Chicken Run is a 5-reel, 10-payline casino slot game developed by WMS Gaming that takes players on an entertaining journey through a farmyard filled with chickens trying to escape their captors. The game features colorful graphics and engaging sound effects that immerse players in the theme of bird liberation.
The Game’s Theme
The game is set Chicken Run against a backdrop of a rustic farmhouse, complete with rolling hills and sunflowers swaying gently in the breeze. Players can see the chickens scurrying about, each one eager to escape from their coop and join Rocky the rooster, who serves as the game’s protagonist. The game’s theme revolves around the idea of freedom and escapism, where birds seek to break free from their cages and live life on their own terms.
Game Design
The game design is reminiscent of classic WMS slots, with a focus on bright colors and simple yet effective graphics. The reels are adorned with various symbols related to the farmyard theme, including chickens in different states of dress, farming tools like pitchforks and hay bales, and even Rocky himself, who serves as both a symbol and a Wild.
Symbols
The game features an array of symbols that pay out for matching combinations. The chicken-themed symbols include three female chickens with varying hairstyles: blonde, brunette, and redhead. Each of these chickens is available in four different outfits, offering players multiple opportunities to land wins. Other farm-related symbols include pitchforks, hay bales, watering cans, and a red tractor.
Payouts
The payout structure for Chicken Run is standard fare, with the highest-paying symbol being Rocky himself. Landing five of these on an active payline will reward players with 1,000 coins or more, depending on their bet level. The chicken-themed symbols offer payouts ranging from 500 to 1000 coins for a single spin.
Wilds
As mentioned earlier, Rocky serves as both a symbol and a Wild in the game. This means that when he lands on an active payline alongside other chickens, he can substitute for any of them to complete winning combinations. Additionally, if Rocky appears on reels one or two during free spins (see below), players will receive 3 extra wilds on each subsequent spin.
Scatters
The scatter symbol is represented by a picture of the farm’s coop door with an "E" inscribed above it – this marks the exit to freedom for our feathered friends. Three, four or five scatters in any position will award players 15 free spins (5 free spins if two appear), triggering the ‘Chicken Run’ feature.
Bonus Features and Free Spins
As mentioned previously, landing three, four, or five scatter symbols triggers the "Chicken Run" feature. During this time, a series of free spins is awarded to players, with each spin occurring on reels 1 through 5 (the original game features only reels one through three). The reels become much more generous during free spins as multiple wilds can appear on any given spin.
Additionally, if Rocky lands on reels one or two during the "Chicken Run" feature, a total of three extra wilds is awarded to players for each subsequent spin. This offers substantial multipliers and significantly boosts chances of winning bigger prizes.
Volatility
WMS has categorized Chicken Run as an ‘M’ slot in terms of volatility – medium, which indicates that wins are somewhat regular but less frequent compared to lower-volatility slots like WWS or those using Microgaming’s UDS 6.0 system. While a ‘High’ volatility option isn’t available for this game (as seen on many other classic releases), you can change from standard medium (M) mode by engaging high variance in-game options.
Betting Range and Max Win
Like most WMS slots, Chicken Run offers players an adjustable betting range, making it accessible to those new to the casino or looking for lower-stakes action. Players may set a minimum coin value of £0.10 up through a maximum of £1.25; at £6 per spin or less in low-bet mode (medium). Higher-stake participants can bet from $5 or more for each line.
The game’s max win is equivalent to 100 times the player’s total stake on any single paid combination – this would be 5000 coins or a potential jackpot of about $12,500 (£9,600) assuming a minimum stake.