Return to player
96.1%
Min bet size
0.01
Game type
Video Slots
Variance
Low
Reels
5
Progressive Jackpot
No
Popularity
Max bet size
100
Game provider
NetEnt
Bonus Features
Yes
Paylines
10
Theme
Arcade
Starburst online slot game
Starburst is one of the most popular slots of all time, which is some feat considering the Starburst slot was first launched way back in 2012. Even today, online casinos hand out free spins on this five-reel, three-row, and ten-payline slot as part of their bonuses, as they know it's one of the most popular games around.
In this review, we'll explain what makes Starburst great. We'll take you through the simple but thrilling gameplay the Starburst slot offers, the exciting features you can expect, and everything else you need to know before you play Starburst for yourself. So, carry on reading to learn about one of the most played slots today with a 96.09% RTP, low variance, win-both-ways mechanic, and a max win of 500x the stake!
Starburst Slot Theme & Storyline
There isn't much of a backstory behind the Starburst slot, as that is not what makes Starburst the game that it is - it is the gameplay and bonus features that do that. The Starburst slot machine has bright visuals and a starry presentation. The background looks like a night sky or outer space with bright, upbeat, and vibrant colours.
Powered by a great gaming platform, NetEnt, the Starburst slot game holds up to five reels and ten pay lines. The arcade theme of the slot makes it classic and iconic. This online slot machine was released back in 2012.
Graphics, Sounds, & Animations
The colour scheme and tone of the Starburst slot are eye-catching and appealing. The graphics are visually beautiful and presentable. NetEnt is famous for its fantastic graphics work. The company's speciality is beautifully showcased in this online slot as well.
The visuals are high definition in quality, even though sometimes they can make your browser slow. The game is full of detailed designs and vibrant colours. The overall look of Starburst is promising and eye-catching.
Coming to the sound effects and background music, the game slot does not fail to showcase the talent and effort that the team has put behind it. The Starburst background music builds up the anticipation of a player. The electrifying sound effects are significant and distinctive.
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Starburst Slot Gameplay
When you inevitably come across the Starburst slot at an online casino, you're in for a great time. The slot is simple but for winning potential. So when that happens, you'll want to know more about the gameplay and what to expect.
Starburst has five reels, three rows, ten paylines and a pays-both-ways mechanic that allows you to form winning combinations from right to left as well as the standard left to right. You'll need to line up three or more matching symbols across one of the ten paylines starting from the first or last reel to receive a payout.
There are seven symbols on the reels of this slot game, and, of course, the Starburst Wild Symbol. The highest paying symbol is the Bar, which, in winning combinations of five symbols, will pay a whopping 250x the stake.
Here's what you will win when landing five-symbol winning combinations of each of the symbols across the reels of the Starburst slot:
- Bar: 250x
- Red Seven: 120x
- Yellow Gem: 60x
- Green Gem: 50x
- Red Gem: 40x
- Blue Gem: 25x
- Purple Gem: 25x
Starburst Slot Bonus Features & Free Spins
The Starburst slot does not come packed with bonus features, so if you're expecting a free spins bonus here, multipliers, or some other common feature you'll find in modern slot games, you'll not find them. That said, the lack of features and the slot's simplicity is a big reason the Starburst game is so popular. What you do have is an expanding wilds re-spin feature.
Starburst Wild Symbols & Re-Spins
As a bonus trigger, Starburst uses a special Wild symbol that can only appear on the middle reels. As with the wild symbols on other slot games, it will substitute for all regular-paying symbols when it can create or enhance a winning combination. When the wild lands, it will expand to fill its entire reel, essentially turning the whole reel into one big wild symbol. That alone can help to create a winning combination or two, but the bonus game does not end there.
The reel with the wild symbols now locks in place while the remaining reels are given free spins. If additional wilds land on the reels as a result of those free spins, they also expand to fill their reels and give another respin, but now with multiple reels full of wild symbols locked. If the third spin reveals wilds on the remaining middle reel, you get a spin with three fully wild reels locked in place - ensuring guaranteed winning combinations and some handsome rewards.
Starburst Bet Sizes, RTP, & Variance
The Starburst slot game carries a 96.09% RTP, which falls in line with the iGaming industry average. While the RTP of a slot is paid out randomly via the RNG, it basically means Starburst will pay back 96.09% of the money it takes over the long term. The Starburst online slot also has much lower volatility than most slots you'll find at an online casino, and that means you'll enjoy lots of winning spins, even if those wins may not always cover your total bet.
