The Starburst slot game is a classic NetEnt release that has been thrilling players for over a decade. Developed in 2012, it has become one of the most popular and enduring slots in the industry. With its stunning graphics, innovative bonus features, and generous payouts, it’s no wonder why Starburst remains a fan favorite among gamblers.
Theme and Design
Starburst is set against a vibrant, cosmic backdrop that transports demo players to a world of stars and planets. The game’s theme revolves around astronomy, with symbols featuring gemstones, stars, and other celestial bodies. The design is both modern and classic, exuding an air of sophistication and elegance.
The game boasts a 5×3 reel setup, with ten fixed paylines that allow for numerous winning combinations to be formed. The reels are spinning wheels of fortune, adorned with high-quality graphics and animations that bring the experience alive. The color palette is predominantly blue, green, and purple, giving off an otherworldly vibe.
Symbols
The Starburst symbols can be broadly categorized into two main groups: regular paytable icons and bonus-awarding symbols. The former includes a mix of traditional playing card values (9-A) as well as various gemstones like red 7’s, yellow diamonds, green clovers, blue stars, and orange bars.
Payouts
The payout structure in Starburst is based on the standard slot machine rules. Players need to land matching symbols adjacent to one another starting from leftmost reel to rightmost reel (excluding scatters). The rewards vary depending on the specific symbol combination:
- 9-A: 10-100x stake
- Red 7’s, Yellow Diamonds, Green Clovers, Blue Stars, and Orange Bars: 12.5-30x stake
Wilds
The Wild icon in Starburst is represented by a gemstone symbol. When it appears on the reels, it substitutes for all other symbols except scatters to create winning combinations.
Scatters
Unlike traditional slots, where scatter wins often reward players without requiring any adjacent reel matches, Starburst’s Scatter is tied closely with its bonus feature (Free Spins). A minimum of two Scattered Stars anywhere in view triggers the Free Spins mode. There are no separate scatter rewards for combinations that don’t meet the free spins criteria.
Bonus Features
Starburst’s most distinctive and exciting feature is undoubtedly its Wild Re-spins, which can be activated either by landing a Star (Wild) on reels 2-4 or randomly triggered after any win in the base game. During this time:
- The original Wild symbol(s) that triggered the bonus remain locked in place.
- A new set of free spins begins.
- Each re-spin adds more wild symbols to the reel.
There are no random features, free spin multipliers, or jackpot rewards in Starburst. However, a single spin can offer two sets of Free Spins or Wild Re-spins at once if multiple triggering icons land on reels 2-4 and scatter is on reels 1 or 5.
Free Spins
Each re-spin awarded during the Wild Re-spins round contains increased wild symbol placements. These free spins reset each time, potentially producing massive rewards due to increasing amounts of wilds generated with every roll.
When activated randomly in the base game without additional symbols landing simultaneously on reels 2-4 (Wild Re-spins), no additional payouts are earned beyond wins already achieved from that initial Wild spin.
RTP and Volatility
Starburst has a theoretical RTP of approximately 96.09%. This number is calculated over numerous spins, using optimal playing strategy – betting the max coins per line to maximize your odds for free spin activations and subsequent potential rewards from multi-wins during bonus rounds or triggered Free Spins sessions.
Volatility-wise, Starburst falls under low-to-moderate range due in large part to regular medium-value win occurrences (without particularly high reward values), substantial opportunities for triggering Wild Re-spins with minimal variance fluctuations when active wilds land on reel 2-4 and additional bonus rounds start without further bet multiplier influence or top-paying winning combinations.
Betting Range
Available betting options span a fairly standard range:
- Coin denominations: from €0.01 to €1
- Number of paylines fixed at 10
This allows for both casual players with lower budgets and high-rollers looking to maximize wins during the Wild Re-spins feature. Wagers between these values are allowed without restrictions on play balance or win amounts.
Max Win
While Starburst offers multiple chances at decent rewards through its free spins bonus, winning big still requires precise timing of active wild re-spins landing in suitable combinations (with minimal variance influence) combined with relatively lucky luck distribution among individual plays. In ideal situations and high-volume betting sessions where star clusters land more frequently during Wild Re-spins rounds or randomly awarded Free Spins mode – max payouts can reach up to 50x stake multiplied by total stakes wagered.
Gameplay
The overall gameplay experience in Starburst is both accessible and engaging, suitable for new players while keeping seasoned gamblers interested due to its unique bonus features. Punters can enjoy this slot machine using the available free demo mode or mobile play through official casino websites or third-party applications (downloadable on iOS, Android).
Mobile Play
Thanks to the game’s HTML5-based implementation and responsive design, Starburst seamlessly adapts for playing via a variety of handsets and tablets. As with traditional online slots versions accessible over desktops & laptops – all available features, winning combinations remain identical while minor layout adjustments optimize navigation during gaming sessions on mobile.
Player Experience
Gamblers will find that the pace of play remains consistent regardless if you access this game from its website directly or as part of a mobile casino app. Both interfaces have optimized their menus for intuitive interface navigation and simplified management with various player tools including responsible gambling measures to help avoid potential losses & problem behavior during gameplay sessions.
Overall Analysis
Starburst slot stands out among the thousands of available titles through innovative, game-changing design elements that reward strategic betting – but unfortunately not high jackpot potentials or progressive jackpots. With generous payouts ranging from 12x up to 50 times stake multiplier and substantial potential for triggering Wild Re-spins & free spins bonus, Starburst has secured its place as one of the most beloved casino slots ever created.
Despite several years passing since its initial release – game mechanics remain fresh enough not to bore or fatigue regular gamblers still seeking wins without any progressive elements incorporated within. The RTP of 96% and fair paytable ratios will also delight budget players seeking a reliable session experience with opportunities at various winning combinations through multiple wilds generation in Re-spins rounds.
Starburst’s relatively low volatility and user-friendly design make it accessible to novice gamblers who wish to learn about slot machine strategies or experienced punters looking for new challenges. The absence of an upper limit on betting amounts further supports the flexibility required by these broad demographics, effectively appealing a vast player segment within casino marketplaces.