The slot machine was released in 2022 and continued the provider’s underwater-themed series. Although the slot is themed around a sea monster, it appears harmless thanks to its cartoonish graphics. Release the Kraken 2 follows the style of the original version but adds new features. It feels like a standalone game, not a copy of the first installment. The editors tested the machine for 1,000 spins to answer the key questions: how often it pays out and whether it’s possible to break even. The results are detailed in the article.
Expert review
It’s impossible to analyze Release the Kraken 2 without comparing it to other slots in the series. The studio’s team has developed new, engaging features that fit into the slot’s storyline and add variety to the gameplay. At the same time, the series’ core features have been retained, such as the item-selecting minigame, wandering wilds, and increased paylines during free spins.
Design of the second version of the device
The playing field of the first slot of the series
The options are harmoniously distributed between the basic and bonus modes. Due to the regular activation of modifiers, the wait for free spins doesn’t seem too long, although they are indeed triggered infrequently—approximately once every 333 spins.
I was pleased with the payout frequency. Combinations hit approximately 30% of the time, with some segments reaching 33%. Almost half of the combinations return the bet amount plus an increase.
Unfortunately, Release the Kraken 2 is inferior to its predecessor in terms of winning potential and return to player (RTP). The first installment offers up to 10,000x the bet, with an RTP of 96.5%. The second installment offers up to 5,000x the bet, with a return to player (RTP) of 96.03% in the base mode.
The provider claims the slot has high volatility, which is confirmed in practice. The average drawdown is 50x over 100 spins. No significant wins occurred during testing. The maximum payout achieved was 52x the bet. It occurred immediately after a 0.4x win and exceeded it by 130x. This variance is typical for this slot the most disposable slots.
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Three out of 10 sessions were successful, with gains of 44, 64, and 34 bets, respectively. However, the test spins failed to cover all costs.
Main game
The slot is themed around the sea. The action takes place underwater, surrounded by seaweed and coral reefs. The symbols include stylized card numbers and images of exotic fish. The shark is the highest-paying symbol on the payout table, forming winning combinations when two or more appear on a line. The other symbols only award winnings when three or more appear on a line.
The values are automatically adjusted to the selected bet size.
The base game features 20 fixed paylines. They are counted in the standard manner—from left to right. The provider has added several bonus features:
- Re-rotation It’s triggered when at least four wild symbols appear on the respin field. During the respin, new special symbols may appear, extending the feature.
- Falling of a stacked wild At random moments, a large Kraken symbol may appear on the second, third, or fourth reel. It takes up several spaces and expands to cover the entire reel, increasing its multiplier. The increased multiplier applies to all combinations involving the Wild.
- Guaranteed win This feature can be triggered during any losing spin. A Kraken symbol will appear on the reels, changing the position of the symbols to award a payout of 20-60x your bet. Three scatters can also be added to trigger free spins.
There are also standard Wild symbols. They appear on any reel, substitute for other symbols, or form their own combinations. Wild symbols are the highest-paying symbols in the payout table.
Regular symbols can also be stacked, increasing the player’s chances of forming winning combinations.
Approximately a third of all spins resulted in winnings. The best results were achieved through respins or the guaranteed payout feature.
The Casino.ru team tested the slot on the developer’s website. The bet size is 100 virtual credits, or $1. The provider offers flexible spin value settings. You can choose the coin denomination and the number of spins per line.
Free spins
Free spins are triggered by landing 3-5 scatters. They can appear anywhere on the reels. Before the free spins begin, players must complete a mini-game. Sixteen chests appear on the screen. Each chest contains a certain number of spins and a multiplier. One chest is chosen, but its contents are not revealed. The player can choose this option or try again.
Built-in round with elements of risk
You need to remove four chests. Then, the average of all remaining options is calculated and presented to the player. They can accept or reject it to continue choosing a winning combination. This continues until only one chest remains on the screen. It can have a minimum number of spins. It is impossible to return to previous options.
During free spins, the number of active lines doubles to 40, increasing the player’s chances of winning.
A progressive multiplier is also activated. It increases with each Golden Kraken symbol. Regular Wilds don’t affect the multiplier, but they become sticky and move between reels. Free spins cannot be extended.
The wandering wild symbol can participate in combinations again
During the test, free spins were triggered three times. The intervals between activations exceeded 340 spins. Bonus details are shown in the table.
| Launch moment | Number of scrolls | Starting multiplier | Results in betting |
| 244th rotation | 4 | x2 | 2 |
| 349th | 12 | x2 | 134,1 |
| 692-e | 8 | x4 | 42,9 |
Purchase of a bonus
Players can trigger free spins for 100x or 250x their bet. The enhanced bonus is activated by landing 4-5 scatters. The chests’ contents depend on the number of special symbols.
