The Chicken Run casino slot game is a farm-fresh take on the traditional fruit machine, featuring a colorful cast of characters and an engaging gameplay experience. Developed by Red Tiger Gaming, this 5-reel slot promises to deliver entertainment and potential payouts, but does it live Chicken Run up to expectations? In this in-depth review, we’ll examine every aspect of Chicken Run, from its theme and design to its features and RTP.
Theme and Design
The game’s theme is centered around a group of chickens attempting to escape their farm prison. The reels are set amidst the backdrop of a rural landscape, complete with rolling hills, trees, and a charming farmhouse. The characters themselves include the main protagonist, Ginger the chicken, along with her feathered friends, including Rocky, Marky, and more.
The design is bright and vibrant, making for an eye-catching experience that will appeal to fans of classic slot machines. Each character has been meticulously detailed, from their expressions to their movements, creating a sense of depth and personality in what might otherwise be a generic theme.
Symbols
The game’s symbols are comprised of two main categories: low-value and high-value. The low-value symbols include the standard fruit machine icons – 10-9-A-J-Q-K – which offer a decent payout for matching combinations. However, it’s worth noting that these don’t contribute to any special features or bonuses.
The high-value symbols are where things get more interesting. Ginger the chicken serves as the wild symbol, capable of substituting for other characters to create winning combinations. The game also includes six farm-themed icons – three crops and three barnyard animals – which offer higher payouts when matched.
Payouts
As mentioned earlier, the low-value symbols have a decent payout structure, but nothing extraordinary. Here’s a rough breakdown:
- 10-9-A-J-Q-K: x1-x2 for one symbol, x5-x20 for two symbols
- High-value symbols (farm crops): x3-x15 for one symbol, x6-x150 for three in a row
- Ginger the chicken (wild): x3-x50 for one symbol, x10-x1000 for four or five
While these payouts may seem reasonable at first glance, we’ll examine further how they’re influenced by other game features.
Wilds and Scatters
Ginger the chicken serves as both a wild symbol and an additional scatter. The wild can appear in any position on the reels to create winning combinations. When a Ginger appears next to another character or on its own, it generates additional payouts.
As for scatters, you’ll need at least three scattered farm crops (corn, wheat, or lettuce) anywhere on the reels. This triggers the ‘Fowl Play’ bonus round and grants 8-12 free spins.
Bonus Features
In addition to the Fowl Play feature mentioned earlier, Chicken Run offers an exclusive mechanic: ‘Instant Wins’. These can occur when a player lands specific combinations of high-value symbols. Instant wins may award varying cash payouts or additional spins in some cases.
Furthermore, two distinct bonus features are triggered by landing Ginger on reel 2 or reels 1 and 5 respectively:
- Escape Bonus : This rewards between x10-x20 times the bet for all active paylines.
- Fowl Play Free Spins : The standard free spin round can be activated when at least three scattered farm crops land anywhere.
The escape bonus is quite unique, offering a significant boost to winnings based on an instant win outcome. Conversely, Fowl Play’s standard free spins remain fairly predictable and not excessively rewarding – we’ll delve deeper into this aspect in the RTP section below.
Free Spins
As mentioned earlier, 8-12 Free Spins can be triggered when three scattered farm crops land anywhere. During this feature:
- Each spin will contain an increased multiplier ranging from x2-x10.
- Reel wins are doubled or quadrupled by multiplying all active paylines and matching combinations.
Free spins don’t retrigger with additional scatter symbols, making it essential to optimize your bets for the maximum potential earnings during these rounds.
RTP
With a total RTP of 96.17%, Chicken Run offers an above-average return-to-player ratio compared to similar titles in the same category.
When combined with low volatility and medium betting limits (min/max bet: $0.10/$500), players have ample opportunities for manageable wins throughout sessions – even though winning combinations will generally follow a relatively standard, predictable pattern.
Considering Chicken Run’s overall payout potential is lower than average due to both its Fowl Play feature mechanism limitations as well as the Instant Wins aspect described above; combined with rather unpredictable instant win and bonus round activations (in terms of timing but not winnings), it may indeed be wise for players seeking potentially massive payouts. However, those interested in consistent sessions yielding steady profits should consider giving this slot machine a try.
Volatility
Chicken Run’s volatility is categorized as low-medium to medium-high by Red Tiger Gaming itself – depending on the player setting bet and optimal strategy employed during gameplay (e.g., choosing either lower maximum bet settings that produce better base game performance or slightly higher wager rates which make winning combinations hit more regularly).
Therefore, players who usually seek smaller yet frequent rewards should aim at lower betting options. Conversely, those seeking potentially higher jackpots need to opt for increased stake values; while it increases the likelihood of significant wins when they do occur but also risks losses during unfavourable runs.
Betting Range
With a minimum bet setting of $0.10 and maximum option up to an eye-catching (or so it seems), Chicken Run offers flexible wager options suited to players from various backgrounds – regardless of whether one is betting for low stakes or higher amounts in search of more substantial jackpots, given proper budgeting decisions.
To play Chicken Run effectively requires awareness about these parameters since choosing an optimal range based on player resources will likely contribute significantly towards successful outcomes overall over time rather than any inherent ‘luck factor.’