Introduction
In the vast expanse of online casino slots, it’s not often that a game manages to carve out its own unique niche. Chicken Road by InOut is one such slot machine game that has garnered significant attention in recent times. Developed by a relatively new software provider, this 5-reel, 25-payline slot boasts an intriguing theme and gameplay mechanics that have captured the imagination of players worldwide.
Theme
At first glance, it may seem as though Chicken Road follows the now-familiar tropes of a farm-themed slot game. However, scratch beneath the surface, Chicken Road free demo and you’ll discover a narrative that’s refreshingly distinct from its contemporaries. The game is set against the backdrop of an idyllic rural landscape, complete with fields of golden wheat swaying gently in the breeze. While the protagonist – or should we say, heroes? – are the chickens themselves, they’re not just simple farm animals. These plucky fowl have a penchant for rock ‘n’ roll and adventure.
Design
The game’s visuals are where Chicken Road truly comes alive. The developers have opted for a cartoonish yet stylized aesthetic that is both charming and engaging. Each of the five reels features three rows, with an additional sixth reel situated above the main game area. This special reel can expand to offer two extra columns during Free Spins mode, resulting in 7×6 matrix gameplay.
The chickens themselves are lovingly designed, each sporting unique traits and abilities that become apparent as you delve deeper into the gameplay mechanics. The reels also feature other farm-themed icons such as baskets of eggs, carrots, and pumpkins, all rendered with equal care and attention to detail.
Symbols
As is standard for most modern slot games, the symbols within Chicken Road are divided between high-paying characters (the chickens), medium-value farm produce, and low-value playing card suits. There’s also a pair of Wild Chickens that can substitute for any of these symbols, as well as three Scatter Chick symbols.
The higher paying chicken characters come in different colors – red, blue, green, orange, and yellow – each with its own distinct personality and bonus feature attached when they appear on the reels together. These unique combinations open up various winning opportunities and serve to further enhance gameplay diversity.
Payouts
When it comes to payouts, Chicken Road delivers fairly standard rewards for matching a minimum of three consecutive symbols from left to right across any of the game’s 25 paylines. However, what sets this slot apart is its relatively low RTP (Return-to-Player) of just 94%, although we’ll discuss more about that later.
Wilds
The two Wild Chickens will inevitably become your most trusted friends during gameplay sessions on Chicken Road. These chickens can replace all other symbols to help create winning combinations, ensuring that you capitalize on any potential opportunities. They also come with a ‘Free Spins’ ability when paired with the Scatter Chicken symbols, which we’ll cover in more detail below.
Scatters
While not as iconic or widely recognized as some of their counterparts (e.g., Book of Ra), Chicken Road’s three scattered chicken symbols bring its own brand of magic to gameplay. If two Scattered Chickens appear anywhere on reels 2 and 4, it will activate Free Spins – but what triggers this mode is actually the Wild Chickens’ interaction with these scatters.
Bonus Features
This is where things get really interesting in Chicken Road!
- The three chickens can form special ‘super-combinations’, which lead to some impressive payout values. Each chicken type comes equipped with a specific bonus feature:
- Red chicken – multiplier and double the prize.
- Blue chicken – win 10 additional free spins.
- Green chicken – swap any symbol on reels for wilds.
- Orange chicken – transfer all collected scatters into additional Free Spins.
- Yellow chicken – unlock a high-value super-combination.
When these ‘super-combinations’ occur, each of the respective chickens involved will trigger its unique bonus feature. When two or more chickens appear in their matching color on reels 3 and/or reel 5, it unlocks additional free spins during Free Spins mode.
Free Spins
Here’s where Chicken Road truly comes alive! To start this round, you’ll need to land either a Blue Chicken (2 Scatters), Green Chicken (4 Scatters), Orange Chicken (5+ scatters) or the Super Combination involving 2 chickens with identical colors on reels 3 and 5.
As for gameplay during Free Spins itself:
- When expanding the game’s sixth reel, the number of winning combinations increases significantly.
- Any multiplier applied to wins is active throughout all spins within this mode.
- Collecting a single Red Chicken symbol can double your accumulated prizes, while multiple red chickens will triple them and more!
RTP
The theoretical RTP (Return-To-Player) percentage stands at around 94%. This means that the slot pays out 6% in winnings for every $100 bet – relatively standard. Nonetheless, such a low Return-to-Player indicates the importance of maintaining bankrolls to maximize your potential earnings.
Volatility & Betting Range
Chicken Road falls under Medium-High volatility profile based on betting range and payout frequency characteristics: bets can vary from 0.25 up to $125 across the game’s twenty-five lines, allowing for plenty room for exploration at different levels of risk tolerance.
Max Win Potential
While it might not have one of the most significant max-potential payouts out there – some top-tier slots offer upwards of x10k or more on a single spin.