Starburst Slot Review
4.5 /5 
– Starburst was one of the first games to introduce features like stacked sticky wilds and win-both-ways, and this sort of new gameplay has had a significant effect on slot game design ever since.
Game Screenshots
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Starburst is one of the slot games that first established NetEnt’s reputation amongst the elite of online gaming developers. First launched in 2012, it has proved to be perennially popular and continues to be one of the most frequently played games at the slots sites that we feature here, due to its unique combination of simple gameplay with imaginative innovations. For instance, Starburst was one of the first games to introduce features like stacked sticky wilds and win-both-ways, and this sort of new gameplay has had a significant effect on slot game design ever since. The game also has some huge payouts on offer (with a maximum jackpot prize of £50,000), along with a RTP of 96.1%.
How to play
A 5 reel, 10 payline game with win-both-ways (e.g., where wins pay both left-to-right and right-to-left), all wins on Starburst are multiples of the line bet. You can play between 1 – 10 coins per payline, and with coins ranging in size from £0.01 – £1.00, the maximum bet is between £0.10 and £100 (the minimum bet is £0.01 per spin).
- The wild is the Starburst logo symbol
- The wild appears on reels 2, 3 and 4 and substitutes for all other symbols
- When a wild symbol appears, it expands to become a sticky wild and takes up the entire reel
- Each sticky wild then triggers a free spin, with the wild reel in play
- If further wilds are hit during a free spin, an additional free spin is awarded
- Up to 3 free spins in total can be won
- 5x Bar symbols pay out 250x line bet (up to £2,500)
- 5x Lucky 7 symbols pay out 120x line bet (up to £1,200)
- 5x Diamond symbols pay out 60x line bet (up to £600)
- 5x Emerald symbols pay out 50x line bet (up to £500)
- 5x Ruby symbols pay out 40x line bet (up to £400)
- 5x Sapphire symbols pay out 25x line bet (up to £250)
- 5x Amethyst symbols pay out 25x line bet (up to £250)
Jackpot
Starburst has a maximum jackpot payout of £50,000 (50,000 coins) through hitting a combination of Bar symbols and stacked sticky wilds when betting the maximum coin size and number (10 x £1).
In order to get the max payout, you first need to hit a wild on either reel 2, 3 or 4, and then on the free spin hit another wild while also hitting 5x Bar symbols on all 10 paylines (producing a payout of 25,000 coins, potentially worth £25,000). If this then happens again on the next free spin, you will finish with 3x stacked wilds and 5x Bar symbols on all 10 paylines, producing another 25,000 coin payout (a further £25,000 when betting the max). This means you will have had two consecutive £25,000 payouts, making a total win of £50,000 from a single spin (plus two free spins).
Special features
Although features like win-both-ways and sticky wilds are now relatively commonplace, when they first appeared in Starburst they were important innovations that revolutionised slots gameplay. These features aside, however, the gameplay on Starburst is relatively straightforward and this combination is the secret of the game’s appeal. For instance, apart from the additional spins you pick up when you hit a sticky wild, there is no free spin feature, nor are there are any bonus rounds.
At the same time, Starburst is a medium to high volatility slot where there are relatively large payouts on offer, but these tend to more sporadic than on low volatility games. The left-to-right and right-to-left payouts do, however, mean that the gameplay is always engaging.
Graphics and Sounds
As well as being innovative in its gameplay, Starburst also takes us into new territory when it comes to graphics and sound effects. The design concept of bright, shiny gem symbols is quite simple, yet it manages to be very eye-catching, while the animation and sound effects on a winning spin (especially when the sticky wilds come into play) capture the attention and significantly add to the excitement of the game. At the same time, however, along with the contemporary, abstract gem symbols, you also have classic slot game symbols such as Lucky 7 and Bar, and this demonstrates the game’s traditional roots.
The electronic soundtrack is also very effective and suits the space-age theme very well, while the bursts of explosions on winning spins create a real sense of excitement.
Conclusion
If you want an idea of just how popular and successful Starburst has been for NetEnt, you just have to look at the fact that just about every game producer has a slot with a similar theme and design. However, none of these rivals can live up to the original, and the new innovations that the game introduced still seem fresh, especially the win-both-ways feature. We love the whole look and feel of the game, especially the original soundtrack and sound effects, while the huge payouts mean that you can also have some serious jackpot wins.
Check out for yourself why Starburst is one of the most popular online slots ever created at our recommended UK online slots sites.
Author
Laura has been writing for over 10 years, and when she’s not busy crafting articles about bingo, casino, slots, and other exciting topics, she loves to travel, do crosswords, and pub quizzes (just don’t try and beat her at music trivia!) In her previous roles, Laura has managed an IT helpdesk, worked as an IT project co-ordinator, and ran a local events website. Laura lives in Wales with her partner.
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