Chicken Run is a 5-reel, 20-payline online casino slot developed by Microgaming, one of the largest providers of online gaming software. The game takes players on an adventure through the world of chickens, complete with farmyard sounds and cartoonish graphics.
Theme and Design The Chicken Run slot is based on the popular animated film of the same name, produced by Aardman Animations in 2000. The game’s theme revolves around a group of chickens attempting to escape from a sinister farmer. The background image features a picturesque farm with rolling hills, while the reels are set against Chicken Run a wooden fence surrounded by chicken wire.
The design is colorful and whimsical, matching the lighthearted tone of the movie. Each reel contains five symbols: three different breeds of chicken (Leghorn, Plymouth Rock, and Rhode Island Red), as well as an egg-laying hen and the farmer’s sinister cat. The game’s icons are cartoon-style illustrations that fit perfectly with the overall theme.
Symbols The symbols in Chicken Run are categorized into two groups based on their frequency and payout potential:
- High-Payout Symbols : These include the Leghorn, Plymouth Rock, and Rhode Island Red chickens.
- Each high-payout symbol offers a unique set of payouts for three-of-a-kind combinations:
- 3x: 5x, 20x
- 4x: 10x, 40x
- 5x: 25x, 100x
- Each high-payout symbol offers a unique set of payouts for three-of-a-kind combinations:
- Low-Payout Symbols : The egg-laying hen and the farmer’s cat.
- Both low-payout symbols offer a fixed payout of:
- 3x: 1x
- 4x: 10x
- Both low-payout symbols offer a fixed payout of:
Payouts The payouts for Chicken Run are calculated based on the total bet amount. Players can adjust their stake using the intuitive controls, and the game pays out according to the following structure:
Payline Min Bet Max Win Single-Line $0.20-$1 100x-5000x
The maximum payout of $125000 is triggered by landing five matching high-payout symbols on a single payline.
Wilds and Scatters There are no wilds in Chicken Run, but the egg-laying hen serves as a scatter symbol.
- Scatter Symbol : The egg-laying hen (represented by an image) triggers free spins when it appears three or more times anywhere on the reels.
- 3 Scatters: Free Spins with x1 Multiplier
- 4 Scatters: Free Spins with x5 Multiplier
Bonus Features Chicken Run offers two exciting bonus features:
- Free Spins : Triggered by landing at least three scatter symbols, this feature awards free spins. During the initial game round (not during re-triggers), a random multiplier is applied between 1x and 10x to all payouts.
- Max win: 1000x
- Wilds Free Spins Re-Trials : After activating free spins, players have two chances to earn extra wild symbols in the following spins. Each of these additional wild symbols earns a 3x multiplier.
Free Spins To activate free spins, players must collect at least three scatter symbols anywhere on the reels. The scatters trigger a re-spin feature where only the egg-laying hen is visible. After this round concludes or if more scatters appear to exceed three times, the player can claim the corresponding number of free spins.
RTP and Volatility Chicken Run’s RTP (Return-to-Player) value is set at 96.22%. While not overly high compared to other Microgaming slots, it offers players a reasonable chance at winning. The game also features medium-low volatility due to its balanced payline payouts and lack of extreme win opportunities.
Betting Range Players can wager between $0.20-$5 on all twenty active reels simultaneously, providing a wide enough betting range for low-stakes gamblers as well as high-rollers looking to make larger bets.
Max Win The maximum payout possible with Chicken Run is 50000 coins (equivalent to around €250000). However, since there are no wild symbols and winning combinations pay out x5 at most times of three-to-five scatter wins in succession.
Gameplay Overall gameplay involves selecting a bet from the provided range and spinning the reels by pressing ‘Play’. Players will have access to two distinct bonus rounds for acquiring extra rewards or making high-wagers more appealing. One potential strategy lies within managing one’s expectations; since scatters are triggered randomly each turn without additional multipliers beyond that of either first-then or wilds-and-scatter re-trigger combinations.
