Sea-Themed
Nature-Themed
Animals-Themed
Quick Facts
RTP
96.5%
Volatility
High
Provider
Pragmatic Play
Min Bet
AU$0.20
Max Bet
AU$100
Max Win
10,000x
Free spins
Bonus game
Wild symbol
Scatter Symbol
Multiplier
Symbol Stacked
Jackpot Game
Slot reels
5
Slot lines
20 fixed paylines
Release Date
2020
Page contents
- Game Overview
- Game Features & Mechanics
- Technical Specifications
- Paytable & Symbol Values
- Graphics, Animations & Sound Design
- Game Gallery
- Release The Kraken on Mobile Devices and Other Platforms
- How Release The Kraken Compares to Similar Pokies
- About Pragmatic Play — The Developer Behind the Game
- Final Verdict
- Last Pokie Reviews
- Frequently Asked Questions
Game Overview
Release the Kraken is Pragmatic Play’s underwater monster slot, set around a wrecked ship, bright sea creatures and a Kraken that interrupts the base game with Wild features. The standard setup uses 5 reels, 4 rows and 20 paylines, with regular wins paid from left to right. During Roaming Kraken Free Spins, the line count increases to 40. The provider lists the standard RTP at 96.50%, and the version checked uses a $0.20 to $100 bet range. The feature list is wide: 3 random Kraken modifiers, Sunken Treasure Bonus, Roaming Kraken Free Spins, Wilds, roaming sticky Wilds and a progressive Free Spins multiplier. We also checked for extra access tools and found the game has Bonus Buy that costs 100x the bet.
Game Features & Mechanics
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Fixed Paylines
The base game uses 20 fixed paylines across a 5x4 grid. Matching symbols need to connect from the left, starting on reel 1.
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Random Pick Feature
At random, 3 Kraken tentacles can appear with Pick Me signs. Your choice awards Locking Wilds, Colossal Kraken Wilds or Infectious Kraken Wilds.
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Two Symbol Bonuses
Reels 1 and 3 need Bonus symbols, while reel 5 decides the feature. A Chest starts Sunken Treasure; Free Spins starts the bonus round.
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Bonus Buy
Release The Kraken has a Bonus Buy feature that allows you to get straight to Free Spins and skip the wait. It costs 100x the bet.
Technical Specifications
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Volatility Level
Release the Kraken is listed as high volatility. That suits the feature design, with quieter base-game stretches and stronger potential inside Wild-heavy rounds.
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RTP Explained
The standard RTP is 96.50%. That is above the 96% quick benchmark many players use, but casino versions can still vary by market.
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Bet Range
The version checked runs from $0.20 to $100 per spin. The full stake plays across 20 base-game lines or 40 Free Spins lines.
Paytable & Symbol Values
The top regular symbol is the Release the Kraken logo or anchor-style symbol, paying 2.5x, 10x and 25x for 3, 4 and 5 on a line. The Shark pays 2x, 5x and 12.5x, while the Turtle pays 2x, 4x and 10x. The Blue Fish pays 1x, 3x and 7.5x. The Yellow Fish pays 1x, 3x and 5x. Ace and King pay 0.5x, 1x and 4x. Queen and Jack pay 0.25x, 0.5x and 2x. Wilds can also pay 2.5x, 10x and 25x for 3, 4 and 5. All regular line wins pay from the left.
Special Symbols
Regular Wild
The Wild substitutes for all regular paying symbols. It does not replace the Bonus, Free Spins or Chest Bonus symbols, and it can also pay directly.
Bonus Symbol
The Bonus symbol matters on reels 1 and 3. It needs a matching reel-5 feature symbol to start Sunken Treasure or Roaming Kraken Free Spins.
Free Spins Symbol
The Free Spins symbol appears on reel 5. With Bonus symbols on reels 1 and 3, it starts the Roaming Kraken Free Spins round.
