Chicken Road is a video slot game developed by Microgaming, one of the most renowned software providers in the online gaming industry. This 5-reel, 25-payline slot is themed around the great outdoors, with players embarking on an adventure through the wilderness to catch those elusive clucking chickens.
Design and Theme
As soon as players load up Chicken Road, they are greeted by a beautiful backdrop of lush greenery and towering trees. The game’s design is Chicken Road reminiscent of classic Western movies, with wooden signposts and worn stone pathways creating an immersive atmosphere. The symbols themselves range from traditional card values (9 through Ace) to more unique items such as a road map, binoculars, and a pair of cowboy boots.
Symbols
The game’s higher-paying symbols are represented by various wild fowl species found in North America, including turkeys, geese, ducks, and chickens. These birds are animated when they appear on the reels, adding an extra layer of visual appeal to the gameplay experience. The lower-paying symbols consist of the aforementioned card values, while a Wild symbol is also present. This is represented by a bright red sign with ‘WILD’ emblazoned across it.
Payouts
In terms of payouts, Chicken Road offers a moderate range of winning combinations for both low and high-rollers alike. The paytable lists each symbol’s payout multiplier for a five-symbol combination on an active payline, with the highest-paying wild fowl species offering up to 10 times the player’s total bet.
Payout Multipliers
- Card values (9-Ace): x2 – x5
- Road map: x6
- Binoculars: x7
- Cowboy boots: x8
- Wild fowl species:
- Turkey: x10
- Goose: x12
- Duck: x15
- Chicken: x20
Wilds and Scatters
Chicken Road features a single Wild symbol, which can substitute for all other symbols to complete winning combinations. The game also boasts three Scatter symbols, represented by a road sign with ‘S’ emblazoned on it in the center. Three or more of these symbols scattered anywhere across the reels will trigger a free spins bonus feature.
Bonus Features and Free Spins
The Chicken Road slot offers two main bonus features: a Wilds Frenzy round, which is triggered when players land three or more Scatter symbols on adjacent reels; and a free spins feature, awarded for three or more Scatters anywhere across the reels. In both cases, the game awards between 5 to 20 initial free spins.
Free Spins Bonus
- 3 Scatters: x15 Total Bet + 10 initial free spins
- 4 Scatters: x25 Total Bet + 15 initial free spins
- 5 Scatters: x50 Total Bet + 20 initial free spins
During the free spins feature, players will find that new Wild symbols are added to the reels, increasing their chances of winning. Each spin also has a chance to trigger an ‘ Instant Win’ feature, where all active paylines become instant winners.
Instant Win Feature
- 2-4x Total Bet for each activated payline
In addition to this, there are several other unique features and functions present within the game that reward players with extra payouts and opportunities to win big.
RTP
Chicken Road has a medium-low RTP (Return-to-Player) percentage of 96.15%, which is average compared to other online slot games. While it may not offer an exceptionally high return in the long run, this makes up for its moderate volatility levels.
Volatility
The slot’s volatility level falls within the medium-low range due to a relatively low variance in payouts and wins between consecutive spins. As such, players will experience an acceptable balance of winning and losing outcomes throughout their gameplay session.
Betting Range
Chicken Road offers a versatile betting system that caters to both casual gamers looking for small stakes and high-rollers who want to place bigger bets. Players can stake anywhere from 1 cent up to €20 per spin, while the maximum win is capped at an impressive x100,000 times their total bet.
Max Win
While this number may seem staggering, it’s essential to note that Chicken Road’s payouts and winning combinations are not particularly high compared to other slots on the market. Consequently, the game’s design prioritizes quantity over quality in terms of payouts.
Gameplay
The overall gameplay experience offered by Chicken Road is incredibly smooth, even on low-end hardware devices. Players can configure their bet amount using an intuitive interface that features + and – buttons for adjusting stakes and coins per line. Spinning the reels themselves requires clicking a large green ‘Spin’ button centered at the bottom of the game screen.
Mobile Play
Thanks to Microgaming’s proprietary mobile software, Chicken Road can be played seamlessly on both iOS and Android devices in full HD resolution, without sacrificing any features or gameplay elements. This versatility makes it accessible to a broader range of gamers worldwide.
Player Experience
All in all, the gameplay experience offered by Chicken Road is characterized as moderately engaging but not particularly exciting due to its relatively standard RTP percentage and payout structure. While some players may be enticed by the unique theme and rewarding graphics, others might find it hard to maintain interest over extended periods of time without an unusually high win rate.
Overall Analysis
In conclusion, Chicken Road slot game provides a solid online gaming experience that should appeal to fans of nature-based themes. Its balanced gameplay elements, attractive animation, and medium-low volatility levels make for engaging entertainment options suitable for both beginner and seasoned players alike. However, the lackluster RTP percentage might deter more experienced gamers seeking potentially larger returns on their wagers.
While not necessarily an exceptional slot compared to its contemporaries in terms of payouts or unique features, Chicken Road effectively captures a relatable theme that caters well to casual gaming preferences without requiring high-level betting amounts or specific expertise. Overall, this title from Microgaming offers entertainment value without sacrificing essential quality parameters such as smooth gameplay and compatibility with various mobile platforms.
Recommendation
Based on our analysis of the slot’s design, features, RTP percentage, volatility levels, betting range, max win potential, gameplay characteristics, mobile play, player experience expectations, and overall impact, we provide this recommendation for different types of players:
- For Casual Gamers: 7/10 – Enjoyable for new or low-stakes gamers.
- For Mid-Stake Players: 6.5/10 – Satisfactory returns but lacks higher volatility potential.
- For High-Roller Gamblers: Not Recommended.
In summary, Chicken Road remains a dependable online slot experience suitable for those seeking an enjoyable gaming session within moderate stakes and standard gameplay parameters without compromising essential quality features like smooth performance on various devices or mobile compatibility.