Chicken Road is a video slot game developed by software provider, Iron Dog Studio. Released in 2019, it has been gaining popularity among online casino players due to its unique theme and gameplay mechanics.
The Theme
As the name suggests, Chicken Road takes inspiration from the classic tale of Chicken Road The Wizard of Oz but gives it a modern twist. Players embark on a journey with a group of chickens who are attempting to reach the magical land of Cluck Norris (a clear reference to Chuck Norris). The slot is filled with wacky characters and amusing animations that make the gameplay experience more engaging.
Design
Visually, Chicken Road features colorful graphics with vibrant colors that bring out the whimsical theme. The reels are designed in a grid format, providing an immersive gaming environment for players. On each reel, various symbols appear, including chickens of different breeds (e.g., Leghorn, Plymouth Rock), farm animals like cows and pigs, as well as a host of special icons.
Symbols
The game features a standard 10-symbol paytable that includes:
- Wild Symbol: Represented by the chicken character Cluck Norris, this symbol substitutes for any other icon to create winning combinations.
- Scatter Symbol: The slot’s logo serves as a scatter icon that activates the free spins feature when at least three symbols appear on adjacent reels.
- Chicken Symbols (High and Low Payout): Five different breeds of chickens offer payouts ranging from 0.25x to 1,000x for a five-of-a-kind combination.
- Farm Animal Symbols: Lower-paying icons include cows, pigs, roosters, hens, and eggs.
Payouts
Chicken Road features an average return-to-player (RTP) of 96%, which is above the industry standard. The maximum win potential in this game stands at a whopping 1,000x for five wild symbols on any payline. However, it’s essential to note that payouts are calculated based on bet values and number of winning combinations formed.
Wilds
As previously mentioned, the Cluck Norris symbol acts as a Wild Substitute, substituting for all other icons (except Scatter) in winning combinations. This feature significantly boosts the chances of forming lucrative paylines.
Scatters
The Chicken Road slot’s logo is considered a scatter icon that initiates free spins when three or more appear on adjacent reels within any position from reel 1 to 4, starting with the leftmost reel. Players can earn up to 50 complimentary rounds for triggering five scatter icons in one spin.
Bonus Features & Free Spins
When at least three scatter logos land on the reels during the base game, free spins are activated:
- Three scatters reward eight additional free spins.
- Four scatter symbols award twelve more bonus games.
- Five scatter symbols initiate 50 rounds of complimentary play.
During this feature, all wins triggered by Chicken Road Wilds have a multiplier applied to them. The number of multipliers increases with each successive spin: one for the first two bonus games and an additional extra multiplier per game thereafter. For example:
- First eight free spins (triggered by three scatters): Two chicken-themed wild symbols will be randomly placed on the reels, each carrying their respective base win multipliers.
- Additional 12 complimentary rounds triggered by four scatter icons: Each of these wilds features a higher win multiplier than its predecessor.
Gameplay
To initiate gameplay in Chicken Road, players need to set their preferred coin value (minimum 0.01) and determine the number of coins they wish to bet on each payline (up to a maximum limit). The number of active reels is variable; six or nine can be used for playing the slot with two possible betting configurations: Single-Hand Mode or Multi-View Reels.
The game starts when ‘start’ button is clicked. Each subsequent spin features its own unique set of randomly generated symbols that could potentially result in significant winnings due to wild symbol participation and random multiplier application during Free Spins rounds.
Volatility
Iron Dog Studio, the studio behind Chicken Road has a mixed reputation regarding their titles – many view them as having above-average volatility but also providing generous rewards on occasions. If we look at this specific title it appears that it can produce infrequent but large wins to compensate for those periods when no significant rewards are received.
RTP
Chicken road features an RTP of 96%, placing its return among the higher ends of what is considered average by players and casinos alike.
In Chicken Road, a max win limit has been set at an impressive 1,000x bet value. However, it’s essential to remember that reaching this sum requires multiple successful outcomes combining wild symbols with a high multiplier during Free Spins rounds.
