Release the Kraken Megaways

Key Bonus Features Overview

Feature Name	Description	Trigger / How it Works
Megaways	The number of symbols on each of the 6 reels changes per spin, creating up to 117,649 ways to win.	Active on every spin. Winning symbols are removed and new ones fall into place.
Wild Respins	A respin mode where triggering wilds become Roaming Wilds.	Land 3 or more Wild symbols anywhere on the reels.
Roaming Wilds	Wild symbols that do not disappear, but move to a new position on the grid with each spin or respin.	Active during Wild Respins and the entire Free Spins bonus round.
Free Spins	The main bonus round with an increasing global multiplier.	Land 3 or more Scatter symbols.
Chest Pick Bonus	A pre-bonus feature where players pick chests to reveal modifiers for the upcoming Free Spins.	Triggered automatically after landing the scatters for Free Spins.
Ante Bet	Increases the bet cost by 25% to double the natural chance of triggering the Free Spins feature.	Player-activated switch in the base game.
Bonus Buy	Instantly triggers the Free Spins round for a fixed cost.	Pay 100x the bet for a 3-scatter trigger, or 150x for a 4, 5, or 6-scatter trigger.

What Are the Core Mechanics of Release the Kraken Megaways?

The Release the Kraken Megaways slot operates on a dynamic 6-reel grid where the number of symbols per reel changes with every spin, a core component of the Megaways engine. This structure provides up to 117,649 potential ways to win. Payouts occur when you land matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right, regardless of their position on the reel. After a win, the responsible symbols are removed, and new ones cascade down to fill the gaps, potentially creating new winning combinations in a single spin.

Understanding the Megaways Engine and Payouts

The Megaways mechanic, famously used in games like The Dog House Megaways, ensures no two spins are alike. The number of active “paylines” is displayed above the reels, fluctuating from a few hundred to the maximum 117,649. This constant change is central to the game's suspense. In the demo, this is a perfect opportunity to observe how win frequency shifts with the number of active ways, giving you a feel for the game's rhythm without any risk. The cascading wins are the bread and butter of the base game, turning a single spin into a chain reaction of smaller payouts.

The Role of Roaming Wilds and Wild Respins

The standout feature in the base game is the Wild Respins mode. This is triggered by landing three or more Wild symbols anywhere in view. You are then awarded a respin where the triggering Wilds become Roaming Wilds—they don't stick in one place but move to a random new position on the grid before the respin commences. If another Wild lands, you get another respin. This feature is a powerful preview of the main bonus, creating clusters of wilds that can link together significant wins across the Megaways grid.

Mystery Symbols: The Unpredictable Element

Adding another layer of unpredictability, Mystery Symbols can land at any time during the base game or bonus features. These symbols, typically marked with a question mark or a thematic icon, all transform into the same randomly selected paying symbol. Their power is magnified on a Megaways grid; a screen full of Mystery Symbols can instantly resolve into a massive, multi-way hit, turning a seemingly dead spin into a substantial win.

How Do You Trigger and Play the Free Spins Bonus?

The main Free Spins bonus is activated by landing three or more bonus scatter symbols. The game awards an initial six starting spins. However, before the round begins, you enter the Chest Pick Bonus, a critical phase that defines the potential of your entire free spins session. This interactive element sets it apart from more straightforward bonus rounds seen in slots like Wild West Gold Megaways.

Vlad Hvalov's Expert Tip:
“Don't rush the chest pick. In the demo, trigger this bonus multiple times to understand the different outcomes. Knowing whether you prefer more starting spins or a guaranteed minimum Megaways can genuinely inform your strategy. It’s the one moment the game gives you a semblance of control over its chaos.”

The Pre-Bonus Chest Pick: Customizing Your Feature

The number of scatters that trigger the bonus determines how many chests you get to open. Inside these chests are powerful modifiers that carry over into the free spins. You can reveal extra free spins, additional roaming wilds that will be present from the very first spin, a higher starting win multiplier, or even a guaranteed minimum number of Megaways on every spin. This phase is crucial because a lucky set of picks can set you up for a highly lucrative round before it even starts.

Multipliers and Roaming Wilds in the Main Event

Once the free spins begin, the real hunt starts. All wild symbols that land transform into Roaming Wilds for the duration of the feature. The game's biggest twist is the multiplier mechanic: if two Roaming Wilds move to the same position on the grid, the overall win multiplier for the round increases by 1x. With multiple wilds roaming the screen, these collisions become more frequent, progressively increasing the value of every single win until the round ends.

The Strategic Choice: Using the Ante Bet and Bonus Buy

For players who want to accelerate their encounter with the Kraken, the game offers two tools. The Ante Bet increases your stake by 25% in exchange for doubling the chance of naturally triggering the free spins. In the demo, this is a fantastic tool to test its cost-effectiveness. Alternatively, the Bonus Buy option allows you to purchase direct entry for a set price: 100x your bet for a standard trigger, or 150x for a super bonus trigger with more guaranteed scatters (and thus more chest picks).

Release the Kraken Megaways by the Numbers: Volatility, RTP, and Max Win

This slot operates on a mathematical model of very high volatility, rated 5 out of 5 by Pragmatic Play. It offers a default Return to Player (RTP) of 96.40%, with lower settings of 95.57% and 94.53% also available. The maximum win is capped at a substantial 10,000 times your bet.

