Release the Kraken Megaways

Release the Kraken Megaways: Slot Review

Release the Kraken Megaways is Pragmatic Play's third outing for its tentacled sea monster, this time built on the Megaways mechanic rather than a fixed grid. Where the earlier entries in the series went for either a genuinely menacing kraken or a softer, more cartoonish take, this Megaways version lands somewhere in between — a high-seas exploration adventure with dramatic cloud formations and a sweeping orchestral soundtrack that leans more pirate-movie than horror.

Theme and gameplay feel

Visually, the game commits to its nautical setting without going overboard on any single tone — it's neither too cute nor too frightening, aiming instead for a swashbuckling, treasure-hunting atmosphere. The reels sit against a moody ocean backdrop, and the overall presentation feels distinct from the developer's earlier kraken releases despite sharing the same core creature.

The grid itself is the headline feature. Six reels can each drop between two and seven symbols, generating up to 117,649 ways to win on any given spin. Stakes run from 20p/c up to £/€240, with an ante bet option available that raises the wager by 25% in exchange for a better shot at triggering free spins.

What the RTP means for players

Release the Kraken Megaways carries a default RTP of 96.1%, a solid figure that sits comfortably ahead of the industry average and gives players a reasonably fair long-run return relative to stakes wagered. As always, that figure plays out over a large number of spins rather than any single session, but it's a healthy number to see on a Megaways title.

Volatility and hit rate

The math model is rated medium volatility, and the game's hit frequency comes in at roughly 1 in 8.23 spins. That's a fairly approachable pace — you're not waiting an eternity between wins, but there's enough variance built in that the bigger multipliers require some patience. Low pays come from 10 to Ace card royals, while five varieties of sea creatures form the high-value end of the paytable, with six-of-a-kind combinations worth between 0.6x and 7.5x the stake. A wild symbol appears on all reels bar the leftmost, substituting for everything except scatters and Mystery symbols.

Max win and stake range

The ceiling here is a genuinely substantial 10,000x the stake, giving Release the Kraken Megaways real appeal for players chasing a big multiplier rather than steady small wins. Combined with the medium volatility rating and that near-1-in-8 hit rate, the game strikes a reasonable balance between regular action and the chance of a standout result, particularly during free spins where the licensed Megaways mechanic can push the ways-to-win count towards its maximum.

Verdict

Release the Kraken Megaways doesn't reinvent the wheel, but it's a well-built entry in Pragmatic Play's back catalogue — a medium-volatility Megaways slot with a strong RTP, a genuinely large win ceiling, and a nautical theme that feels distinct enough from its predecessors to stand on its own. Anyone curious about how the ante bet and expanding reels play out in practice can run the free demo at johnessyslots before deciding whether to commit real stakes to chasing that 10,000x top prize.