Jolly Roger Wild Kraken Review: Sail Through Cannon Fire and Kraken-Filled Waters
Review Setup
| Mobile Device | iPhone 14 Pro + Safari (v17) |
| Desktop Browser | MacBook Pro + Chrome (v131.0.6778.140) |
| Play Time on Mobile | 60 Minutes |
| Play Time on Desktop | 45 Minutes |
| Amount Bet | $60 |
| Amount Won or Lost | +$20 |
Play’n Go has a reputation for high-quality slots, and Jolly Roger Wild Kraken is certainly one of those well-regarded games. After giving the slot a proper go, I can say it absolutely lives up to the hype.
Jolly Roger Wild Kraken throws you right into a pirate quest, complete with hidden treasures and a lurking sea monster. But what sets it above the competition are its unique features, impressive max win potential, and balanced risk-reward gameplay.
First Impressions with Jolly Roger Wild Kraken
Play’n Go’s Jolly Roger Wild Kraken slot had me expecting big things right from the start—and it delivered. The design is sharp, and you can tell they put real effort into the details. Everything—from the intro video to the background to the symbols and features—just works to pull you into this whole sea-faring vibe. The cherry on top: the voice commentary from the pirate himself.
Navigating the waters, I had to keep an eye out for the lurking Kraken while I worked toward uncovering the features. But the effort was definitely worth it, with rewards like Instant Treasure prizes, Cannon Free Spins, and the Super Cannon Free Spins popping up along the way.
The game looks great and runs smoothly on both desktop and mobile. For someone like me who enjoys having some control over gameplay, the medium variance and above-average RTP strike the right balance between risk and reward.
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Visuals and Presentation: 4/5
The visuals of Jolly Roger Wild Kraken spell out a classic pirate theme. The reels are framed by a wooden ship deck with ropes, barrels, and lanterns, all smoothly animated to sway with the wind. Beyond that, the scene in the base game feels surprisingly calm, with a clear blue sky, gentle ocean waves, and a distant island in the background—plus the occasional bird flying by. And did you catch the sea splashing alongside the ship as it sails?
Of course, once you land the Cannon Free Spins, it’s a whole different ballgame—then it’s chaos in the best way possible, and this contrast with the base game adds to the allure.
Since the reels themselves have a dark backdrop, the symbols have no trouble popping out. Speaking of, the lower-paying ones are 10 through A royals, and those that pay higher include a compass, crossed swords, a cannon, and, of course, the pirate. The scatter is represented by a cannonball, while the wild takes the form of the Jolly Roger flag. There are also other special symbols, like a gold-filled treasure chest and a key.
Even with everything going on, the layout stays clean and easy to follow. The reels are front and center, and everything you need—like the paytable, bet settings, spin button, and autoplay—is neatly laid out in the menu below.
The Role of Sound: 5/5
If you’re here for the pirate theme, I’d highly recommend turning on the sound. In fact, I even used headphones for the full effect. The background music is a full-blown cinematic pirate soundtrack, the kind that feels like it could’ve been pulled straight from Pirates of the Caribbean.
When the reels stop spinning, you’ll hear a wooden thud, like the sound of cargo hitting the deck. If you pay attention, you’ll also catch the faint whoosh of wind and soft ocean splashes in the background.
However, the best part, hands down, is the pirate’s gruff voiceover that adjusts based on what stage you’re at in the gameplay, so it never feels repetitive. Instead, it’s almost like he’s guiding you through the adventure while keeping you on edge for his next line.
Gameplay Journey: 4.5/5
Jolly Roger Wild Kraken rolls out its cannonballs and flexes its tentacles on a 5×3 grid. The setup is as straightforward as it gets, with 20 fixed paylines, meaning to score a win, I needed matching symbols on adjacent reels starting from the leftmost. The theoretical max potential payout is an impressive 20,000x your stake, which stacks up nicely against other high-limit slots I’ve played recently.
The medium-volatility math model delivered, too. Payouts weren’t constant, but they came often enough to keep the balance ticking over and maintain a good rhythm, with a nice mix of smaller wins in between the bigger ones. Stake options range from $0.20 to $100 per spin, though I usually stuck to $0.50 bets.
