Starburst

Starburst slot REVIEW

Starburst Review

Starburst is one of NetEnt’s most famous slots, and it rose to stardom soon after it was launched back in 2012. It’s a timeless classic that remains as relevant and fun today as it was when it was first released. Starburst is among the most popular slots you’ll find online, and not seldom it’s the assigned slot for free spins promos, and welcome offer free spins.

The simplicity of Starburst is part of the genius of this magnificent game, and it all plays out on 5 reels with 10 paylines (both ways win). The sweet hint of nostalgia from the old arcade halls is ever-present but never overwhelming. There is too much going on for that, and even though there is really only one bonus function, you never feel like you’re missing out on anything while playing.

The main attraction and sparkling jewel of this game is, without a doubt, the Starburst™ Wilds function. Even though this is a low-variance game, you can still win big if lady fortune is smiling at you. Starburst is a fast-paced, sparkling, fun, and dazzling ride, and you’ll keep returning for more again and again.

Starburst Reel Screen

Starburst has long since proven its timeless status as one of the most well-known and popular slots online. NetEnt really hit the nail on the head with this one, and it’s just something about the sparkling jewels and the lighthearted music that gets you in a good mood when playing this thing.

The low volatility limits your losses while you still have the opportunity to win big. Combined with the above, it’s no wonder people can’t get enough of this slot. The secret sauce of success could be that this game makes you feel good inside while playing, and it does so without relying on all sorts of special effects and fancy features. It’s just plain old honest fun, through and through.

The vibrant colors, fast pace, and arcade nostalgia help, too, of course. You can stake as little as 10p playing this game, and the maximum bet is £100 per spin. You can win both ways, which is always exciting, and the expanding Starburst wilds will dazzle your senses like the rest of the game. This game is a true demonstration of how simplicity can trump almost anything when done right, and NetEnt has done almost everything right with this little gem.

RTP, variance & technical data

Before we delve deeper into the fun stuff, we want to present you with a brief overview of Starburst’s technical details:

RTP: 96.09 %

Volatility/Variance: Low

Layout: 5x3

Paylines: 10 (win both ways)

Bonus features: Respin Wild, Respins, Expanding Wilds, or Wild Rush

Bets: 0.01 to 100

Max wins: 500x

Starburst has an RTP of 96.1%, which is about as average as they come. Most slots out there have an RTP of around 96%. RTP stands for “Return to Player,” a theoretical number indicating how much a given slot will payout in the long run. The house edge of Starburst is, therefore, 100% minus 96.1%, which equals 3.9%.

Attention RTP Ranges!

Starburst from NetEnt has RTP ranges. RTP ranges are a game feature when Casinos can adjust RTP according to their needs. The RTP ranges could be quite wide and depend on certain factors. Since the 16th April 2020 slot has 8 RTP options: 90.05%, 92.05%, 93.05%, 94.05%, 95.05%, 96.09%, 98.05%, 99.06%. Pay attention. Check the RTP at the casino before playing. Or request the casino audit before playing!

The low variance, or volatility, of this game means that your bankroll will not suffer big fluctuations when you’re playing Starburst. Low volatility means that you can expect to win many smaller payouts frequently, which is a good thing if you’re looking to play out a bonus or just want to have tons of fun without risking too much.

Bonus features

As mentioned, this is not the typical NetEnt game packed with tons of fancy special effects and bonus features. In truth, Starburst only has one bonus feature, making it stick out more. We shall take a look at it here.

Expanding Sticky Wilds Re-spin

Starburst is known far and wide for its expanding wild feature. The wilds can appear on any of the 3 middle reels, and they will then expand to cover the entire reel and remain sticky for up to 3 re-spins. The expanding wild feature is not only fun, but it can also give you massive wins.

The rest of the reels, not covered by a Starburst expanding wild, will re-spin, and you now have the chance to land yet another expanding sticky wild, which will give you an additional re-spin. The feature ends when no more Starburst Wilds appear during the re-spin.

Free Spins

Starburst does not have a dedicated free spins feature, but the Starburst Wild feature gives you re-spins with sticky expanding wilds, which is similar, at least. Most casinos offer free spin promos on Starburst quite often, and you’ll find recommended casinos for Starburst at the very bottom of this review.

How to play

Starburst is quite a simple game, but the NetEnt bet level system can be somewhat complicated. Don’t worry. We shall here walk you through everything you need to know to get started with this game and master it from the get-go.

So, you can choose between coin values ranging from 0.01 to 1, with 10 different bet levels. The good news is that NetEnt lets you see the total stake in your currency below the spin button area, so it’s not hard to track what all the “moving parts” really do. You can play with between 10p and £100 in the end, but the paytable is unfortunately not dynamic in this game.

Among symbols you will find various sapphires, topaz, and other precious stones. The symbol values don’t change according to your bet level. Instead, they are statically displaying the same line bet win for each symbol and combination. If you want to find out how much each symbol pays per total stake, you need to divide the given symbol value by the number of ways to win, which is 10. This means that the highest paying BAR symbol pays 25x your total stake for 5 on a payline.

The small wrench icon in the left-hand corner takes you to the game settings menu. Here you can turn on quick spins, choose to spin with the spacebar, and turn on/off the intro screen. The volume can be adjusted seamlessly, and the info icon takes you to the paytable. Here you can read about the game’s bonus features and get an overview of the symbol values.

The question mark icon takes you into the game rules menu, and here you will get a quick overview of all the rules that apply when you play this game. Some game stats are also revealed here, and it’s worth a quick glance, at least. The autoplay option lets you choose between 10 and 1,000 autospins, and you will also benefit from advanced options, like stopping the autoplay feature after a certain amount has been won or lost.