Before you hit the spin button on the Starburst game, you'll have to decide how much you want to stake as you play your spins. The betting range as a whole is a min bet of 0.01 up to a max bet of 100.00, so there is plenty of scope to choose the ideal wager for your spins. However, you can customize your preferred coin value and bet level to come up with the ideal total bet. The other option is to use the Max Bet option next to the spin button. This will set your wager to the highest coin value and bet level and essentially let you play with the maximum bet possible.
Starburst Betting Tip: Always practice solid bankroll management when you play any slot, especially when playing the Starburst game. Play with the coin value and bet level until you reach a bet that is 1-2% the size of your playing bankroll. Only use the max bet option if you can afford to do so.
Another way to play Starburst is to spin the reels and symbols using the Auto-Play feature. As a standard, you can set the game to play between 10 and 1000 automatic spins of the reels. This lets you do other things while the game plays out. However, there are also some advanced auto-play settings you can use as you play Starburst. You can set the auto-play feature to stop after any win if a single win exceeds a pre-set amount or if your balance drops or increases by a pre-set amount.
Our Experience Playing the Starburst Slot Game
We had a brilliant time revisiting such an excellent online slot game that has gone on to become such an iconic title over the years. What amazed us during this incredibly rewarding experience was that the specs of this slot do not look that appealing, especially compared to the more modern online slots you'll find at online casinos these days, yet it still remains a hugely popular game. It has low variance, which means you'll enjoy a surprising amount of wins on a regular basis, although they're smaller than what you'll find on higher variance slots. It also doesn't have many special features and a low max win, but yet it is still one of the slot games players are drawn to more than others.
Why? Well, in our experience, there are a few reasons for the popularity of Starburst. For one, it is a simple online slot to play, as there are no confusing reel mechanics or bonus rounds. Secondly, there is an excellent Starburst wilds bonus game with re-spins that, alongside the win-both-ways feature, offers up the potential for some decent-seized wins. That is usually a good combination for new players at an online casino, so it comes as no surprise that Starburst is the slot choice when it comes to handing out free spins.
The Starburst Slot Compared to Other Games
To get a true feeling of how good slot games really are, it's always best to compare them with other games on the market that have similar features, gameplay, and styles. In truth, not many games come close to Starburst in terms of popularity, although there are a few. However, we don't really want to compare playing Starburst with most of those as while they all share similar popularity, games like Book of Dead, Gates of Olympus, Sugar Rush, and Gonzo's Quest all have different gameplay.
- Starburst vs Starburst XXXtreme
Instead, let's go with the sequel of the slot, Starburst XXXtreme. Despite looking similar, offering win-both-ways mechanics, and sharing a similar name, these slots are almost polar opposites - which is not always a bad thing when making a sequel. NetEnt has gone from a low to extremely high volatility, boosted the max win to a mouth-watering 200,000x the stake, and added even more oomph to the Starburst wild symbol by letting it hold a multiplier up to 150x - which increases the potential for huge wins during the re-spins feature.
Overall, both Starburst slots are great fun, but you now have a choice depending on how volatile you want your gameplay to be. You can go for the original for casual slot games fun or the sequel if you want higher risk and reward.
- Starburst vs Other Similar Slot Games
Once the popularity of the Starburst game became clear, many other iGaming developers released their own Starburst slot variations. This is common practice in the industry, as everybody wants a piece of the pie. However, while some have proved nearly as good as Starburst, many others have failed big time. One such title is Play'n Go's Crystal Sun, which has the pays both ways mechanic and sticky wilds that land on the middle reels and generate a re-spin. However, while this game is a good alternative, it does not have the graphical appeal and quite as engaging gameplay as you'll find on Starburst.
Another game you can play that is similar to Starburst is Blueprint Gaming's Star Spinner. This slot also has the expanding wild symbols that fill their entire reel and free spins as one of its main bonus rounds. There's plenty more too, but why play any of those when you can just play Starburst, the original and best slot game of its kind?
Our Thoughts on the Starburst Slot
A great game in terms of visuals, sound effects, and graphics. The game, due to its impressive look and detailed designs, puts a long-lasting and promising image on the player. The low volatility and average RTP rates of this game make it the best suitable for casual slot players. If you want a great graphical experience, playing Starburst is the right option. The gameplay design is also neat and straightforward. The game's popularity proves that the standard is up to the mark. If you're yet to experience one of the best slot games of all time, we suggest you spin today on the legendary Starburst game!
James is a casino games expert on the Playcasino.com editorial team. With many years of professional experience at a leading casino game development company and a passion for playing casino games, James has become a true expert in slots, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, and other games.
James uses this expertise to provide reliable, insider advice through his reviews and guides, breaking down the game rules and offering tips to help you win more often. Rely on James's extensive experience for expert advice on your casino play.
