Release the Kraken Pokie Review

Pragmatic Play built Release the Kraken as a 5-reel, 4-row pokie with 20 fixed paylines. That is one row taller than the standard 5x3 format, giving the reels a bit more room for the Kraken's tentacles to appear.

The theme is a sea-monster adventure. The Kraken sits below the reels, and its tentacles can reach up during the base game to trigger one of three random modifiers. Wins form on the 20 paylines when matching symbols land from the leftmost reel.

During the free spins round, the number of paylines doubles to 40. That change is a structural shift rather than just a cosmetic one, as it effectively doubles the ways a win can be made on each spin.

To play Release the Kraken, set your bet using the bet selector, which ranges from $0.20 to $100 per spin. The game uses a 5x4 grid with 20 paylines, so wins are formed when matching symbols land on adjacent reels from the leftmost reel along a payline. The paytable and info panel are accessible via the game's menu buttons, where you can also check the RTP version. Press the spin button to start a round. There is no ante bet or bonus buy feature, so you cannot alter the bet to increase feature chances. The base game features three random modifiers triggered by the Kraken's tentacles, which can appear on any spin.

Release the Kraken is a high-volatility game. That means wins tend to be less frequent but larger when they land. With a bet range from $0.20 to $100, you can scale your stake to your bankroll.

For a $50 session, a sensible bet is around $0.50 per spin, giving you 100 spins to work with. For a $200 session, you could go up to $2 per spin, still leaving 100 spins. The maximum win of 10,000x means a $0.50 bet could return $5,000, and a $2 bet could return $20,000, though that is the top end of the spectrum.

There is no bonus buy or ante bet in this game, so the only way to trigger features is through regular spins. No betting system can change the RTP; each spin is independent.

The base game has three random modifiers, all triggered by the Kraken's tentacles:

• Kraken Lockin Wilds: Wilds lock in place for a number of spins.
• Colossal Kraken Wilds: A large wild symbol appears on the reels.
• Infectious Kraken Wilds: Wilds spread to adjacent positions.

For example, if a Colossal Kraken Wild lands on reels 2 and 3, it can help form a win on multiple paylines at once.

The free spins feature triggers when Bonus symbols land on reels 1 and 3, along with the Free Spins symbol on reel 5. You get 10 spins, and chest picks add +1, +2, or +3 extra spins.

During free spins, roaming wilds stay on the reels, and each new wild that appears raises the win multiplier by +1. With 40 paylines active, a single spin could see several wilds combine for a multiplied win.

The default RTP for Release the Kraken is 96.5%, but there are three versions: 94.50%, 95.50%, and 96.50%. The official Pragmatic Play page lists 96.50% as the standard.

In dollar terms, on the 96.5% version, for every $100 wagered you can expect to lose $3.50 on average. On the 94.5% version, that loss rises to $5.50 per $100. Over many spins, that difference adds up.

The maximum win is 10,000x your stake. A $1 bet could return $10,000, though that is the absolute ceiling.

Always check which RTP version is in use by opening the game's info panel before you play.

The demo mode uses play credits but runs the same maths and RTP version as the real-money build at the casino you open it in. Given the high volatility, a demo session is useful for observing how often the three random modifiers trigger and how the free spins round behaves, especially the roaming wilds and multiplier. You can also test how different bet sizes feel across the range, from $0.20 to $100, without risking real money. When playing with real AUD, bets are real and limits matter, so use the demo to gauge your comfort with the game's swings.

You can play Release the Kraken at Jeetcity, Just Casino, in AUD. A demo mode is available if you want to try the game first without risking real money.

Check the RTP version offered at Just Casino in the game's info panel before you start. Remember to play responsibly. If gambling stops being fun, call Gambling Help Online on 1800 858 858.

Wild West Gold — Both are Pragmatic Play high-volatility pokies with a 5x4 grid and 20 paylines. Wild West Gold features multiplier wilds that combine in base game and sticky multiplier wilds during free spins, similar to Release the Kraken's roaming wilds and multiplier, but with a western theme and lower max win of 6,750x.

Money Train 3 — Money Train 3 is a high-volatility 5x4 pokie with a max win of 100,000x, higher than Release the Kraken's 10,000x. It uses a respin feature and a bonus round with persistent symbols, whereas Release the Kraken relies on random modifiers and free spins. Both share a dark, adventurous theme.

Razor Shark — Razor Shark is a high-volatility 5x4 pokie with a max win of 50,000x, featuring Mystery Stacks and a reveal mechanic. Release the Kraken also has a 5x4 layout and high volatility but uses random wild modifiers and a free spins multiplier. Both are underwater-themed, appealing to similar players.