Sky Bounty

Sky Bounty is a high-volatility slot game developed by Pragmatic Play. It features a 6×6 grid with 50 paylines, offering players the chance to win up to 5,000 times their bet. The game's RTP varies depending on the betting mode, with the default value set at 96.05%.

Sky Bounty presents an unusual twist on the Kraken theme, transporting the mythical sea creature to the skies. The game is set aboard a flying pirate ship piloted by an octopus-like Kraken, creating a unique blend of maritime and aerial themes. While not directly linked to Pragmatic Play's previous Kraken-themed slots (Release the Kraken and Release the Kraken 2), Sky Bounty shares some thematic elements with these predecessors, particularly the presence of tentacled creatures and wild-related features.

The backdrop depicts a world where the Kraken has adapted to survive out of water, learned to fly a ship, and now searches for treasure among the clouds. This imaginative setting requires a suspension of disbelief from players but offers a fresh take on the pirate and sea monster genres.

Core Game Mechanics

Sky Bounty utilizes a 6×6 grid with 50 paylines for win evaluation. The game's symbol set consists of seven differently colored and shaped gemstones as lower-paying symbols, while higher-value symbols include a bottle of rum, a wheel, a cannon, and crossed swords. Wild symbols can appear on any reel and substitute for all pay symbols.

Winning combinations are formed by landing matching symbols on adjacent reels from left to right. Six-of-a-kind wins with low-paying symbols award 2 to 3 times the bet, while high-paying symbol combinations can yield 6 to 20 times the stake. A full line of six wild symbols offers the top line pay of 20 times the bet.

Bonus Features

1. Random Expanding Wild Feature This feature can trigger randomly during the base game. When activated, a frame ranging from 2×2 to 6×6 in size appears over random symbols. If a wild symbol lands within this frame, it expands to fill the entire framed area. Multiple wilds landing within the frame result in an expanded wild with a multiplier equal to the number of contained wilds. This multiplier applies to all wins involving the expanded wild.
2. Free Spins The free spins bonus is triggered by landing three or more scatter symbols, awarding 6 free spins. During this round, a persistent frame remains on the grid, changing position between spins. The frame starts at 2×2 and can grow up to 6×6 as the bonus progresses. Key aspects of the free spins include:
   • Wilds landing within the frame expand to fill it, similar to the base game feature.
   • Scatter symbols are collected during free spins.
   • Every three scatters collected increase the frame size (3×3, 4×4, 5×5, 6×6) and award two additional free spins.
   • After the fourth size increase, scatter symbols no longer appear on the reels.
   • Triggering the feature with 4, 5, or 6 scatters provides a head start with 1, 2, or 3 scatters already collected.
3. Ante Bet Players can activate the Ante Bet option, which increases the stake by 20% and places more scatter symbols on the reels, potentially making it easier to trigger the free spins bonus.
4. Buy Free Spins For 100 times the base bet, players can directly purchase entry into the free spins bonus. This option guarantees the feature will trigger with 3 to 6 scatter symbols.

The most intriguing aspect of Sky Bounty is its expanding wild feature, particularly during the free spins round. The persistent, growing frame creates a symbiotic effect with the scatter collection mechanic. As the frame increases in size, the chances of landing a wild within it also increase, potentially leading to massive wild symbols covering a significant portion of the grid. This feature not only adds excitement to the gameplay but also helps balance the somewhat unusual 6×6 reel setup with 50 paylines.