Chest Bonus Symbol
The Chest Bonus symbol also appears on reel 5. With Bonus symbols on reels 1 and 3, it triggers the Sunken Treasure pick feature.
Locking Wilds
Kraken Locking Wilds can add Wilds while the reels continue spinning. Chests may reveal more Wilds, 2x wins or Collect to finish the feature.
Colossal Kraken Wilds
Colossal Kraken Wilds guarantee a large 3x4 Wild on the next spin. The full Wild does not always land completely inside the visible grid.
Infectious Kraken Wilds
Infectious Kraken Wilds guarantee at least 1 Wild. It can infect adjacent symbols and turn them Wild, helping build stronger line connections.
Graphics, Animations & Sound Design
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Graphics
Release the Kraken uses a deep-sea setup with a wrecked ship, glowing water, bright fish symbols and a large Kraken presence around the reels. The 5x4 grid is easy to read, and the Bonus, Chest and Free Spins symbols are different enough to track during faster base-game spins.
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Animations
The base game becomes more active when the Kraken modifiers appear. Locking Wilds can add Wilds mid-spin, Infectious Wilds spread to nearby positions, and the Colossal Kraken can place a 3x4 Wild over the reels. Free Spins add extra movement because Wilds roam after landing and the multiplier increases by +1 for each new Wild.
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Sound Design
The audio leans into the underwater monster theme with darker reel sounds, heavier effects around Kraken features and sharper bonus starts. It does not explain the rules for you, but it does make the random modifiers feel different from ordinary line wins.
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Visual Feel & Interactivity
The game asks for more attention than a basic 20-line slot because reel 5 can change the bonus outcome. Bonus symbols on reels 1 and 3 are only part of the trigger; the final symbol decides whether you get Sunken Treasure or Roaming Kraken Free Spins.
Game Gallery
Release The Kraken on Mobile Devices and Other Platforms
Release the Kraken works well on mobile because the base grid is only 5 reels and 4 rows, not a wide Megaways screen. The main thing to watch is feature clarity. Random Kraken events can add Wilds, spread Wilds, or place a large 3x4 Wild, so a larger display helps when several overlays appear together. Free Spins also benefit from screen size because the game runs with 40 paylines and a progressive multiplier while Wilds roam between positions. Phone play is fine for short sessions, especially in landscape view. Tablet and desktop are better if you want to follow the Sunken Treasure picks, Free Spins multiplier and Wild movement without the reel area feeling cramped.
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Android
Android works well for the 5x4 base game. Larger models make Kraken modifiers, reel-5 bonus symbols and the Free Spins multiplier easier to read.
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iOS
iOS is comfortable for casual sessions. The controls stay simple, and the Chest and Free Spins symbols remain clear on bigger iPhone screens.
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Tablet
Tablet gives the best mobile balance. The 40-line Free Spins screen has more space, and roaming Wild positions are easier to follow.
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Desktop
Desktop is the better pick for longer play. The Wild overlays, Sunken Treasure picks and multiplier changes are clearer on a full-size screen.
Optimal Gameplay Tips
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Use Stable Connection
EssentialSunken Treasure uses a pick screen, and Free Spins can include roaming Wilds plus multiplier changes. A stable connection helps those rounds finish cleanly.
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Landscape Mode Recommended
RecommendedLandscape gives the 5x4 grid more width. It is especially useful when Colossal Kraken Wilds or several roaming Wilds appear together.
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Audio Settings
OptionalThe slot does not need sound to show wins or feature triggers. Use the audio for theme, but read the Bonus, Chest and multiplier values on screen.
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Full Screen Mode
RecommendedFull screen helps during feature-heavy spins. It makes Wild spread, 3x4 Colossal Kraken placement and the Free Spins multiplier easier to check.
