Sky Bounty: Slot Overview

Krakens have long been a familiar sight in online slots, and Pragmatic Play is one of the studios that returns to these legendary beasts most often. It has even created a small run of games around them, including Release the Kraken and Release the Kraken 2. Although Sky Bounty doesn’t appear to be an official continuation, it does share a few loose connections with those earlier titles. For one, tentacled creatures show up again; for another, the word ‘Kraken’s’ sits alongside Sky Bounty’s name. On top of that, all three games include a wild-focused mechanic, and the version used here is a solid one. So, if you’re prepared to embrace the Kraken chaos, it’s time to head into the clouds.

Here, you’re joining octopus-like characters on a sky adventure… even though they’re usually sea dwellers, as you might point out. Typically yes, but in this story the Kraken has somehow adapted to life outside the water, acquired a flying ship, and now steers it through the clouds in search of treasure. You’ll need a healthy dose of suspension of disbelief to fully buy into Sky Bounty’s setting. Still, cruising the skies in a tentacled pirate vessel is a refreshing change from the usual deep-sea backdrop. It’s a shame Pragmatic Play didn’t lean harder into the concept and explore where it could take players. As often happens with this studio, the idea is appealing and the presentation is polished, yet it feels like it stops just short of going all-in.

Much like its theme choices, Sky Bounty’s grid configuration is a little unusual as well, using 6 reels and 6 rows of symbols. Rather than being a cluster pays or pay-anywhere title as you might initially assume, it uses 50 paylines to calculate wins. Looking further into the details, Sky Bounty runs on a highly volatile math model and is available in multiple RTP settings. The default RTP is 96.05% with standard play, 96.06% when the Ante Bet is enabled, and 96.07% if you purchase free spins. Whichever option you choose, you’ll still need to pick a base stake, with bets ranging from 25 p/c to $/€250.

Symbol-wise, there are 7 gemstones in different colours and shapes making up the lower-value set, followed by a rum bottle, a wheel, a cannon, and crossed swords as the higher-paying picture icons. Landing a 6 OAK win with low symbols returns 2 to 3 times the bet, climbing to 6-20 times the bet for the other symbols. Wilds play a major role in Sky Bounty, especially once you reach the bonus. In both the base game and free spins, wilds can appear on any reel and substitute for any paying symbol. When wilds form wins on their own, they can pay up to 20 times the stake for a 6-wild combination.

Sky Bounty: Slot Features

To keep the base game lively, Sky Bounty occasionally drops in its Random Expanding Wild mechanic. The same idea appears in free spins as well, though it behaves in a more lasting way there. This is the basic process.

Random Expanding Wild Feature

The feature can activate randomly during the base game. When it triggers, a frame sized 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, 5×5, or 6×6 is placed over random symbols. If a wild symbol lands inside that frame on the same spin, the wild expands to match the frame’s dimensions. If multiple wilds land within the same frame, the expanded wild receives a multiplier equal to how many wilds the frame contains. That multiplier is applied to every win that runs through the expanded wild.

Free Spins

Sky Bounty’s free spins feature starts when at least 3 scatter symbols land on the screen. You also receive 6 free spins. During free spins, a frame remains on the grid for its full duration, shifting position after each spin. It begins as a 2×2 frame, and any wild that lands within it will expand to fill it, just like in the base game. When scatter symbols appear, they are collected. For every 3 scatters collected, the game increases the frame size to 3×3, 4×4, 5×5, and then 6×6, and awards +2 free spins each time. After the fourth increase, scatter symbols stop appearing on the reels. If the feature begins with 4, 5, or 6 scatter symbols, the round starts with 1, 2, or 3 scatters already collected.

Ante Bet & Buy Free Spins

Turning on Sky Bounty’s Ante Bet adds more scatter symbols to the reels in exchange for an increase to the stake of 20%, while the free spins round can be purchased for 100x the bet. When you buy free spins, the trigger lands 3, 4, 5, or 6 scatter symbols to start the feature.

Sky Bounty: Slot Verdict

Overall, Sky Bounty delivers a decent experience and carries many of the familiar strengths and weaknesses that tend to come with a Pragmatic Play release. The impression is mostly favourable, yet it also feels like with a bit more pushing, extra development time, or more creative attention, Sky Bounty could have moved from average/above average into something more impressive. Instead, Pragmatic Play continues to release games at a remarkable pace, even if only a small portion truly grow into long-term classics.

Even so, while Pragmatic Play may lean toward volume, the standard of its output is often strong—at least strong enough. Sky Bounty fits that pattern, offering a fun concept with sky-roaming Krakens and high-altitude piracy, along with some engaging mechanics. The expanding wild idea is clearly the highlight. It carries a slight Fat Rabbit vibe, but it isn’t a simple expanding wild system. A couple of extra elements need to line up before it really hits its stride. There’s also a neat interaction between collecting bonus symbols and enlarging the frame: as the frame grows, the odds of catching a wild inside it improve, which can lead to a huge wild—potentially full-screen in the best scenario. With the right luck, a multiplier can add even more excitement. The growing frame mechanic also helps smooth out the feel of the reels and ways layout, which initially seems a bit awkward. It’s also capable of producing wins up to 5,000x the bet at the top end, which is Sky Bounty’s maximum payout.

So, Sky Bounty has plenty going for it, yet it still feels like a Pragmatic Play slot that builds toward something really compelling and then stops just before fully delivering. That can be a great quality in a storyteller, but it’s a little frustrating when assessing slots, because you can easily imagine how a stronger final push could have made it stand out more. Taken as a whole, Sky Bounty is a good Kraken-themed game. Good—but it also feels like, with a bit more time, resources, or love, it could have been far more distinctive and memorable.