Chicken Road is a popular online slot machine developed by renowned gaming software provider, Microgaming. As its name suggests, this game revolves around rural farm life, featuring a cast of lovable chickens as its main characters. In this in-depth review, we’ll delve into the intricacies of Chicken Road, exploring its theme, design, symbols, payouts, and various features that make it an entertaining experience for players.
Theme and Design
Chicken Road’s theme is centered around a serene countryside setting, where Chicken Road happy-go-lucky chickens go about their daily routines. The game’s backdrop resembles a quaint farm with lush green fields and towering trees, creating an idyllic atmosphere that evokes feelings of relaxation and nostalgia. The design elements are carefully crafted to complement the theme, with intricate details such as rustic fences, water towers, and wildflowers adding to the charm.
The reels themselves are presented in a clean and uncluttered manner, making it easy for players to focus on their gameplay experience. Each symbol is designed to fit within the rural context, including cartoon-style chicken characters, farm tools, and seasonal produce like apples and pumpkins. The game’s overall aesthetic exudes a sense of warmth and friendliness, inviting players to join in on the fun.
Symbols
The symbols used in Chicken Road are an essential aspect of its design, as they not only contribute to gameplay but also help maintain the theme’s cohesion. There are 10 basic symbols, divided into three categories: high-paying (chicken characters), medium-paying (farm tools and produce), and low-paying (numbers).
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High-Paying Symbols : The five chicken characters serve as the game’s highest-paying symbols. Each character has its unique design and personality, with names like Cluck Norris, Hatcher, Poppy, Daisy, and Rufus. These high-paying symbols offer payouts ranging from 100 to 500 times the player’s bet.
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Medium-Paying Symbols : This category includes farm tools (rake, shovel), seasonal produce (apples, pumpkins), and a watering can. The medium-payout symbols reward players with up to 50 times their stake for five-of-a-kind combinations.
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Low-Paying Symbols : Numbered cards from Ace to King are used as low-paying symbols in Chicken Road. These have lower payout values compared to the other two categories, offering rewards ranging from 1-20 times the player’s bet.
Payouts
Chicken Road offers a Return-to-Player (RTP) rate of 96.05%, which is above average for an online slot game. Players can expect a decent win ratio, but it’s essential to note that individual results may vary greatly depending on the stake and gameplay strategy employed.
When combining high-paying symbols in winning combinations, players can unlock significant payouts:
- Wild: The "Egg" symbol serves as both Wild and Scatter icon, substituting for any basic symbol except other special icons.
- Scatter: Landing three or more Egg icons anywhere on the reels activates the Free Spins Bonus.
Bonuses
Chicken Road features two primary bonuses that reward players with substantial payouts:
- Free Spins : The scatter feature awards up to 200 free spins for combinations of five Egg symbols, subject to a 3x multiplier.
- Bonus Wheel : Every player’s win is followed by the Bonus Wheel Spin feature; land on one of four colored wheels (red, blue, green, or yellow), each corresponding to different rewards.
Free Spins
The Free Spins Bonus in Chicken Road is triggered when three or more Egg icons appear anywhere on the reels. The number of free spins awarded increases with the scatter count:
- Three Ears: 20x the player’s bet + up to 5000 times for bonus game
- Four Eggs : 30x the initial bet + maximum win of 12,000 coins
During this feature, all wins are multiplied by three. The Free Spins Bonus can be retriggered with additional scatter combinations.
Volatility and RTP
The variance in Chicken Road is medium to high. With an above-average payout rate (96.05% RTP), the game compensates for potential losses through higher-paying symbols during free spins.
While players might encounter longer dry spells, they stand a chance of reaping large rewards with strategic gameplay.
Mobile Play and Overall Analysis
As one would expect from Microgaming’s renowned mobile expertise, Chicken Road is fully optimized for handheld devices. The game adapts seamlessly to smaller screens while maintaining its original design elements, making it easy for players on-the-go to join in on the fun.
