The "Chicken Road" casino slot is a farm-themed game developed by Microgaming, one of the leading online gaming software providers. This review will provide an in-depth analysis of the jackpot rewards system, gameplay features, and overall player experience.
Theme and Design
The game’s theme revolves Chicken Road around a road trip across different countries, where players are transported to various locations with distinct landscapes and architectures. The design is colorful and vibrant, with detailed graphics that bring the characters to life. Players will encounter chickens in different settings, from the countryside of France to the city streets of Japan.
Symbols
The game features a mix of low-paying symbols (9-A) and high-paying ones (chickens). Each country visited has its unique symbol, such as the French Rooster, Japanese Koi Fish, or American Bald Eagle. The Wild symbol is represented by the "Road Trip" logo, while the Scatter icon depicts a suitcase.
Payouts
The payouts for each winning combination are calculated based on the standard paytable system. Each country’s symbol has its own payout range, from 0.1x to 100x the total bet per line won. The Wild and Scatter symbols also offer significant rewards when matched. For example, five Scatters can award up to 2,500 times the total stake.
Wilds
The Road Trip logo acts as a substitute for all other symbols (except Scatters) on any payline. When it appears in combination with matching country symbols, it expands into a "Road Block" symbol that spans across several reels and columns. This enhances players’ chances of landing winning combinations by increasing the number of possible combinations.
Scatters
The Scatter icon is represented by a suitcase containing various country-specific items (e.g., a French beret or Japanese fans). When three Scatters appear on any active payline, it triggers the "Free Spins" feature. During this round, players receive up to 15 free spins with an increased multiplier of up to x5.
Bonus Features
When two Road Trip logos land adjacent to each other (horizontally or vertically), a bonus wheel is triggered. Players spin the wheel and can win various prizes:
- A fixed jackpot
- Multipliers for their total bet
- Additional free spins
Free Spins
The Free Spins feature, initiated by three Scatters, awards up to 15 additional games with an increased multiplier of x3 or x5. In this round, players also benefit from the Road Block Wilds expanding across reels and columns.
RTP (Return To Player)
The Return to Player percentage is estimated at around 95%, which means that for every $100 wagered, Chicken Road would pay out approximately $95 on average over an extended period of gameplay. This relatively high RTP ensures a competitive return in the online slot market.
Volatility
Microgaming rates Chicken Road’s volatility as medium to high. Players can expect both frequent small wins and less common significant payouts. This balance aims to maintain player engagement throughout their journey across various countries.
Betting Range
Players can adjust stakes between $0.20 and $15 per line, making it accessible for a broad range of players with different budgets.
Max Win
The maximum potential win is capped at 250,000 times the initial stake or approximately R100 million in jackpot amount (equivalent to around USD 6.4M). The probability of achieving this massive payout may be low due to volatility and random number generator algorithms.
Gameplay
To initiate play on Chicken Road, players need to set their preferred bet size per line using the controls panel. They can then press "Spin" to rotate the reels and start playing for real money. Players also have access to Autoplay, allowing them to choose between 10-100 consecutive spins with specific settings for stopping.
Mobile Play
Chicken Road is designed as a cross-platform game that runs seamlessly on both desktops (using Adobe Flash) and mobile devices using HTML5 technology. This ensures compatibility with popular operating systems like iOS and Android.
Player Experience
Overall, players will find Chicken Road an engaging slot machine experience due to its dynamic theme shifts between country-themed landscapes. The introduction of diverse symbols from various continents contributes to the unique gameplay mechanics that differentiate this game from other slots in the Microgaming library.
The slot has a higher frequency of payouts compared to some popular games while still rewarding significant wins, especially when triggering bonus wheels or Free Spins features. Players appreciate its flexibility with adjustable stakes and user-friendly controls for easy play on both computers and mobile devices.