Release the Kraken

The original Release the Kraken from Pragmatic Play launched in 2020 with a 5x3 grid, 20 paylines, and a deep-sea mythology theme that spawned two sequels. The 96.5% RTP and high volatility hold up well against more recent titles, and the free spins chooser mechanic still gives players more agency than a simple scatter trigger. At 10,000x the max win is substantial. Bonus buy is available, and Wild.io supports the full crypto stack for both desktop and mobile play.

What is Release the Kraken?

Release the Kraken is a 5x3 video slot from Pragmatic Play with a 96.5% RTP, high volatility, 20 paylines, and a top win of 10,000x your stake. Its standout mechanic is a free spins bonus with a chooser that lets players select from multiple spin-count options before the feature begins.

Released in January 2020, this title predates the Megaways versions that followed, but its core design remains clean: a fixed 20-payline structure with a Wild, a Scatter, and a well-paced free spins feature. The deep-sea setting pulls on the kraken mythos without the baroque over-design of many mythology titles. High volatility means the base game can run long between bonuses, but the 10,000x ceiling and the chooser flexibility give the free spins round real potential when it fires.

Who will enjoy this game the most?

You will probably enjoy this game if you like:

• Ocean and mythology theme fans who want a polished flagship title rather than a clone
• High-volatility players comfortable with infrequent but larger bonus wins
• Free spins chooser fans who like controlling their spin count before the bonus starts
• Bonus buy users who want direct entry to the feature
• Players looking for a Pragmatic Play 2020 classic that still competes on RTP and max win
• Crypto casino players at Wild.io who prefer a structured 20-payline format

How To Play Release the Kraken Slot - Step By Step

Head to Wild.io and create a free account to start playing Release the Kraken.

1. Open Release the Kraken at Wild.io and set your bet using the controls beneath the reel grid.
2. Spin on 20 paylines. The Wild substitutes for all standard paying symbols and helps complete partial combinations left to right.
3. Land three or more Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels to open the free spins chooser.
4. Pick your spin count from the chooser options. Lower counts typically correspond to higher individual win potential per spin; higher counts give more attempts.
5. The free spins run under the same 20-payline structure with Wild substitution active. Additional Scatters during the bonus can retrigger.
6. If you prefer not to wait for the base-game trigger, use the bonus buy to go straight to the chooser.
7. All sessions at Wild.io support responsible gambling tools including deposit limits and session reminders.

You can also deposit using various supported payment methods.

Release the Kraken Slot Theme & Graphics

Release the Kraken anchors its world in deep-ocean mythology. The reel frame is barnacled stone and wrought iron, lit by bioluminescent sea creatures drifting in the background. The kraken itself appears in the bonus entry animation: a full tentacle break-surface sequence that plays each time the free spins chooser opens. The colour palette is dark teal and midnight blue, with gold and amber used sparingly on premium symbols to make them read clearly against the dark water background.

The original 2020 audio design holds up: a low, oceanic drone through the base game, a sharp percussion note on wins, and a full orchestral swell during the kraken animation sequence. Mobile layout preserves the dark atmospheric background without the reel grid becoming too small to track comfortably in portrait mode. This is still a reference implementation for how Pragmatic Play approaches mythology themes.

Release the Kraken Slot Symbols & Paytables

Release the Kraken uses a maritime mythology symbol set with a clear value hierarchy: deep-sea creatures on the low end, ancient naval artefacts and kraken imagery at the premium tier.

Low Value Symbols

The low-value symbols are styled sea creatures and nautical objects: jellyfish, seahorses, crabs, and starfish rendered in a painterly underwater style. These appear most frequently on all five reels and generate the base-game's regular small wins. They pay modestly for three or more on an active payline left to right. Their frequency is what makes the base game feel active between larger hits; they are not the symbols you watch for, but their regular appearance keeps the spin cycle engaging.

• S09
• S10
• S11
• S12
• S13
• S14

High Value Symbols

Five premium symbols carry the franchise's nautical mythology cast: a helmeted diver, a brass compass, a ship's log, the kraken's tentacle tip, and the kraken's eye as the top-paying symbol. The kraken eye is the highest single-spin payer for five on a line. Landing three or more kraken eye symbols in the free spins feature, particularly when Wild substitution fills the adjacent positions, is the primary path toward the 10,000x max win. The premium symbols are visually distinct from the low tier: larger, brighter, and anchored to the game's kraken mythology rather than generic ocean filler.

• S04
• S05
• S06
• S07
• S08

Special Symbols

The Wild substitutes for all standard paying symbols across the 20 paylines. The Scatter symbol triggers the free spins chooser when three or more land anywhere on the reels during a base-game spin. No separate coin or hold symbol exists; the chooser mechanic is the game's main depth layer beyond standard Wild and Scatter functions.

• wild

Release the Kraken Bonus Feature & Special Features

Free Spins Chooser

When three or more Scatter symbols land on the reels in Release the Kraken, the free spins chooser opens. The chooser presents multiple spin-count options, giving you direct input into the shape of your bonus before it begins. This is different from most free spins features where the count is assigned randomly by Scatter number: here you weigh your options and commit. Four or five Scatters on the triggering spin improve your starting selection range. The free spins themselves run on the standard 20-payline structure with Wild substitution active. Additional Scatters during the round can retrigger the feature and add more spins to the remaining count, meaning a strong bonus entry can evolve into a substantially extended run.

Bonus Buy

Release the Kraken includes a bonus buy that lets you purchase immediate access to the free spins chooser. The cost is set as a fixed multiple of your current bet. Once purchased, the chooser opens exactly as it would after a natural Scatter trigger, and all spin options and retrigger possibilities are identical. For players who want to concentrate session time inside the free spins feature rather than base-game spinning, this is the direct route. Bonus buy accelerates exposure relative to the same bankroll spent on base-game spins, so assessing the cost against your session budget before using it is part of responsible gambling.

Pros & Cons of Release the Kraken

Here is a quick overview of the key strengths and weaknesses of Release the Kraken.

How to Deposit, Withdraw Winnings & Gamble Responsibly at Wild.io

Getting started with Release the Kraken at Wild.io takes only a few steps. Follow the Wild.io deposit guide if you need the full walkthrough:

1. Create a free account at Wild.io.
2. Open your crypto wallet from the account menu.
3. Make a deposit using your preferred cryptocurrency.
4. Launch Release the Kraken from the games library.
5. Choose demo mode or real-money play, then set your stake and spin.

Withdrawing winnings is just as fast: return to your wallet, pick your payout coin, and confirm. See Wild.io withdrawal times for typical processing speeds.

To help players stay in control, Wild.io includes several responsible gambling tools:

• Deposit limits
• Session reminders
• Self-exclusion tools
• Reality checks
• Account time-outs

Before you start playing, set a clear budget, self-assess your habits, and stick to limits that feel comfortable. Take regular breaks, avoid chasing losses, and play responsibly. Gambling should always be treated as entertainment rather than a way to make money.