Where to play Starburst?

Being the most popular video slot ever released, it's more of a question where you cannot play it. If a casino does not carry this game, you might consider if you're in the wrong place altogether. Since we scan all the casinos on the market daily, we provide you with the perfect overview. Here we shall present you with the 2 main options you have when it comes to playing this game.

Play for real money

It is such a simple game, so most people will have no trouble jumping right into it with real money. The volatility is somewhat low, so keeping yourself afloat is relatively easy, which means that you don't risk all that much as long as you play with a reasonable bet level. If you want to check out our selection of trusted casinos (and their respective welcome bonuses), you can follow the link to the top of this page. Here you can pick and choose, and get started playing and winning real money on Starburst immediately.

Play free demo version

Just because a game is simple and super popular does not necessarily mean it will be a game you like. There is no reason to risk a single dime before you know whether this game is for you. Low-risk/reward slots are not for everyone, but the good news is that you can check out the demo version of this game right here on this page. Just follow the link to the top of the review, and you can play the free Starburst demo game right away.

The 200 Spins Starburst Experience

When we loaded in Starburst, it was with the full knowledge that this is the most popular online slot ever made. Nothing comes close to beating Starburst when it comes to being included in bonus offers, nor when it comes to slot position in online casinos. It has withstood the test of time like the sparkling jewels you find on the reels.

The game loads super quickly, probably due to its simplicity, and we looked forward to taking this beauty for our traditional and exciting 200 spins test run. We started by turning on the quick spins, and then we set the bet level to our usual £1 per spin. We set up the autoplay feature with 250 spins, as there was no option for 200.

We knew this was supposed to be a lower volatility, somewhat easy-going slot, but it felt outside our initial session. We prefer higher risk/reward games, but it was a bit surprising to see how quickly this supposed "lightweight" depleted our bankroll. The number of dead spins was shockingly high, and the wins we got on the first 100 spins were far from keeping us afloat.

Our balance was down around £70 after 100 spins, and with no bonus round to look forward to, we were wondering how in the world this would all end. We triggered the bonus feature only once - the expanding sticky wild respin - numerous times throughout our session, but the impact was never impressive. We won at most 16x our stake via this feature once, and our bankroll kept bleeding out like a slaughtered animal.

After our 250 spins nightmare was finally over, we were pinching our arms and asking ourselves why in the world this game is so popular. We had just been brutalized by a supposedly lower variance slot like it as Dead or Alive 2 on crack, and we felt cheated, to be honest. We understand fully that 200 spins are far from enough to be statistically valid in any way, but still.

Needless to say, our preference for high-risk/reward slots was not in any way threatened after this session, and we do hope you have far better beginner's luck with Starburst than we did. We realize that the slot offers lighthearted, simple, and charming gameplay, but our test run proves how subjective your judgment can become if you base it solely on a small session like this. Take it for what it is, a fun first impression experience, and not a judgment of the game's overall quality and status.

Starburst Jackpot (max win)

There is no progressive, or local jackpot, on Starburst, but that does not mean you cannot win big on this game. The max win is limited to 50 000 coins, which is pretty good for a low variance slot. The key to the big win is the Starburst expanding wilds feature described above. If you can land 3 expanding wilds, the payouts can be massive.

Mobile & tablet Experience

Starburst is available on any mobile platform, and you can play on the go using a smartphone or tablet and have the same experience as on a desktop. Whether you prefer Google's Android or Apple’s iOS, it does not matter. You can play with iPhone, iPad, and any other mobile unit you want. This way you never have to be bored while waiting for friends at the pub, or while riding on public transport. Let other people stare out the window while you are busy with the next big win.

SlotCatalog verdict

There can only be one Starburst, and competitors can come up with whatever copycat they want. They will never succeed in dethroning this beauty. Starburst is way bigger than the sum of its parts, and something magical over it cannot be defined or put into words.

The amount of positive and reinforcing feedback you get from this slot when you play is massive. Every little win almost feels like you’ve taken down a gigantic jackpot. This might be part of the success, but it cannot fully explain the paradoxical enigma that is Starburst.

Every spin is fun, even if little happens, and that cannot be said about too many slots out there. The dazzling expanding Starburst Wilds takes the game to a new level - a hidden plateau where huge wins are suddenly possible on a low variance slot. There is always excitement in the air, and you’ll never get tired of this simple game, just as it will never get tired of you.

SlotCatalog has the highest editorial standards. This means that we carefully gather information for each piece of content and have all content accurately reviewed by gambling professionals.

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Starburst Slot FAQs

What is the Return to Player of Starburst slot?

Starburst comes with a standard RTP of 96.09 %, but from the 16th of April 2020, this game now comes with RTP ranges. This means that operators can choose different RTP values, so always check with your chosen casino to be sure. Learn more about RTP here.

How volatile is this game?

Starburst is a low volatility game, but it leans towards the medium range.

What is the biggest win possible in Starburst?

You can win up to 500x your stake here, and this happens when you fill the screen with BAR symbols via the win both ways mechanics.

How many winning ways are available in Starburst?

There are 10 fixed paylines, but they pay both ways, which essentially doubles your ways to win.

Is there a free spins feature in this game?

No, there is no free spins bonus round to be found in Starburst.

How does the Starburst Wild Respin feature work?

A multicolored star shaped symbol can land on the three middle reels (2, 3 and 4), and it will then expand to cover the reel(s) fully, while the remaining reels respin.

Can I play Starburst slot for free?

Yes, that is no problem. Scroll to the top of this review page, and you can play the free demo game right away. You will also find a large selection of casinos where you can play Starburst with a nice welcome offer.