Starburst is one of the most iconic online slot games, known for vibrant space-themed visuals based on bursting stars, low volatility, and simple yet engaging gameplay. Released in 2012, this casino game remains a players’ favorite due to its broad appeal, frequent small wins, and expanding wild feature.
Playing Starburst delivers a blend of accessibility and design excellence that has made game provider Netent’s masterpiece a lasting success in the normally fast-changing iGaming market.
Game mechanics & overview
This 5-reel slot game stands out in the online casino gaming industry with its unique symmetrical payline structure, allowing wins from both left-to-right and right-to-left. The bidirectional reels mechanic enhances player engagement by offering more frequent rewards.
Incorporating vivid jewel graphics, cosmic backgrounds, and synchronized audiovisual effects, Starburst spins deliver an immersive slot experience, breaking from older slot designs by using a re-triggerable expanding wild system instead of free spins. This Starburst Wild expands across reels and triggers respins, creating bursts of high player anticipation.
With a 96.1% RTP and low volatility, the game delivers frequent small wins and occasional bigger payouts, creating a sustainable, balanced experience that keeps players returning.
All of which makes it a firm pick for many slots players seeking entertainment and wins. On my first exposure to playing Starburst, those clear visuals and simple mechanics immediately stood out. The jewel symbols against a cosmic background created a hypnotic, immersive gaming experience. Expanding wilds added bursts of real tension and winning anticipation.
There’s every chance Starburst will grab you similarly, so let’s take a BTCGOSU deep dive into all the elements that contribute to making this an enduring slot machine title.
Where can I play Starburst slot machines for real money?
While many crypto casino sites offer the Starburst slot, we rate Vave Casino as one of the top providers of NetEnt games and software. You can win real money prizes from a collection of over 6,000 games at this hugely popular crypto casino.
You’ll find some strong alternatives offering gambling on Starburst on the BTCGOSU crypto casino reviews page. Some of these casinos offer free spins bonuses so keep an eye open for valuable promos.
Where can I get free spins playing a demo game with no deposit?
The best place to play Starburst in demo mode without risking real cash is on Netent’s Starburst page. You’ll get a good handle on how much the game pays back, though clearly there’s no substitute for real money play to gauge the true RTP and volatility.
What’s the RTP payout percentage, volatility, and variance of Starburst?: Good chances to win and a high, player-friendly hit frequency?
With a pretty good payout percentage (for slots in general) resulting from a player-friendly RTP of 96.1% and low volatility, you’re likely to see plenty of wins playing Starburst in a typical session of between 15 and 20 minutes. Play longer and you’ll get more wins, of course.
Never forget, though, that any RTP less than 100% means the casino is guaranteed to win over time. You could be one of the lucky ones that beat the figures but, for most players, enjoying the time spinning is the main draw rather than an expectation of winning. Plus, there’s always the hope of hitting a jackpot, right?
That focus on enjoyment and fun means that high usability and easy-to-use interfaces are key player factors when determining the playability of any slot title.
What bonus features do you get on Starburst?
NetEnt’s Starburst video slot is renowned for its simplicity and signature bonus features, which include:
- Starburst Wilds (Expanding Wilds): The Starburst symbol acts as a wild. When it hits, you’ll only see it on reels 2, 3, and 4 (the middle reels). It expands to cover the entire reel, substituting for all other symbols which can then expand to complete winning combinations.
- Re-Spins Feature: When a Starburst Wild expands, it triggers a free re-spin with the wild reel locked and static. Getting another wild during a re-spin results in it expanding and awarding another re-spin, up to a maximum of three times. This stacked wilds potential for all 3 middle reels helps towards guaranteeing multiple winning combinations.
- Win Both Ways: Winning combinations can be formed from left to right and right to left, effectively doubling the chances of hitting a win on each spin.
Out of these, I’d say the standout feature is the Expanding Wilds. It definitely ramped up the interest when those 3 middle rows got a wild star. Scatters are notable by their absence from this game as are free spins.
What is the bonus feature trigger probability?
The 8.4% trigger rate for Starburst’s re-spin feature means players typically see a bonus every 12 spins, reinforcing its low-volatility design. While this rate is statistically consistent, actual results vary due to random number generation, so bonus frequency may differ in short sessions.
