Starburst Slot Review: Key Features & Gameplay of This Famous Title
NetEnt has long been responsible for creating some of the most exciting online slot releases to date. The company’s blend of high potential and feature-rich titles keep both fans and experts alike watching with a keen eye to see what lies in store for the future. However, it’s perhaps one of NetEnt’s earlier launches that has been the most successful.
Starburst is a throwback to the classic era of online slots. The gameplay focuses on winning symbol combinations for a straightforward experience but the game also introduces several modern features to keep players engaged throughout.
You can check out the game’s key features below before diving into our full Starburst review for all of the details:
- Reels: 5
- Rows: 3
- Paylines: 10
- RTP: 96.09%
- Volatility: Low
- Max Win: 500x (50,000 coins)
- Features: Win Both Ways, Expanding Wilds, Respins
Starburst Features
NetEnt’s Starburst will appeal to those of you who prefer a more streamlined slot experience. You needn’t worry about any convoluted or gimmicky features, nor any confusing win combinations. Certain key elements drive the gameplay forward but they’re easy to come to terms with.
Wild Symbol
Wilds, depicted by the coloured star, are the main bonus symbol. Appearing on reels 2, 3 and 4, wilds substitute for all other paytable symbols to help form winning combinations.
Whilst that may be the purpose of any online slot’s wild symbol, that’s not all they do here. Starburst’s wilds are also Expanding Wilds; they expand to cover each position of any reel they land on to potentially create even larger payouts!
Starburst Free Spins and Bonus
Starburst doesn’t include a traditional free spins bonus per sé. Instead, what is on offer is a Respin Feature that triggers any time at least 1 wild symbol is present on the reels.
When a wild symbol lands, it expands to cover the entire reel and all on-screen payouts are paid. Afterwards, the wilds lock in place and you earn a Respin. During the Respin, additional wilds can land but, once again, only on reels 2, 3 and 4.
If this occurs, you’ll earn an extra Respin with another locked wild reel. Respins can retrigger up to three times to grant 3 wild reels and a fantastic opportunity for big wins!
Starburst Theme and Symbols
Starburst offers a cosmic slot adventure. Unsurprisingly, the thematic focus delivers an interstellar experience that’s underpinned by an animated background and a rich and almost cosmological soundtrack.
The online slot’s symbol design is on point, too. A total of 5 brightly coloured gems and 2 further high-value symbols, lucky sevens and gold bars, make up the paytable, with a minimum of 3 matching symbols required to create any winning combination.
Starburst RTP and Volatility
Starburst comes with a respectable 96.09% RTP and a low volatility rating. These elements bind to deliver an online slot that favours regular payouts of a lesser nature to help keep your bankroll ticking over.
Of course, due to this, larger wins are harder to come by. So, if you prefer slots that offer greater risk versus reward gameplay you may be better suited to titles with increased variance.
How To Play Starburst
Starburst is a 5-reel and 3-row online slot with 10 fixed paylines. You’ll need a minimum of 3 matching symbols to land on adjacent reels to land a payout. However, where this release slightly deviates from the norm is that these adjacent reels can start from either the leftmost or the rightmost reels thanks to the Win Both Ways mechanic.
The game’s functions are situated beneath the reels for convenient bet adjustments, paytable information and autoplay functionality. Stakes range from as little as the €0.10 minimum bet up to the €100 maximum bet. As such, Starburst is ideal for both conservative players and high rollers alike.
Slotsia’s Review
Online slots have undergone many transformations in recent years. New innovations have given rise to many spectacular features and mechanics that you can see in nearly all modern releases. However, the market still has room for the classics and what is Starburst if not the definition of a classic online slot?
Perhaps its popularity stems from its consistent inclusion in online casino welcome bonuses. Maybe it’s because the straightforward gameplay offers a respite from potentially confusing models that aren’t particularly welcoming to novice spinners. Either way, Starburst has already proven that it has stood the test of time and will presumably continue to do so for years to come.
Granted, the potential wins aren’t all that impressive and the features are somewhat lacklustre compared to what else is on offer nowadays – 500x seems somewhat paltry when you consider NetEnt itself has launched slots that can pay upwards of 100,000x. Nevertheless, despite these potential drawbacks, Starburst still offers excitement for plenty of players and a myriad of other reasons to keep the cosmic reels spinning.
96.09% RTP
Straightforward gameplay
Low volatility
Low maximum win
No traditional free spins feature
