Chicken Run is a casino slot machine developed by Gamesys, a UK-based gaming company. Released in 2017, the game takes inspiration from the popular animated movie "Chicken Run" (2000) produced by Aardman Animations and DreamWorks Animation. In this review, we’ll dive into every aspect of Chicken Run, examining its theme, design, symbols, payouts, wilds, scatters, bonus features, free spins, RTP, volatility, betting range, max win, gameplay, mobile play, player experience, and overall analysis.
Theme
As the name suggests, Chicken Run is set in a rural English farm. The game’s artwork Chicken Run demo is reminiscent of classic animated films from Aardman Animations, with colorful characters and cartoon-style visuals. Players will find themselves surrounded by chickens, pigs, tractors, and other agricultural-themed symbols. The background animation features rolling hills and sun-drenched skies, evoking a cheerful atmosphere.
Design
The game’s design is centered around its 5×4 reel layout, offering 10 paylines for players to win on. The slot has a moderate level of complexity compared to modern video slots, but this allows it to maintain an approachable feel that caters well to casual gamblers and new players alike.
Symbols
The symbols in Chicken Run are based on the characters from the original movie. Key icons include:
- Farmer – serves as both Wild and Scatter symbol
- Ginger (main heroine) – serves as a High-Pay symbol
- Rocky – serves as a High-Pay symbol
- Cluck Norris (parody of Chuck Norris) – serves as an extra High-Pay symbol
Payouts
Wins in Chicken Run are calculated based on the paytable, where specific combinations yield cash prizes. Paylines can be formed horizontally or diagonally and wins occur from left to right. The highest payout is offered by a combination of three Farmer (Wild) symbols.
- 3x Wild: $50
- 4x Wild: $200
- 5x Wild: $1,000
Higher-paying icons like Ginger offer fixed prizes when landing multiple matches.
Wilds
The Farmer serves as the Wild symbol and can substitute all standard icon types. However, unlike in some games where multiple Wilds may stack or combine for additional wins, Chicken Run’s Wild only functions on a single spin level – replacing any one non-Wild symbol to create winning combinations.
Scatters
In addition to serving as Wilds, the Farmer is also classified as a Scatter symbol when two or more appear on an active payline. This triggers Free Spins (see below).
Bonus Features
There are several Bonus features embedded within Chicken Run:
- Free Spins : Triggered by 2+ Scattered Farmland icons
- Players receive up to 24 free spins with extra multipliers and the potential for double Wilds in each spin.
- Winning multiplier applied at end of Free Spin rounds (see below)
- Bonus Multiplier :
- After any paid win, players can choose between two special options:
- Double or Triple their current winning amount – Get a free re-spin with the existing payout increased by up to x3
- After any paid win, players can choose between two special options:
Free Spins
When 2+ Farmer (Scatter) icons appear on an active payline during main gameplay, Free Spin rounds are triggered. In addition to regular payouts:
- Each win during this phase contributes towards progressive jackpots
- Payouts increase by up to triple of their initial value for each winning combination
The max multiplier offered in the base game is x10.
RTP and Volatility
Chicken Run’s RTP (Return To Player) is set at 96%, indicating relatively average returns considering most online slots typically sit between 92% and 97%.
Regarding volatility, it appears to be Medium-High due to a combination of factors:
- The potential for large payouts from progressive jackpots
- Frequent small wins are possible thanks to the numerous symbol combinations
Betting Range
The slot has a betting range that should appeal to both casual gamblers and serious players. Minimum bets start at $0.01 while maximum stakes can go as high as $100.
Max Win
Chicken Run’s progressive jackpot – which can be triggered in addition to standard wins during main gameplay or Free Spins rounds – carries a theoretical max win of x10,000 (ten times the triggering stake).