How do you activate a free spins round?
There’s no standalone free spins feature in the Starburst slot.
Are there Expanding Wilds on Starburst?
Yes, there are! Wilds always expand to fill all 3 rows on their reel. That makes it easier to complete combinations as they cover all 10 paylines running from left to right and right to left.
Are there any Shifting Wilds?
No. Once wild symbols expand, they remain locked in place for any following respins.
Is there a Win Both Ways feature?
Yes, there is. 10 paylines cross the 5×3 symbol grid and winning combinations can start from either the left or right-side reels. You get paid twice with matched symbols right across a line, with or without the help of wilds.
Are there Scatters on Starburst?
Starburst doesn’t use scatter symbols on any of the reels.
Does Starburst have cascading reels & the cluster pays mechanic?
No, the cascading reels mechanic isn’t used in Starburst.
How do you collect and trigger payout multipliers?
There are no payout multipliers on Starburst.
What’s the win potential?
The maximum prize is worth 5,000x the total stake.
How do you land a jackpot win?
If the golden BAR symbol fills the entire 5×3 grid, either on its own or in combination with wilds, you win the 5,000x jackpot prize.
How much can you win as a maximum with a jackpot hit?
Play with the maximum stake of 100.00 and the jackpot adds up to a fantastic win of 500,000.00!
What’s the win frequency? Is there a varied mix of small, medium, and high payout wins?
Starburst is a low-volatility game with a high win frequency comparable with several other casino slots that regularly deliver wins, though it tends to play lots of smaller prizes rather than a few bigger ones. However, you can still win a huge prize on any spin.
What’s the payout table?
This payout table screenshot displays the different symbol values:
Interface layout and player usability
Although the game launched way back in 2012, this outer space-themed slot still looks fabulous across desktop and mobile screens.
It’s an easy game to set up and play. A wide bet range covers most budgets, and an Auto Play option is great for those who want to spin the reels hands-free. The low volatility can lead to lots of winning spins and the overall return to players of 96.06% represents excellent value. It all adds up to some excellent attributes that complement other key features. Of these attributes, bonus features play a major part.
How to bet & play?
Playing Starburst is as straightforward as playing most video slots:
- The flexible bet options run from 0.10 to 100.00 per spin.
- Tap plus or minus tabs to the sides of the Coin Value and Level buttons to choose your ideal stake.
- A Max Bet option takes you to level 10 right away although you can still adjust coin values to suit.
- Click the circular arrows button to spin the reels, or choose Auto Play for up to 500 hands-free spins.
What are the minimum and maximum coins for a bet?
You play with 10 coins, which means all 10 paylines are active at all times.
How complex is the gameplay?
Starburst is a relatively straightforward game, which is a large part of the appeal. Locked wilds and respins are the only bonus feature. Some may think that’s a limiter, but it does make it an ideal slot for inexperienced players intent on enjoying high quality graphics and imagery.
What’s the quality like on visual design, graphics, and animations?
Despite its age, the graphics are superb, with glinting jewels floating against the backdrop of outer space. Slick animations trigger on each win, flashing across the symbols involved and displaying your prize value.
What key symbols will you see on the reels?
Five colourful jewels share the reels with the bold red 7, and bright BAR emblem. Star of the show is the eight-pointed, multicolour wild star.
Is the sound design and audio quality good?
Starburst sounds good and has a lively soundtrack, accompanied by flourishes of beeps and jingles on wins. It’s not too overwhelming and suits the visuals across desktop and mobile platforms.
Is Starburst safe to play?
We only recommend safe casinos that you can trust for fair play and security, so as long as you play at a casino the BTCGOSU team have reviewed and given a strong report, you’ll be safe as long as you make common sense decisions around general security.
From a developer perspective, Starburst comes from one of the top developers in the business – NetEnt slots always deliver random results and generous returns. It’s as safe to play on mobile as it is on desktop, too.
How does Starburst perform on mobile?
The mobile version works perfectly well on iPhones, iPads, Android, and Windows phones and tablets. Reels take up the top half of the screen, with the controls re-sized below for ease of use.
What are the best tips and strategies for playing Starburst?
