Theoretical return to player
96.12%
Minimum bet
0.10
Slot format
Video Slots
Volatility
High
Reel count
5
Progressive Prize
No
Popularity
Maximum bet
100
Slot Developer
Thunderkick Gaming
Special features
Yes
Active paylines
9
Main theme
Kraken
Beat the Beast: Kraken’s Lair Slot Review
Thunderkick’s Beat the Beast: Kraken’s Lair is a video slot centered on an emblem that acts as both wild and scatter. It can substitute for symbols, trigger the bonus round, and help create expanding wins. The listed maximum prize is 7,777x the spin bet.
Setting and story
The game takes players into the Kraken’s domain, where matching reel symbols represents a raid beneath the creature’s watch. The imagery includes a giant squid, treasure chests, jewellery from a sunken wreck, a trident, and a distinctive emblem. Aligning these symbols can form combinations and, in the game’s story, bring a share of the Kraken’s treasure.
Visuals, sound, and movement
Thunderkick gives this 3D slot a detailed underwater setting, although the review says there are no animations. The reels and features still include moving elements, especially when ‘Expanding Win’ is active. The scenery suggests a forgotten world of bare rocks and shipwrecks, while colorful reel symbols depict objects from the Kraken’s lair. The review also praises the audio, describing drums, violins, and gentle horns woven into an exploration-themed score.
Top Casinos to Play Beat the Beast: Kraken’s Lair:
Reel gameplay
Beat the Beast: Kraken’s Lair has a 5x3 reel layout, 9 paylines and 10 regular symbols. The pink Kraken is the highest-paying of these 10 symbols, awarding 500x the spin bet when 5 land on a payline. A return of 500x the spin bet is described as exceptionally high for a regular-symbol combination in an online slot. A line of 4, 3 or 2 matching symbols pays 50x, 10x or 1.5x the spin bet, respectively.
The golden squid is the second-highest-paying symbol, but its prizes are much smaller than the Kraken’s. A line of 5, 4, 3, or 2 pays 50x, 17.5x, 3x, or 0.5x the bet per spin, respectively.
Other illustrated symbols include sunken treasure, a necklace, and a trident. Matching 5, 4, 3, or 2 across one of the 9 paylines returns between 40x and 0.5x the spin bet. The remaining regular symbols are A, K, Q, J, and 10; combinations of 5, 4, or 3 may pay.
The emblem that serves as both Scatter and Wild provides another way to form a 5-symbol combination. According to the listed payout, a payline with 5 of these symbols awards 500x the spin bet, the same as the pink Kraken.
Bonus Rounds and Free Spins
Kraken Emblem: The emblem combines wild and scatter features. It can complete paylines by substituting for any regular symbol, and it can also pay a spin-bet multiplier when it appears anywhere on the reels without forming a line. Landing 5, 4, or 3 anywhere in view pays 200x, 20x, or 2x the total spin bet.
Free spins: Landing 3 ‘Kraken Emblem’ symbols triggers 10 free spins. One Kraken Emblem Symbol is randomly placed on the reels at the start of each free spin. Landing another 3 scatters during the free spins round retriggers 10 more spins.
Expanding Win: This base-game feature can contribute to wins. When a payline win includes the Kraken emblem as a wild, some symbols expand, which may create additional winning combinations.
Bet Range, RTP, and Variance
The listed minimum and maximum bets are 0.10-100.00, adjusted with the ‘number 1’ casino chip on the control panel. Paytable prizes are calculated as multiples of the spin bet, with combinations ranging from 500x down to 0.5x. The review says free spins offer the game’s largest potential wins, while the ‘Kraken Emblem’ can produce medium-sized base-game awards through ‘Expanding Win’. It classifies the slot as medium variance and lists its theoretical RTP as 96.12%.
Review Summary
Beat the Beast: Kraken’s Lair launched Thunderkick’s Beat the Beast slot series. By the time the review was written, a second title, Beat the Beast: Mightly Sphinx, had also appeared, and further games were expected at that time.
The Kraken is the featured beast, and the game lists a top prize of 7,777x the spin bet. Its key feature is the ‘Kraken Emblem’, which substitutes for other symbols, helps trigger expanding symbols, and starts the free spins round. The review identifies that round as the source of the slot’s biggest potential wins.
Evan Carrington brings more than 12 years of experience in the iGaming industry, specializing in online casino reviews, slot game analysis, and player safety assessments. Their expertise includes casino licensing, RTP, volatility, bonus terms, and withdrawal policies. Combining hands-on reviews with independent research, Evan provides clear, evidence-based coverage to help players understand gambling platforms, their features, and possible risks.