How Release The Kraken Compares to Similar Pokies
Release The Kraken
Pragmatic Play
96.5%
High
0.20
Razor Shark
Push Gaming
96.7%
High
0.15
Sweet Rush Bonanza
Pragmatic Play
96.5%
High
0.20
Mermaid Reef
Reel Play
95.9%
High
0.10
Hypernova Radial Reels
Reel Play
96.3%
High
0.12
About Pragmatic Play — The Developer Behind the Game
Pragmatic Play is a major iGaming content provider with a broad catalogue across slots, live casino, bingo, virtual sports and other digital casino products. The company describes itself as mobile-focused and works through a single API model, which helps operators add multiple product types from the same supplier.
For slots, Pragmatic Play is known for quick-to-understand layouts, clear feature naming and a frequent use of volatile bonus structures. Its games often put the main risk and reward inside Free Spins, multipliers, Wild systems or collection-style mechanics. Release the Kraken follows that provider style well: the base grid is not complicated, but the feature layer gives the slot most of its weight. We like that Pragmatic Play usually keeps core rules visible — reel size, paylines, RTP and volatility are easy to find before real-money play. The main check is version control, because RTP settings and feature access can vary by casino and market.
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Mobile-Led Content
Pragmatic Play builds for desktop and mobile play, so its slots usually keep controls simple and bonus screens readable on smaller devices.
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Feature-First Slots
The provider often uses Free Spins, Wild modifiers, multipliers and bonus pick rounds as the main attraction rather than relying only on base-game wins.
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Broad Casino Portfolio
Pragmatic Play is not only a slot studio. Its wider portfolio includes live casino, bingo, virtual sports and other operator-facing casino products.
Final Verdict
Why It’s Worth Playing
- The base game uses a clear 4x5 layout with 20 paylines, so the reel setup is easy to read
- Free Spins increase the game to 40 paylines, giving the bonus round more win routes than the base game
- Roaming Wilds stay active during Free Spins and move after each spin, instead of disappearing immediately.
- The Free Spins multiplier increases by +1 whenever a new Wild lands, which gives the round a clear build-up
- The three random Kraken features give the base game extra life without needing a bonus trigger first
Things to Consider
- Sunken Treasure is a pick bonus, but it does not have the same 40-line setup or rising multiplier as Free Spins
- The Colossal Kraken Wild is 3x4, but it may land partly outside the visible grid, so it is not always a full-screen hit
- The 10,000x max win is the ceiling, not a usual target, and most sessions will finish far below that result
Overall Rating
8.7
Bottom Line
Release the Kraken works best if you like slots where the base game can still throw in surprises. The 4x5 setup and 20 paylines are simple, but the Kraken modifiers stop the main game from feeling too plain. The bigger pull is Roaming Kraken Free Spins, where the game moves to 40 paylines, Wilds roam and the multiplier rises by +1 for each new Wild. We like the split between Sunken Treasure picks and Free Spins because the two bonuses feel different. And also, it’s worth mentioning that the game has a Bonus Buy feature for quicker access to Free Spins.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many paylines does Release the Kraken have?
The base game uses 20 paylines on a 4x5 grid. During Roaming Kraken Free Spins, the game increases to 40 paylines, giving the bonus round more ways to form line wins.
How do Free Spins trigger?
Roaming Kraken Free Spins trigger when Bonus symbols land on reels 1 and 3, with the Free Spins symbol landing on reel 5. The feature then uses roaming Wilds and a rising multiplier.
What does the Free Spins multiplier do?
The Free Spins multiplier increases by +1 whenever a new Wild lands. It applies during the feature and is one reason the bonus round carries the larger win potential.
What is Sunken Treasure?
Sunken Treasure is the chest-pick bonus. It triggers with Bonus symbols on reels 1 and 3 plus the Chest Bonus symbol on reel 5, then awards pick-based cash prizes.
What are the random Kraken features?
The base game can trigger a Pick Me event with 3 Kraken tentacles. Your pick can award Locking Wilds, Colossal Kraken Wilds or Infectious Kraken Wilds.
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