Chicken Road
Chicken Road is a 5-reel, 243-payline video slot created by game developer NetEnt, released in 2018 as part of their extensive portfolio of slots games. The game follows the theme of poultry farming, transporting players to an idyllic countryside setting amidst farmhouses, barns, and lush green fields. In this Chicken Road review, we’ll delve into every aspect of Chicken Road, analyzing its design elements, symbols, payouts, bonus features, RTP, volatility, and more.
Theme and Design
The game’s theme revolves around poultry farming, featuring vibrant colors reminiscent of a sunny countryside day. The reels are set amidst a backdrop of rolling hills and farmhouses, adding to the rural atmosphere. A gentle breeze rustles through the leaves as birds chirp in the distance, immersing players in an idyllic setting.
The game’s design is modern and visually appealing, with high-quality graphics that enhance the overall gaming experience. Each reel features five symbols arranged vertically: four farm-themed symbols (rooster, hen, chicken coop, and feed) alongside a wild symbol represented by a rooster.
Symbols
The low-paying symbols on Chicken Road are depicted as:
- Roosters
- Hens
- Chickens in the Coop
These symbols award wins based on combinations of two to five identical icons. For example:
- Two to five identical roosters yield 10, 20, 40, or 100 coins respectively.
- Two to five hens yield 5, 15, 30, or 60 coins respectively.
- Two to five chickens in the coop yield 2.5, 7.5, 15, or 35 coins respectively.
The high-paying symbols are the farm-themed icons:
- Feed
- Barn
These pay out more generously for combinations of two to five identical symbols:
- Two feed icons award a win worth 20, 50, 100, or 200 coins.
- Two barns reward a win worth 10, 30, 60, or 120 coins.
Payouts
The payout structure follows traditional video slot logic. Winnings are calculated by multiplying the symbol value with the number of times it appears on active paylines.
For example, if three roosters appear in succession from left to right and all three positions on an active line contain a rooster, each position would yield 40 coins for the entire line. Hence, 3 * 40 = 120 coins are awarded.
Wilds
A wild symbol represented by a majestic rooster replaces any other paying or non-paying symbols in winning combinations. The Wild Roosters appear on reels two to five and can create additional winning opportunities.
Scatters
No traditional scatters exist, but the feed bucket is an important part of Chicken Road’s gameplay as explained later.
Bonus Features
Chicken Road offers three unique bonus features that boost payouts:
- Free Spins with Multipliers : A scatter-free slot like other NetEnt slots.
- Hatch Bonus : Feeding chicks in the coop to trigger a mini game.
- Eggscramble : A puzzle game tied to wins.
Free Spins
The only free spins mode available on this game is part of the main game’s bonus features. Although, given its nature, it could be argued as being more of an interactive experience rather than traditional Free Spins with a multiplier that is normally associated with slots games featuring scatters and no other bonus features.
RTP
Chicken Road’s Return to Player (RTP) rate has been reported at 96% in several review articles. Although this percentage may vary slightly among different casinos, NetEnt games generally have an above-average RTP compared to the average online slot machine.
Volatility
Chicken Road operates with high volatility, which implies it is less likely but more rewarding. Players are rewarded handsomely for successful bonus features or big wins in the main game when high-value combinations land on paylines due to its mechanics allowing a greater number of possible outcomes compared to those slots that provide steady payouts.
Betting Range
The minimum bet allowed starts at 0.10 coins, making it one of the lowest betting limits among NetEnt games available for online gaming platforms. On the other hand, high rollers can stake up to 200 coins per spin, depending on their game settings and casino account balance restrictions.
Max Win
The maximum payout achievable in Chicken Road reaches 1200 times a bet within its bonus round mechanics where winning potential multipliers are significantly higher compared to regular gameplay rewards when players participate successfully in the "Eggscramble" or "Hatch Bonus".
Gameplay Experience
Overall, the game provides engaging entertainment through immersive visuals and smooth animations. Players can choose to play Chicken Road on desktop devices via web browsers without any need for a dedicated application.
In conclusion:
- The RTP is 96%.
- Volatility is high.
- Max win potential in the bonus round: up to 1200 times a bet.
- The gameplay experience includes mobile support, animations and sound effects that immerse players into farm life, though lack of scatters may deter some players.
Chicken Road offers many exciting features despite lacking a standard free spins or scatter system – two mainstay elements found in most slots games available on online gambling platforms today.