Let’s talk about where things got fun. Landing wilds helped me complete winning lines by substituting for all regular symbols except the scatters and special icons. It also brought some decent payouts on its own. Meanwhile, the scatter did a great job ramping up the tension, most likely since I knew it was my ticket to triggering the bigger features (but I’ll save those details for later). Plus, it contained multipliers of up to 5x.
Overall, I found that the gameplay of Jolly Roger Wild Kraken kept me very engaged.
Bonus Features Through My Eyes: 4/5
Play’n Go packs 3 fun bonus features into the Jolly Roger Wild Kraken slot. Here’s more about each one:
| Feature | Description | Impact on Gameplay |
|---|---|---|
| Instant Treasure | The Chest and Key symbols appear on the leftmost and rightmost reels, respectively, during the base game. When both land simultaneously, the Instant Treasure feature activates and awards a payout of 5x to 50x the bet. (I got an 8x and a 5x the two times I hit this.) | This feature is a great way to inject sudden bursts of excitement into the base game. It adds anticipation to each spin without disrupting the flow. Plus, it’s super quick. |
| Cannon Free Spins | Free spins are triggered by landing 6 or more Cannonball scatters (each with multipliers of 2x, 3x, or 5x). The number of free spins is based on the number of scatters, and their multipliers are stored in the Cannonball Collection Meter before the round begins. During the free spins, a fully stacked walking wild Kraken moves across reels 2-4. Multipliers from the Meter apply to wins involving the Kraken and are consumed when unused. Additional scatters award +1 free spin and replenish the Meter, with up to 49 spins. | The walking wild and multipliers are highly engaging. The Cannonball Collection Meter an extra layer of suspense, especially with the potential for +1 free spins from additional scatters. |
| Super Cannon Free Spins | These are triggered when the walking wild Kraken completes 6 winning substitutions during Cannon Free Spins. It carries over any remaining multipliers from the Cannonball Collection Meter and adds 4 Super Cannonballs with a win multiplier of x10 to x100 from a pre-spin pick feature. | This feels like the ultimate payoff if you can make it through the Cannon Free Spins. However, it’s not the easiest feature to trigger (I didn't hit it all while I played), so it may be a bit out of reach if you’re on a shorter gaming session. |
Balancing Risk and Reward: 4/5
Jolly Roger Wild Kraken brings in an RTP of 96.26%, which is slightly higher than the industry average for real money online slots. This is accompanied with medium variance to strike a fair balance between smaller and steady wins and the chance to land something bigger.
Paytable wins are pretty common to trigger, and I’d say they’re what keep the momentum going. That said, during one session, I went through about 10 spins without anything noteworthy, which is expected for a game like this. But just as I was starting to feel the dry spell, a $42 win on a $1 bet brought all the excitement back.
When it comes to the features, I noticed the Instant Treasures were much easier to activate than the Cannon Free Spins, and especially the Super Cannon Free Spins. So, Jolly Roger Wild Kraken is definitely not for the impatient; I found myself in need of strategy and a bit of resilience to successfully ride out the highs and lows.
The Good and Bad of Jolly Roger Wild Kraken
- Immersive pirate theme with high-quality visuals and a cinematic soundtrack
- High max win potential (20,000x)
- Cannonball multipliers with opportunities for bigger payouts
- Instant Treasure feature that triggers frequently
- Clean and user-friendly interface across desktop and mobile
- Cannon Free Spins and Super Cannon Free Spins difficult to trigger
- Medium volatility means occasional extended dry spells
- No progressive jackpot feature
Final Thoughts on Jolly Roger Wild Kraken
The Jolly Roger Wild Kraken has a lot going for it, from its pirate theme to the visuals, smooth animations, and a soundtrack that could’ve come straight out of a blockbuster. Plus, I highly appreciated the little details, like the ship creaks and ocean splashes.
The gameplay had its ups and downs, but overall, I really enjoyed it. The Instant Treasure feature kept the base game alive since it was relatively easy to trigger. However, getting to the Cannon Free Spins took some patience. (And don’t even get me started on the Super Cannon Free Spins. They can be tough to trigger, but they’re also your best shot at the 20,000x max win.) When I did finally trigger the bonus round, I absolutely loved the walking wild Kraken and those Cannonball multipliers as well.
So, would I recommend it? Yes, that’s a no-brainer. However, I suggest going into it with a clear mindset. Chances are that you’re not going to land massive wins right away with this one, but the combination of outstanding design and well-thought-out features will keep you coming back.
Final Score: 4.3/5
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