During a paid launch, the RTP increases, but the increase is very small—only 0.02%. There are no other benefits. The editors made six test purchases to evaluate the potential. Details are in the table.
| Launch | Bonus value | Number of spins | Starting multiplier | Results |
| 1st | x100 | 12 | x2 | x45.4 |
| 2nd | 8 | x1 | x19 | |
| 3rd | 10 | x4 | x93.6 | |
| 4th | x250 | 15 | x4 | x75.1 |
| 5th | 15 | x4 | x25.7 | |
| 6th | 20 | x10 | x445.8 |
Only one activation was successful. The total cost of the purchase was 1050 bets. The total win from the free spins activation was 704.6x. The loss was 345.4x.
Inspection progress
The 1,000-spin test is divided into short segments. This helps track results and evaluate game dynamics. The test started off promisingly—it managed to recoup the costs of all bets and come out on top. This was followed by a series of losing spins, occasionally interrupted by profitable ones. However, by the end of the test, losses totaled 208 bets. Details are in the table.
| segment | Results in betting | Maximum multipliers | Free spins results |
| 1-100 | +44 | x52x18x12 | — |
| 101-200 | −46 | x9x7x7 | — |
| 201-300 | −73 | x4x4x2.5 | x2 |
| 301-400 | +64 | x4x4x4 | x134.1 |
| 401-500 | −62 | x4x3.5×2.9 | — |
| 501-600 | −46 | x6.6x6x5 | — |
| 601-700 | +34 | x25.8x21x8 | x42.9 |
| 701-800 | −10 | x21.2×12.8×9 | — |
| 801-900 | −61 | x9.5×8.4×4 | — |
| 901-1000 | −52 | x13x6x4 | — |
Statistics
During testing, the editors sought to track the machine’s operating patterns. How often winnings are awarded and bonuses are triggered, and what the intervals between payouts and free spins might be—information on this is presented in the table.
| Meaning | Details |
| Volatility | High |
| Probability of activating free spins | 1 to 333 |
| Breaks between bonuses | Over 340 spins |
| Frequency of combinations | 30% |
| Series without payouts | Up to 15 spins |
| Best odds in basic mode | x52x25.8×21.2 |
| Best Free Spins Results (9 spins, including purchase bonuses) | x445.8×134.1×93,6 |
| Worst results in the bonus round | x2x19x25.7 |
Video slot features
Release the Kraken 2 is a slot machine with a variable number of fixed paylines. There are 20 in the base mode, and 40 in the bonus mode. The layout of the field remains the same. There are also other features:
- Wild symbol and shark images form combinations of 2 or more.
- Reels two through four feature stacked expanding symbols with a higher multiplier.
- A combination of 4 wilds activates a respin with sticky special symbols.
- At a random moment, the machine can award an instant win of up to 60 x’s.
- The user can influence the number of free spins and the starting multiplier during the bonus game.
- During free spins, wilds become sticky and the multiplier increases every time the golden kraken appears.
The device supports a Russian-language interface, which is available at many ruble-based online casinos. Spins can be started automatically or manually, with different speed options. Conveniently, the spin counter doesn’t reset when bonuses are activated during autoplay.
Technical specifications
The developer has included information about the basic parameters in the slot’s help section. Technical specifications are listed after the rules and payout table. For user convenience, the editors have included key information in the review.
| Parameter | Description |
| Developer | Pragmatic Play |
| Year of release | 2022 |
| Genre | Pirates |
| RTP of the main game | 96,03% |
| RTP of the purchased bonus | 96,05% |
| Volatility | High |
| Grid layout | 5 x 4 |
| Lines | 40 |
| Risk game | Yes |
| Respin | Yes |
| Bonus Description | Free spins with a progressive multiplier and sticky wilds |
| Cost of a paid bonus | 100 or 250 bets |
| Best combination odds | x10x5x4 |
| Winning potential | x5000 |
| Jackpot | No |
Editorial opinion
This slot machine definitely deserves the attention of nautical fans. It will also appeal to players familiar with the first game. It features new features that heighten the excitement and make the gameplay more engaging.
Release the Kraken 2 pays out more frequently than some of the provider’s other slots. For example, Santa’s Xmas Rush combinations fell out in 25% of cases, and in Zeus vs Hades – Gods of War even less – 17%.
Unsuccessful spins are rare. The maximum interval during testing was 15 spins. A reserve of 300 bets should be enough for a long session. Despite high volatility, the machine regularly recoups some of its losses. If you manage to turn a profit of 30-40 bets early in the game, it’s best to stop the session and lock in your profits.
Purchasing the bonus wasn’t worth it. The user won’t be able to choose a specific number of spins or the starting multiplier, even after paying the maximum amount—x250. The slot won’t be eligible for wagering requirements for casino bonuses.