Introduction
The "Chicken Run" slot machine game is a vibrant and entertaining online casino game developed by Microgaming, one of the most renowned software providers in the industry. This 5-reel, 243-ways-to-win video slot is set against the backdrop of a rustic farm, complete with clucking Chicken Run chickens, rolling hills, and a hint of British humor.
Theme
The theme of "Chicken Run" revolves around the concept of escaping from a poultry farm, à la the classic children’s book and movie series. Players are transported to a quaint English countryside setting where they must guide Ginger, a determined and charismatic chicken, as she plots her escape alongside other lovable fowl friends.
Design
Visually, "Chicken Run" is an attractive game that incorporates bright colors and whimsical graphics. The symbols on the reels include various cartoon-style chickens, farmhands, eggs, hens, roosters, and even a prized chicken called Ginger’s son. These illustrations are both delightful and detailed, immersing players in the world of "Chicken Run."
Symbols
The game features 10 standard symbols with varying payouts:
- Rooster: The highest-paying symbol offers up to x50.
- Hens: Offer up to x25 for a combination of five on an active payline.
- Chickens (Ginger, Poppy, and others): Up to x20 payout.
- Farmhands (Winston & Henrietta): Payouts ranging from x10 to x5.
Payouts
The base game payouts in "Chicken Run" are relatively modest compared to other online slots with similar themes. However, the lack of intricate paytable and combination-based rewards system is intentional for this particular title. Players will instead focus on unlocking bonus features such as free spins, wild symbols, and scatters.
Wilds
A Wild Chick symbol serves as a substitute in place of all standard symbols (except Scatters), multiplying payouts by up to x5 when combined with the Ginger’s Prize Chicken.
Scatters
Two Scatter icons are present: "Chicken Coop" & "Escape". Both activate respective bonus games upon appearance:
- Free Spins Bonus : Awarded 15, 20 or 25 free spins based on the scatter combination.
- Bonus Game : 5 free spins with Ginger as a Wild Chick.
Bonus Features
Several key features contribute to gameplay and overall player experience in "Chicken Run":
- Wild Multiplier Feature : As mentioned earlier, the Wild Chick can multiply winnings by up to x5 when appearing alongside standard symbols.
- Rise to Riches Free Spins Bonus : Activate with 3 Scatter ‘Escape’ icons; includes wild multipliers (x2-5), increased payline count to 243, and an enhanced multiplier chance of 1 in every 40 plays.
Free Spins
During free spins bonus rounds, the maximum win is x800 when a high-value Wild Chick appears. The Ginger’s Prize Chicken will contribute significant amounts upon its appearance as well – offering x100 (up from x5). To put this into perspective: it would take approximately 10 times fewer coins to trigger a $1 payout using these boosted free spin rewards compared with regular game play.
RTP and Volatility
Return-to-Player percentages are difficult to estimate without access to the actual mathematical model but we do know that this specific version of "Chicken Run" has been tested on platforms where RTP is reported around 95.14% when all winning combinations and bonus features are included; however, it must be noted there could be minor variations between different casinos.
A medium Volatility game (Medium-Moderate to High) which offers neither extremely high or low risk rewards but allows players to anticipate some level of uncertainty while the outcome is uncertain – this might suit a new player better than an advanced gamer seeking fast-paced action and huge potential jackpots offered by other games.
Betting Range
The betting range spans between $0.25 up to a maximum bet per spin of $125, catering to both high-roller players looking for more significant risk and lower-stakes gamers on smaller bankrolls.
