Release the Kraken (Pragmatic Play) RTP review: 96.50% (configurable)
What 96.50% RTP means on Release the Kraken
Release the Kraken carries a published RTP of 96.50%, a theoretical house edge of roughly 3.5% over the long run. Because Pragmatic Play ships this game in multiple RTP builds, that edge only holds where a casino licenses the top version; a lower build quietly raises the edge against you, which is exactly why we flag configurable titles instead of quoting the headline unqualified. As always, RTP is a long-run average over millions of spins, not a per-session promise: the edge is real and permanent, and a high RTP never turns a slot into a reliable source of income.
Volatility, max win & features
Volatility is rated high (4/5). Expect long gaps between meaningful wins, with most of the return concentrated in the bonus — a friendly RTP does not make this a smooth, low-risk grind. The top prize is capped at 10,000x your stake, and the headline features are colossal/kraken locking wilds, infectious (spreading) wilds, random wild base-game feature, free spins with roaming wilds, ante bet.
What to know before you play Release the Kraken
- Check the RTP build. Pragmatic Play licenses Release the Kraken at 96.50% / 95.50% / 94.50% — open the in-game "i" screen and confirm you're on 96.50% before you commit a bankroll.
- Bankroll for variance. At high volatility the bonus carries the return — size your stake for long dry spells, not the 10,000x ceiling.
- High RTP is not profit. 96.50% still leaves a 3.5% long-run house edge; it lowers the cost of play, it never flips the odds in your favour.
Strengths & weaknesses
Strengths
- Above-average 96.50% RTP
- 10,000x max-win ceiling
- Mechanics that stand out: Colossal/Kraken locking wilds, Infectious (spreading) wilds, Random wild base-game feature
- No bonus-buy RTP caveats to navigate
Weaknesses
- Configurable — some casinos license a lower RTP build, so you must check the paytable
- High volatility — long dry spells; not a bankroll-preserver despite the RTP
How Release the Kraken compares
The same studios and RTP tier, side by side — every figure provider-sourced and checked.
| Slot | Provider | RTP | Volatility | Max win |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Release the Kraken (this slot) | Pragmatic Play | 96.50% | High | 10,000x |
| Sweet Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | 96.51% | Med-High | 21,100x |
| Gates of Olympus | Pragmatic Play | 96.50% | High | 5,000x |
| Big Bass Bonanza | Pragmatic Play | 96.71% | High | 2,100x |
| Sugar Rush | Pragmatic Play | 96.50% | High | 5,000x |
Our verdict on Release the Kraken
Skip if: your casino only offers a lower-RTP build of this game
Release the Kraken (the original 2020 Pragmatic Play title, distinct from the 2024 Megaways) is a 5-reel, 40-line slot built almost entirely around an aggressive family of wild mechanics — Colossal Kraken locking wilds, infectious spreading wilds and a random wild base-game feature, culminating in free spins with roaming wilds. Its default 96.50% RTP is a notch above the Pragmatic norm, though operators can serve 95.50% or 94.50% builds, so the paytable should be checked. Volatility is high: returns hinge on the wild features and free-spin round connecting, which makes the base game swingy and the 10,000x ceiling genuinely rare. It suits players who enjoy wild-heavy, feature-anticipation gameplay and can absorb high variance; just make sure you are playing the original on the 96.50% build, not a cut-down version or the separate Megaways edition.