Even though it was released over a decade ago, has only ten paylines, and no free spins, the Starburst slot remains one of the most loved and highest-rated casino games. In our review, we explore the features, what makes it such an attractive slot, and how it works, but first, let’s see what the best NetEnt casinos have to offer.
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Starburst Slot Machine Overview
Starburst by NetEnt was released in 2012 and became an instant hit with free spins casino bonuses. Most NetEnt online casinos with a free spin offer used Starburst, making the game incredibly popular among all online players.
As with all new releases by NetEnt, the Starburst slot was the first to introduce re-spins combined with expanding wilds. Having the advantage of winning both ways also helped the game gain popularity, especially since only 10 coins are required to cover all the paylines and win both ways.
In terms of actual gameplay, I’m very impressed with the high-quality graphics that still compete with the newest online slots of today. You’d never say the Starburst slot machine is over a decade old; graphics are smooth, animations are flawless, and the harmonic soundtrack doesn’t annoy you after a few minutes of play.
How to Play Starburst
The Starburst slot is uncomplicated and very easy to play, and NetEnt still provides all the same betting options, making it easy to choose an exact wager that suits your gaming style. Our how-to-play online slots guide is ideal for those who are new to online gaming. Here are a few steps to set up and play Starburst online.
- View the paytable: When you click the “i” icon, you can see what payouts to expect from symbols and how features activate.
- Set your wager: Set your bets from 0.10 and 100 coins by adjusting the + and – buttons. You can also stack coins on each payline to multiply your winnings.
- Spin the reels: Hit the play button to set the reels in motion or use autoplay for up to 1000 spins in a row. Winning combinations and features appear automatically.
At the top of this review, you can access the Starburst demo slot, which is the real money game, but with “play money”. The demo game is ideal for checking betting options, activating features, and seeing how everything works before playing Starburst for real money.
Starburst Symbols to Payout
To form a winning combination in the Starburst online slot, at least three identical symbols need to appear on one of the 10 paylines from left to right or right to left. Depending on the symbol and how many appear in a combination, the following payouts will activate:
| Symbol | Payout |
| Bar | 25x, 20x, 5x |
| Red Seven | 12x, 6x, 2.5x |
| Yellow Gem | 6x, 2.5x, 1x |
| Green Gem | 5x, 2x, 0.8x |
| Orange Gem | 4x, 1.5x, 0.7x |
| Blue Gem | 2.5x, 1x, 0.5x |
| Purple Gem | 2.5x, 1x, 0.5x |
| Multi-colored Star | Wild Symbol |
Starburst Bonus Rounds
The Starburst slot machine doesn’t have a lot of features, but NetEnt ensured an entertaining and rewarding experience with wilds and re-spins. Winning combinations activate quite often, thanks to low volatility, but to claim remarkable winnings, you’ll need to wait for those star wilds to make an appearance.
Starburst Wilds
The Starburst wild symbols are represented by the multi-colored star symbols that appear only on reels 2, 3, and 4. When these show up, they will expand to cover the entire reel. each of these wilds can represent any other symbol, making winning combinations easier to activate.
Starburst Wild Re-Spins
In addition to the expanding wilds, the slot will also trigger a free re-spin after rewarding any winning combinations. The wild reel will remain in place while the other reels spin again, possibly bringing more winning combinations.
If another wild symbol appears with a re-spin, it will also expand and stay in place. Both the reels will now stick in place and another re-spin activates.
Covering all three middle reels in wild symbols is the goal and the limit of the feature. Since winning combinations activate both ways, you can expect a payout on every payline. The feature doesn’t activate all three wild reels often, but it’s well worth the wait.
Features and Bonuses at a Glance
| Features | Expanding Wilds, Re-Spins, Win Both Ways |
| Bonus Payouts | Yes, with Wild Re-spins |
| Jackpots | No |
| Bonus Rounds | No |
| Free Spins | No, only re-spins |
| Multiplier | No |
| Scatter Symbol | No |
| Wild Symbol | Yes (Expanding Wilds) |
| Autoplay | Yes |
| Gamble Feature | No |
| Progressive Jackpot | No |
The Starburst Slot Review
I am a fan of visually captivating slots that provide top entertainment, and with Starburst by NetEnt, I found the ideal balance of simplicity and excitement. It’s an easy-to-play online slot with impressive reward capabilities that everyone can enjoy.
The lack of bonus rounds might make it seem like a boring game for those who enjoy elaborate features. However, the game does carry a certain level of entertainment, and I would recommend it to players who enjoy classic slots but want a modern experience.
Starburst Slot RTP and Volatility
Many releases from NetEnt appear on our high RTP slots list, and this one doesn’t fall far behind. The Starburst slot RTP of 96.1% is just above the industry standard, ensuring a fair gaming experience. Starburst is a low volatility slot, meaning you can expect low-paying combinations to activate often, while higher payouts and those special wilds could take a while to appear.
“Low volatility slots such as Starburst are ideal when your account balance is low, or you'd like to wager higher on low-risk games. The volatility range ensures combinations activate often, and while some payout would be lower than the bet amount, big payouts are possible as well.”
Top 3 Reasons We Recommend Playing Starburst Slot
If you’ve already tried the Starburst demo slot and activated those special wild re-spins, you’ll already understand why so many online players keep returning to the game. Here are my top three reasons to play Starburst for real money:
-
- Low Volatility: This is a brilliant slot for anyone who prefers winning often over massive payouts that take longer to activate.
- Uncomplicated Features: Starburst doesn’t have loads of free spins features, bonus rounds, and other special symbols that get in the way of winning combinations.
- Exciting Re-Spins: The expanding wilds and re-spins certainly as an exciting element to the slot. While you might get one or two wilds often, waiting for those massive payouts when three appear is well worth the wait.
Similar Games to Starburst
The easy-to-play layout of the Starburst slot machine makes it a brilliant choice for any experience level. Luckily, game providers such as NetEnt and Pragmatic Play have created many similar slots, that you can try as free online slots, including:
- Aloha Cluster Pays: Another innovative slot that introduces an exciting range of features without getting complicated. There are no paylines, and combinations appear in clusters.
- Gonzo’s Quest: Another world-famous NetEnt slot that was the first to introduce avalanche symbols. Winning combinations explode, allowing more symbols to drop down and trigger more winnings.
- Gold Train: Gold Train is one of the best high RTP classic slots by Pragmatic Play. Featuring just three reels, you’re bound to be impressed by the additional features and winning opportunities on offer.
Starburst Slot – Our Verdict
It’s quite tricky to place Starburst by NetEnt in a certain category; even though it’s simple, it’s not quite a classic and doesn’t have enough major features to qualify as one of the big video slots. Therefore, it’s hard to compare to other similar games, but one thing is for sure: it’s one of the world’s most famous online slots.
It’s a well-balanced slot with impressive rewards, respectable RTP, and volatility that’s suitable for anyone. If I could add anything, it would be more features, but that would affect the brilliant balance of regular payouts and winnings from those Starburst wilds.
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The most attractive online slots have the biggest jackpots and special features. However, evaluating all aspects, including fairness and volatility, is essential.
At Techopedia, our in-house review process examines each aspect, ensuring unbiased and detailed slot reviews you can trust.
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