Chicken Run is a 5-reel, 20-payline online slot machine developed by Barcrest Games (now part of Scientific Games). The game is based on Aardman Animations’ 2000 stop-motion animated film "Chicken Run," which follows the story of a group of chickens who attempt to escape from their evil farmer. The slot machine captures the lighthearted and comedic essence of the original movie, offering players an entertaining experience with various bonus features and rewards.
Theme and Chicken Run Design
The game’s theme revolves around farm life, specifically focusing on chickens and their attempts at flight. Upon loading the game, players are greeted by a colorful 3D interface featuring cartoon-style graphics inspired by Aardman Animations’ style. The background consists of an English countryside setting with rolling hills, while the reels themselves depict various farming-related symbols, including animals like chickens, turkeys, and even pigs.
The control panel is located at the bottom of the screen and features easy-to-use buttons for adjusting the stake level, enabling autoplay modes, and navigating through various game settings. The game’s soundtrack consists of lighthearted music with sound effects that mimic farm animal noises, adding to the immersive experience.
Symbols
Chicken Run features a diverse set of symbols divided into several categories:
- High-paying Symbols : These include:
- Chick (5x for 3 matching icons)
- Ginger (10x for 3 matching icons)
- Bocklesworth (15x for 3 matching icons)
- Medium-Paying Symbols : These include various farm animals and objects, such as turkeys, pigs, eggs, baskets of vegetables, and flowers.
- Low-paying Symbols : Numbered card suits in red and yellow backgrounds.
Payouts
Wins are awarded based on the paytable’s specific payout rates for each symbol combination. Players can earn between 1x to 15x their stake when matching three identical symbols from left-to-right across a single payline or any other winning combination.
Wild Symbols
The Wild Chick serves as the game’s wild, substituting all standard symbols except scatters and bonus icons. This allows for more combinations and increases overall winnings potential. The Chick appears stacked on reel 3 in both base gameplay and free spin modes.
Scatter Symbol
A farm-fresh basket of eggs acts as the scatter icon in Chicken Run slots. Scattered Eggs trigger various outcomes:
- 10, 20, or 30 Free Spins : Depending on how many Egg symbols appear (2-6), players receive a set number of free spins during which more Chickens and Wild Chicks are stacked.
Bonus Features
The game offers several bonus features that enhance gameplay experience:
- Free Spins Mode : Triggers upon landing scattered Eggs, allowing for additional Chickens to be stacked.
- Flock Multiplier Feature : Available during free spins mode; all consecutive wins multiply the base win by a value between x5 and x10.
RTP (Return-to-Player) & Volatility
Chicken Run’s RTP rate has not been explicitly provided in available documentation, but typically online slots offer an average range of 90% – 98%. With respect to volatility, Chicken Run is generally classified as medium to high due to the limited number of paylines and its tendency towards fewer frequent wins.
Betting Range & Max Win
Chicken Run allows a flexible betting system with adjustable coin denominations ranging from £0.20 to £400 per spin. The maximum win potential has not been officially stated, but like other online slots, it should be approximately 10x – 50x the total stake based on individual game settings.
Gameplay Experience
Overall gameplay involves spinning reels in search of combinations matching three or more identical symbols across a payline. While there are no bonus rounds per se, the various special features introduced through scattered Eggs can offer up to 30 Free Spins and flock multiplier benefits for extended winning potential during that time. Player experience is further enhanced by its intuitive interface, multiple gameplay modes (e.g., autoplay), and low minimum stakes.
Mobile Play
Chicken Run slots are compatible with a range of mobile devices running either Android or iOS operating systems due to their optimized design for seamless play on any size screen.
Player Experience & Overall Analysis
For fans of farm-themed games and Aardman Animations, Chicken Run provides an enjoyable gaming experience. Its user-friendly controls, rewarding gameplay features (scatters, wilds, bonus mode), colorful graphics, and accessible betting system make it a suitable game for both beginners and experienced players alike.
However, a primary concern lies in its slightly higher volatility due to fewer frequent wins; nonetheless, the medium-high RTP might compensate by providing more substantial payouts when they occur. Overall, Chicken Run slots are an entertaining choice for those looking for farm-themed gameplay with opportunities to win generously throughout various special features.