Beat the Beast: Kraken's Lair — slot review

Beat the Beast: Kraken's Lair is a slot by Thunderkick (released 2019) with an RTP of 96.16%, high volatility. Theme: sea monster, the ocean depths.

RTP 96.16%High volatility5x3

Free demo

Free, virtual chips only — no sign-up

Demo mode uses a virtual balance and pays no real winnings. It is meant for getting familiar with the game.

Specifications

Provider	Thunderkick
Release year	2019
RTP	96.16%
Volatility	High volatility
Reels	5x3
Paylines	9 paylines
Theme	sea monster, the ocean depths
Mechanics	expanding wild, free spins, retrigger

Why the RTP at a casino may differ

Providers ship the same game in several return configurations, and each casino picks which version it runs. Across the market the spread typically runs 2–8 percentage points below the headline figure. The number here is the provider specification — the version actually running is shown inside the game, in its rules screen.

Beat the Beast: Kraken's Lair review

The first and most famous entry in Thunderkick's Beat the Beast series, in which you take on legendary monsters. Kraken's Lair is a minimalist high-volatility slot: just 9 lines on a 5x3 grid, yet every combination of premium symbols carries real weight. The kraken symbol acts as both wild and scatter: three of them launch the free spins, and during the bonus a kraken wild that expands across a full reel, plus retriggers, can whip up a genuine storm of payouts. The bleak deep-sea atmosphere, booming soundtrack and honest, no-frills maths make it a pick for fans of old-school slots with a harsh but generous streak.