Deconstructing the “Very High” Volatility Rating

A very high volatility rating means the game is designed for patience. The provided data quantifies this perfectly: the base game hit frequency is 1 in 3.62 spins, suggesting fairly regular small wins to keep your balance ticking. However, the free spins feature triggers, on average, once every 296.3 spins. This is the core of the high-risk model. Players must manage their demo balance for long dry spells, waiting for the explosive potential of the bonus round where the 10,000x max win becomes a possibility. This is a different kind of pacing compared to the steady accumulation in money-collect games from the Big Bass slot series.

A Look from Another Side: The Challenge of High Volatility

The main argument against a model like this is its demanding nature. For players who prefer consistent engagement and frequent, smaller bonus features, the long waits between free spins can be frustrating. A significant portion of the game's RTP is concentrated within that bonus round, which triggers infrequently. If your chest picks are unlucky or the roaming wilds refuse to collide, a bonus round can pay very little, making the long wait feel unrewarded. This is why testing the free demo is so critical—it allows you to experience this high-risk, high-reward dynamic firsthand.

How Does This Sequel Compare to the Original Release the Kraken Slots?

Release the Kraken Megaways is a direct evolution of its predecessors, Release the Kraken and Release the Kraken 2. The most significant upgrade is the integration of the Megaways engine, which fundamentally changes the gameplay from fixed paylines to up to 117,649 ways-to-win. While the original games featured random wild features and a “pick me” bonus, this version refines that concept into the more strategic Chest Pick bonus that directly modifies the free spins. The Roaming Wilds are also a more advanced and engaging mechanic than the simpler sticky or colossal wilds of the past versions, creating a more dynamic and volatile experience.

Audiovisual Design and Deep Sea Theme

The game's design places you in a dark, atmospheric underwater world filled with a sense of lurking danger. The art style is vibrant and detailed, with colorful coral, menacing-looking fish symbols, and a formidable Kraken looming beside the reels. This deep-sea adventure is punctuated by a tense, orchestral soundtrack that swells during big wins and bonus features, enhancing the suspense. The game fits perfectly within the popular Ocean and Monsters genres, which you can browse through the extensive collection of slot themes available. It also delivers on the promise of finding sunken treasure, making it a compelling aquatic experience.

Vlad Hvalov's Expert Tip:
“Pay attention to the sound design. Pragmatic Play often embeds audio cues that signal big features. The rumble before a cascade of mystery symbols or the specific sound of wilds colliding to increase the multiplier can build anticipation. Playing the demo with sound on gives you the full experience.”

The Expert's Log: Little-Known Facts about the Kraken's Lair

1. Kraken's Mood Ring: The Kraken animation next to the reels isn't just for show. Its eye color subtly shifts from a calm blue to a fiery red depending on the size of the win, glowing brightest during the game’s peak moments.
2. A Nod to History: The sunken galleon in the background is modeled after the Merchant Royal, a 17th-century English ship lost at sea with a vast treasure, fitting the game's theme of deep-sea riches.
3. The Sound of the Deep: The ambient background noise contains a slowed-down and filtered hydrophone recording of the “Bloop,” an unidentified, ultra-low-frequency underwater sound detected in 1997, adding a layer of real-world mystery to this fantastical setting.

Final Verdict: Is the Release the Kraken Megaways Demo Worth Diving Into?

Honestly, yes. Release the Kraken Megaways is a superb addition to Pragmatic Play's portfolio and a worthy successor in the series. It successfully merges the suspenseful theme with a powerful combination of mechanics—Megaways, cascading wins, and the highly engaging Roaming Wilds. The customizable free spins round is the true star, giving you a sense of agency in a game otherwise ruled by chance.

The very high volatility is not a bluff. This game will test your patience. It can be unforgiving. But for players who understand and enjoy the thrill of chasing a massive payout, this slot delivers. I strongly recommend spending significant time with the Release the Kraken Megaways free play version. Learn its rhythms, understand the impact of the chest modifiers, and see if you have the nerve to face the beast. It's a well-crafted, exciting, and potentially rewarding deep-sea adventure.

For those who enjoy this style of high-stakes aquatic battle, I'd also suggest trying the Beware The Deep Megaways demo to compare another take on the underwater Megaways formula, or exploring other volatile titles like Gems Bonanza to see different high-potential mechanics from the same developer. Or, if you prefer, you can play demo versions of thousands of other slots for free on our website.

Comparing the Kraken's Fury to Other Pragmatic Play Titles

To fully appreciate what Release the Kraken Megaways brings to the table, it's useful to see it in the context of other popular slots from Pragmatic Play. Each game targets a different player preference, even with overlapping mechanics.

Slot Title	Core Mechanic	Volatility	Max Win	Key Difference from Release the Kraken Megaways
Sugar Rush 1000	Cluster Pays & Multiplier Spots	High	25,000x	Focuses on grid-based multipliers that persist and upgrade, rather than roaming wilds. A completely different bonus buildup.
Gates of Olympus 1000	Pay Anywhere & Global Multipliers	High	15,000x	Wins can happen anywhere. Zeus randomly adds multipliers, which are collected in free spins. Less interactive than the chest pick.
Big Bass Bonanza	Money Collect	Medium-High	2,100x	A much simpler mechanic centered on the Fisherman Wild collecting fish money symbols. Less complex and lower potential.
The Dog House – Dog or Alive	Sticky Wilds with Multipliers	High	10,000x	The bonus round is about landing sticky wilds that stay in place. This creates a different strategic feel than roaming wilds, which are less predictable.

This comparison highlights the unique position of Release the Kraken Megaways. It offers the high win potential seen in top-tier Pragmatic titles but delivers it through a distinct combination of roaming wilds and player-influenced bonus modifiers, making it a standout experience.

FAQ