Setting a budget and sticking to it is always a good approach regarding video slots strategies overall. Starburst uses Random Number Generators to determine fair results, which are unrelated to any previous spin, so betting systems such as doubling up on a loss won’t work.
It has an excellent return to players similar to other low-volatility slot machines, which makes it a good choice if you want to win small amounts with a high frequency.
How do the bonus features on Starburst influence optimal betting strategies, risk assessment, and overall gameplay?
The expanding wilds and respins bonus features in Starburst encourage and support low-risk betting strategies by delivering frequent, smaller wins. The 96.1% RTP and low volatility contribute to the performance of effective bankroll management while enjoying steady gameplay.
Generally, these types of mechanics encourage consistent bets and reward players who value frequent engagement over large payouts.
Are there any negative player comments around Starburst?
Some typical comments posted online from players mentioning negatives around the game include:
- I like the graphics and animations but, apart from that, the positives are hard to find.
- I could never get why Starburst was so popular, I suspect it could be that many online casinos offered free spins in the early days as their welcome bonus.
- I think the reason there were so many free spins offers is because you’ll struggle to get any decent wins from them anyway.
- There is no in game bonus.
How does Starburst compare to other NetEnt slots?
While this is the most popular slot in the NetEnt range (or any other range for that matter!), Starburst is simpler than many of their other titles. NetEnt games such as Finn and the Dragon Tale, Jumanji, or Mummy Megaways pack the reels with state-of-the-art animations and multiple bonus rounds.
What are the best alternative slots to Starburst with similar gameplay?
Similar games include Crystal Sun from Play’n GO, and Space Gem from the studios of Wazdan. You can also enjoy enhanced versions of the original with Starburst Galaxy and Starburst XXXtreme among them. Several others are mentioned in this analysis of the top slots with Starburst mechanics.
BTCGOSU Conclusion, Verdict, Highs & Lows: Should you try Starburst?
The low volatility isn’t to all tastes, and there’s no standalone bonus feature. This aside, Starburst is a fantastic game that fully deserves its place as the most popular online slot in the world. It’s simple but mesmerising and the frequent payouts mean you won’t have to spin the reels for long before wins or respins trigger.
All of the BTCGOSU team have played Starburst and we give it a collective average rating of 9/10.
What I specifically like about playing Starburst
I always enjoy this slot machine, with its vivid colours, and straightforward gameplay where wins come thick and fast. It’s exciting to watch wilds stack on reels and award respins, and if more wilds land, big wins become almost inevitable.
What did I dislike about the Starburst playing experience?
I prefer slots which display the actual bet amount rather than the number of coins and levels. It makes things clearer, but that’s about the only downside to an otherwise outstanding game.
Additional player questions
Our BTCGOSU analysis of this well-known slot should cover most of the questions you have. Here are a few more that that will fill in any missing knowledge gaps:
Does Starburst demonstrate fairness with random spin results?
The result of every spin is random and can’t be determined by the casino. NetEnt games are independently audited to guarantee fair play.
Is Starburst good for low-budget, casual players and low-stake bets?
A 0.10 minimum bet means that low-stakes players can enjoy all of the style, features, and rewards of Starburst for a tiny outlay.
Is Starburst good for bonus seekers?
Because it’s such a huge game, many online casinos include Starburst in their bonus offers. You can play with free credits and keep any winnings at selected sites.
Is Starburst good for high rollers?
While the 100.00 maximum bet will cover most budgets, it may be too low for higher rollers.
Does Starburst have a progressive jackpot?
There’s no progressive jackpot feature here.
What are some typical real player comments about Starburst?
Gathered from around the internet, these comments are fairly typical of player viewpoints:
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Starburst might not be the favorite for everyone, but its cool looks, easy gameplay, chances to win big, and good reputation have made it super popular.
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Games like Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest are great options as they’re low-to-medium volatility, meaning you get smaller, more frequent wins that keep your bankroll steady.
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Hate it as much as you want, but Starburst is by far the most popular NetEnt game ever no contest.
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Starburst has always been famous for being low volatility. Though I suppose that’s what makes these ultra-rare mega wins even more exciting when they do hit.
Ready to play?
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