Chicken Run is a video slot developed by Microgaming, based on the popular stop-motion animated film of the same name directed by Peter Lord. The game was released in 2000 and has since become one of the developer’s most iconic titles. In this review, we will delve into every aspect of Chicken Run slots, examining its theme, design, symbols, payouts, features, gameplay mechanics, volatility, RTP, mobile playability, and overall player experience.
Theme and Design
As expected from a Microgaming slot based on Chicken Run an animated film, the visuals in Chicken Run are vibrant and colorful. The game is set against the backdrop of a farmyard, with characters from the movie prominently featured on its reels. Players will encounter familiar faces such as Ginger, Rocky, and Fowler, who have all been adapted to fit within a traditional slot format.
The design itself is straightforward yet appealing, adhering closely to Microgaming’s signature style for their older slots. The symbols range in value from low-paying farm animals (such as chickens, sheep, and cows) to medium-value items like egg crates and feed buckets. High-payout symbols take the form of Ginger herself and the game’s iconic train scene.
Symbols
The payout structure is fairly standard for a Microgaming slot, with rewards ranging from 0.2x to 100x the total bet when landing five consecutive symbols on an active payline. The most lucrative combinations are naturally achieved by using high-payout characters like Ginger and the train scene, which pay out up to 10 times more than low-paying farm animals.
The following is a breakdown of Chicken Run’s basic payout structure:
- Low-payers: 2x – 3x (farm animals)
- Medium-payers: 5x – 20x (egg crates & feed buckets)
- High-payers: 50x – 100x (Ginger, train scene)
Wilds
The game features two wild symbols that appear in standard and stacked versions. The latter can trigger significant wins by taking up the entire reel or appearing on adjacent reels to create lucrative combinations.
Additionally, a Chicken Run logo acts as both the main Wild symbol when part of a winning combination but does not generate payouts itself if three land consecutively without contributing to any successful line.
Scatters
The Scatter is represented by Ginger, who triggers an instant win with 3 or more across adjacent reels regardless of payline orientation. Scatters provide rewards up to 20 times the total stake when found in combinations.
Notably, there’s no extra game round associated directly linked directly through achieving three scatters as occurs sometimes other slots, yet a maximum reward does appear following a player initiating spins (explained later).
Bonus Features
Players have access to multiple features that complement its existing mechanics:
- Free Spins: By activating at least 2 Scattered Ginger symbols anywhere within the playing field regardless of direction or position, rewards multiply up from one times two times total bet for each instance; and they accumulate.
- Super Stakes Bonus Round : Activated via five scatters which also act to award ten free spins with all reels turning wild during these bonus rounds offering substantial potential wins since every possible combination counts towards your maximum payout.
RTP & Volatility
Chicken Run Slots offer an average Return To Player (RTP) of 95.32%, according to Microgaming’s official documentation, which places it firmly in the middle range regarding expected payout rates. This balance contributes significantly to player satisfaction since it provides regular moderate wins without sacrificing too much potential.
Regarding volatility, Chicken Run slots exhibit medium-low profile – meaning frequent, but smaller payouts occur more often than very large jackpots.
Betting Range & Max Win
Chicken Run offers players an adaptable betting range with a minimum of $0.01 and maximum bet reaching up to 6 coins for each reel set ($3 per spin max). The theoretical maximum payout achievable from this slot reaches up to 60,000x the total stake making it competitive at high levels.
Gameplay Mechanics
Each spin incorporates various features including:
- Multiple Reels
- Random Wins
- Win Multipliers during Bonus Rounds