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After several thousand slot sessions logged over the years, we can tell you exactly where a sequel earns its number. Release the Kraken 2 does — Pragmatic Play took a competent 2020 original and rebuilt it around a smarter wild engine and a pick-driven bonus. Here is our measured, no-hype breakdown.
| Provider | Pragmatic Play |
|---|---|
| Release | 2022 |
| RTP | 96.5% default (configurable 94.5% / 95.5% / 96.5% — confirm in the info screen) |
| Volatility | High (5/5) |
| Layout | 5 reels, 4 rows; 20 paylines in the base game, up to 40 in free spins |
| Max win | 5,000x stake |
| Bet range | 0.20 to 100 per spin |
| Key features | Kraken Wild Respins, Shifting Stacked Wilds with rising multiplier, guaranteed base-game win, pick-to-set free spins |
Release the Kraken 2 is a high-volatility maritime slot built on a conventional 5×4 grid, but the pay structure is where Pragmatic Play made its intent clear. Twenty ways to win in the base game is deliberately modest; the design routes almost all of the upside through the game’s wild behaviour and its free spins round, where the layout widens to 40 lines. In practical terms this is a slot that pays quietly most of the time and saves its meaningful returns for the features — a structure we have seen work well in the studio’s harder-hitting catalogue.
Set your stake anywhere from 0.20 to 100 per spin using the coin control, and note the RTP figure in the info panel before you commit a bankroll — operators can deploy the 94.5% or 95.5% builds, and that difference is material over a long session. Autoplay and a turbo option are present, as is the studio’s standard bet menu. The interface is unremarkable in the best sense: everything is where an experienced player expects it.
Two wild behaviours drive this game. Land four or more Kraken wilds simultaneously and the Wild Respins trigger, locking those wilds and respinning the rest for as long as fresh wilds keep arriving. Separately, Shifting Stacked Wilds nudge across the reels, and each nudge adds +1 to the win multiplier — a clean, legible mechanic that rewards you for watching the reels rather than guessing.
The base game carries a random guaranteed win, typically in the region of 20x to 50x your stake, which surfaces periodically to offset the dry spells inherent to a 5/5 volatility title. The headline event is the free spins round, entered via gold Kraken scatters. Before it begins, a “deal or no deal” style pick sets both the number of spins and the starting multiplier — a genuine risk/reward decision rather than a fixed award. Inside the feature, wilds roam and golden Krakens push the multiplier higher, which is how the 5,000x ceiling becomes mathematically reachable. It is not a frequent outcome, and we would not want to imply otherwise.
Visually the game is polished without being ostentatious — a shadowy, storm-lit seascape, a well-animated Kraken that fills the middle reels convincingly, and a score that swells on cue during respins. It is a step up from the original in fidelity, though thematically it treads familiar water. Competent, atmospheric, and entirely fit for purpose.
A well-engineered sequel that improves the mechanics without overreaching. Release the Kraken 2 is a dependable high-variance pick for players who understand what they are buying: patience during the base game, real potential in the feature. Verify the RTP build before you play and it earns a firm recommendation.
The following operators carry the game and are all reviewed in depth on our site. We would prioritise whichever runs the 96.5% build and offers the cleanest terms on any welcome funds you intend to use.
It was developed by Pragmatic Play and released in 2022 as the sequel to the 2020 original.
The default return-to-player is 96.5%, but Pragmatic Play supplies configurable 94.5% and 95.5% versions. Always check the game’s info screen, as the value depends on your operator.
Very. It carries a 5-out-of-5 high volatility rating, meaning infrequent but potentially larger wins concentrated in the features.
The ceiling is 5,000x your stake, achieved through stacked wilds and rising multipliers during the free spins round.
Yes. A random base-game guaranteed win, generally around 20x to 50x the stake, appears periodically to soften the high variance.
