Release the Kraken

Take a terrifying dive into the deep with Release the Kraken, the online slot from Pragmatic Play. Lurking beneath the surface is the predatory sea monster that’s waiting to launch an attack on unsuspecting sailors. You’ll need all your courage to face up to this Nordic beast - but there are cash prizes if you make the effort. If you’re lucky, you could swim away with a top payout of x10,000 - but do you dare to submerge yourself in this watery adventure?

Nordic mythology is a common theme for many slots, and the mystery of the Kraken, in particular, has been a popular choice. Pragmatic Play released this Kraken-themed slot in January 2020, but there are plenty of others to enjoy if you're a fan of tackling this oversized squid. Other slot titles you could take a look at include Eye of the Kraken (Play'n GO), Mighty Kraken (CT Gaming) and Kraken Conquest (Leander Games). You'll find these plus many more slots available to play online 24/7 at Bwin! 

Release the Kraken is set on a 5x4 grid which starts out with 20 traditional paylines. The minimum bet is just 0.01 per payline, giving low rollers access for just 0.20, but this can be increased to a maximum of 100.00. Volatility is high, but with a top payout of x10,000 you might be willing to brave the Kraken for the chance to collect the big money prizes. 

The reels are submerged in deep water, and there's an empty eeriness that is impossible to shake. With coral gently floating with the tide but no side of marine life, you have to wonder why there's no fish around…. Take a closer look at the bottom of your screen, and you might have the answer: there's a hint of pink suckers and some suspiciously large tentacles. Land one of the bonuses, and you'll be proven right as the Kraken rises into view! 

The low pays on this slot are the standard playing card royals, but all the usual marine life appears with the premium symbols. There are sharks, turtles and coloured fish, which bring a maximum payout of x25. 

The main wild has its own prize of x25 for landing five as well as substituting for any of the regular symbols. 

The mood is ominous as you wait for the feared Kraken to appear but when it finally makes its presence known, it’s not such a bad thing.  

The tentacles will rear up to surround the reels at any random moment in the base game, and you'll be awarded a pick me bonus. Choose from the three Pick Me signs, and you'll find one of the following: 

●     Kraken Lockin Wilds - a new wild is added onto the reels, and you'll have three chests to choose from. Each chest contains Continue, More Wilds or All Wins x2 and Collect, or Collect. You can keep choosing from chests until you reveal one of the collect instructions.

●     Colossal Kraken Wilds - a massive 3x4 wild will be added to the reels, but you might not receive the full benefit. The full size of the wild could cover the reels, but you might just get the top or the bottom areas, depending on your luck.

●     Infections Kraken Wilds - a minimum of one infectious wild will be added to the reels. This turns surrounding symbols into wilds. 

Back in the base game, there are also bonus symbols that can land on reels 1, 3 and 5; these unlock the Sunken Treasure Bonus. This is another Pick Me bonus round, which gives players chests to open, revealing cash prizes. There is no maximum number of picks - just keep going until you reveal the Collect symbol.  

If you land the bonus symbols on reels 1 and 3, but the free spins symbol on reel 5, you'll unlock the Roaming Kraken Free Spins instead of the Sunken Treasure Bonus. Once again, pick me chests will appear, which you can keep selecting to determine how many free spins you'll receive. Most people seem to get the standard ten free spins, but it's possible to get many more if you're fortunate.  

During the free spins, the paylines double to 40, and there's also a new win multiplier which begins at x1. Every wild that lands remains for the bonus duration, transforming into a roaming wild and adding an extra +1 to the win multiplier. 

There aren't many new slots that include Pick Me bonus rounds, so if you're a fan of these, Release the Kraken will be a treat. Pragmatic Play has loaded the reels with plenty of features, so although the depths of the ocean may seem to be a scary place, there's no end to the treasure you might find!