Starburst

Starburst is a 5-reel, 3-row, 20-payline video slot from NetEnt featuring Expanding Wilds, Sticky Reels, and frequent respins.

In the ever-changing world of online slots, Starburst has always been the one constant performers. Since its release in 2012, the game has consistently been among the most popular slots online, a significant feat for any online game. Whereas other games are getting more and more complex, with various bonus rounds and expanding play areas, Starburst has a different appeal with its old-school simplicity.

Design

The phrase “less is more” is quite the cliché these days, but it was that philosophy that made Starburst into the popular slot online it remains today. The game mixes brilliant graphics and fast-paced gameplay with an engaging audio track.

The game symbols consist mainly of gems in all kinds of colours, where yellow is the most valuable. In addition, you find traditional symbols like 7s and BARs on the reels. The Starburst symbol is the game’s colourful Wild symbol, and once you land one of these, you will quickly realize why the game is so popular. We’ll get back to that in a minute.

This mix of old-school symbols with modern graphics gives the game a modern, yet nostalgic feel. It’s as if NetEnt took a traditional slot machine, mixed it with a classic arcade game, updated the graphics, and threw in some modern features.

Gameplay

The game itself is rather uncomplicated and straightforward. As long as you line up minimum 3 symbols on adjacent reels, you win.

Starburst also utilizes the Win Both Ways technology, which means you don’t need your winning symbols to start from left to right. In this game, your winning combination can also start from right to left, as long as it starts with one of the outermost reels. Paylines consisting of 5 symbols count from both directions, which means any 5-symbol win is effectively doubled.

The modern slot player is well accustomed to elaborate bonus games and free spins rounds, sometimes more than one per game. Starburst offers none of this. But what it lacks in extra bonus rounds, it makes up for with its expanding wild symbol.

Expanding Wild

The main bonus feature of this slot is the Starburst symbol, the game’s expanding wild. When this symbol lands anywhere on the reels, it will expand to cover the entire reel. This will help to complete any winning combination on the reels.

The expanding wild will then remain locked in its place while the player gets rewarded with a respin. These respins will continue as long as a new winning combination is formed on the reels.

This Sticky Reel feature gives the potential big wins, especially if a second wild symbol lands during the respin. It will also lock in its place, giving you a respin with two locked Wild Reels. This can be repeated a third time, as Wild symbols can only land on reel 2 - 4. With three locked Wild reels in place, you could start preparing for some seriously big wins. You also get to enjoy the lovely “big win” sequence the game produces.

One noteworthy thing about this game is the lack of a scatter symbol. In this day and age we have got used to seeing one, and maybe even two, scatters in a slot game. You won’t find any here, and the main draw is the Expanding Wild symbol.

Low Volatility

Starburst is what we call a low volatility game. That means that the average win on the slot is fairly low, but that the wins occur more regularly. This plays a big role in the game’s immense popularity online.

Though you are less likely to hit it huge in this game, you can expect a steady flow of smaller wins. This means you are less likely to endure long winless streaks, which often happens in more volatile slots. If you prefer winning small and steady, rather than big and infrequent, then Starburst is the game for you.

The fact that the game has such low volatility, coupled with the lack of extra features, also means that some players find it a bit too bland. In the end, it all boils down to what kind of slot player you are, and what you are looking for from your gaming experience. Starburst’s enormous popularity for more than 7 years is evidence that the game appeals to large numbers of slot players.

Starburst Mobile

NetEnt is among the industry leaders when it comes to mobile gaming. With NetEnt Touch, you get the same rich casino experience directly on your phone or tablet. That means that you can enjoy all of Starburst’s features on the go, without compromises. The controls are easy to use and make Starburst an excellent mobile casino game.

The game runs on pretty much any modern (and some not so modern) devices, both for Android and iOS. If you are more of a desktop player, you can of course also enjoy the game on pretty much any kind of PC or laptop.

The Verdict

Starburst is an undeniable slot classic. It is consistently among the 10 most played games at most online casinos, which speaks volumes for a game released in 2012. What separates Starburst from many of its modern-day competitors is the simplicity. The game does not offer free spins or a bonus round. It doesn’t even have a scatter symbol. This means that you won’t land life-changing big wins like in the progressive jackpot slot Mega Moolah, or elaborate 2-in-1 games with multiple bonus rounds like NetEnts recent blockbuster game Planet of the Apes.

What you do get, however, is frequent respins and a lot of fun. The game excels with its simplicity, bridging the gap between an old-school game and the more modern online slots. The Expanding Wild ensures frequent respins which offers a big win potential.

At the end of the day, Starburst is a simple and entertaining slot game. The graphics are smooth, and the soundtrack is catchy. The colours are bright, and the ‘big win’ sequences are engaging (and not just because of the big wins). A seasoned slot player might find the game a bit underwhelming, especially compared to the modern slots of 2019. Starburst has nonetheless been among the most popular slots since 2012 for a good reason. It is a great choice for new players, while it also offers a great alternative for slot veterans looking for some casual gaming fun.

Play Starburst at Wildz Casino

You will find Starburst, in addition to hundreds of other online slots, at Wildz Casino. You can try it for free before wagering real money, and you can play it across all your devices. Log in to your Wildz account today to experience why this game is so popular among slot players.

• Not a customer? Register now to play.
• Already a Wildz customer? Welcome back! Log in to play.

FAQs

What is the RTP in Starburst?

The theoretical Return-to-Player in Starburst is 96.09%.

How many paylines are available in Starburst?

Starburst offers a total of 10 paylines. But with Starburst's Win Both Ways feature, the effective number of paylines in 20.

Which provider developed Starburst?

Starburst is an online slot from NetEnt.

Does Starburst have a Free Spins round?

No, the Starburst slot does not offer a Free Spins round.