Chicken Run is a 5-reel, 10-payline video slot game developed by Microgaming, one of the leading online casino software providers. Released in 2020, this slot machine is inspired by the classic Aardman Animations film of the same name, which tells the story of a group of chickens who hatch an escape plan from their farmer.
Theme and Design
The game’s theme revolves around the main characters from Chicken Run the movie: Ginger (the heroine) and Rocky (her love interest). The background of the reels is set against a farm landscape with rolling hills, trees, and a red barn. The slot’s design is colorful, vibrant, and fun-loving, capturing the lighthearted spirit of the film.
Symbols
The game features 11 regular symbols: Ginger, Rocky, Maureen, Mrs. Tweedy (the main antagonist), two farmers, three chickens (Eggbert, Nuke, and Pip), an egg, a henhouse, and four playing card suits from Ace to King. These symbols are divided into high-paying and low-paying categories.
High-paying symbols:
- Ginger: up to 20x bet per line
- Rocky: up to 12x bet per line
Low-paying symbols:
- Playing cards (Ace to King): up to 5x bet per line
Payouts
The payout table is based on the traditional slot machine paytable structure. Players can win cash prizes for landing three or more matching symbols in a winning combination, starting from left to right.
Wild Symbols and Scatters
Both Ginger and Rocky act as wild symbols, substituting any regular symbol except scatter (the henhouse). They do not appear on all reels, but only on specific ones. Ginger appears on the first two reels (Reel 1-2), while Rocky appears on the last three reels (Reel 3-5).
Scatter is represented by a red henhouse icon. When at least two scatter symbols land anywhere on the reels, they trigger a Free Spins round.
Bonus Features
Chicken Run offers several bonus features that enhance gameplay and increase potential winnings:
- Wild Dance Feature : During free spins, any wild symbol (Ginger or Rocky) that lands on Reel 5 becomes sticky for two consecutive spins.
- Free Spins : Triggered by three scatter symbols, this feature awards a minimum of 10 free spins with a 3x multiplier applied to all payouts.
Free Spins
To trigger the Free Spins round:
- 3 Scatters: 10 free spins
- 4 Scatters: 20 free spins
During free spins:
- Each spin features two expanding wilds (Ginger and Rocky)
- All winning combinations are multiplied by 3x
- Re-spins can occur when an expanding wild lands on the reels
Return to Player (RTP) and Volatility
According to Microgaming’s documentation, Chicken Run has a Return-to-Player (RTP) rate of around 96.23% and is classified as Medium-High volatility.
Betting Range
The minimum bet starts at €0.10 per spin with a maximum of €100 per round.
Max Win
While there isn’t an officially stated max win, based on the game’s mechanics and payout table, it seems reasonable to estimate that the top prize could be around 50x the total bet (€5,000).
Gameplay Experience
Overall, Chicken Run offers a smooth gaming experience with quick loading times. The controls are user-friendly and responsive, while the mobile version is fully optimized for playing on-the-go.
Mobile Play
The slot machine is available in both desktop and mobile formats. Players can access it through their web browsers or download and install the mobile app from various online casinos that partner with Microgaming. Mobile gameplay offers flexibility and allows players to enjoy Chicken Run anywhere, anytime.
Player Experience
Players who have tried Chicken Run praise its engaging theme, colorful design, and exciting bonus features. The game provides a great way to experience the popular movie’s characters in an immersive setting while offering substantial winning opportunities.