Starburst Logo
Starburst by NetEnt

Starburst Slot Review

Brand:
NetEnt
Game Type:
Video Slot
Paylines:
10
Reels:
5×3
RTP:
96.09%

Starburst is a video slot game that has withstood the test of time. NetEnt released the game back in 2013 but is still one of the world’s most popular slot games of all time. In this Starburst review, I will go through the game, discuss the mechanics, give tips on how to play Starburst slot, and tell you what makes this game so unique.

When NetEnt released Starburst back in 2013 it was designed to be played on desktop computers. A few years ago NetEnt updated the game to make it mobile-optimized, allowing users to play it on the go. The mobile version of the game is called Starburst Touch. It has the same mechanics as the desktop version of the slot game. When you pair its fantastic gameplay, stunning graphics, and dreamy soundtrack it is easily one of the best casino slots available.

Starburst Slot Demo

If you have never played Starburst before, here is a free demo version to try before spending any real cash.

How to play Starburst

If you want to get a better idea of how to play Starburst, I recorded a video. I explain how the bet level and coin value work and give my game strategy. Finally, I have a few spins and explain the Starburst Wild.

Starburst Online Slot Machine – The Pros and Cons

Starburst is a 5-reel, 10-paylines video slots game currently running on the NetEnt software platform. It offers a vibrant expanding wild known as the Starburst symbol. Players can enjoy this colourful game at most online casinos and play Starburst for real money or just for fun. I have spent many hours playing this game and here are some pros and cons:

It lets you win both ways

Like most NetEnt games, the Starburst slot is full of expanding wilds and respins chances

Starburst boasts simplistic yet stunning gameplay mechanics and graphics

Unlike other casino games, it only comes with one bonus feature

The game is great for beginners but you can outgrow it very quickly once you get the hang of the mechanics

Starburst RTP and Wagering

I’ve already mentioned it a few times but Starburst is one of the best entry-level online slots. It’s a great game to play when you are just starting to play slot games. The low volatility means you will get a constant stream of low-value wins which keep you playing. There are no jackpots, nor is there a multitude of glitzy features. This slot game is one of the most basic video slot games that exists. I will discuss the game mechanics in more detail below.

A screenshot of the Starburst slot base game
Starburst Base Game

Starburst is a standard online slot game which is not a progressive jackpot game. The Starburst online slot contains five reels, three rows and 10 paylines. Like most NetEnt games you can choose the coin value and the bet lines. The minimum wager is $0.10 per spin and the maximum bet is $100 per spin. If you select the max bet option, that only increases the number of paylines but will not increase your coin value.

The Starburst slot machine uses win both ways technology. This means you form winning combinations by scoring 3 to 5 matching symbols on the reels, beginning from reel one or reel five. Canadian players can select the autoplay function, where they can choose to spin from 10 to 1000 spins.

If you click on the platform’s Advanced settings links, you can choose to stop autoplay on any games if one win exceeds a specific amount or if your balance decreases or increases throughout the games. Overall, this feature lets you play more responsibly and not waste any coins. Meanwhile, when it comes to volatility Starburst is one of the low variance games. That means users can score many wins often but in smaller amounts.

The Starburst slot game has a relatively low hit frequency. Around 22.65% of its spins will result in a win. The max win per spin or respin is 500x the initial stake.

The RTP percentage is also set at 96.09%. This is almost at the industry average of 96%. The most important thing to keep in mind about this online slot is that it is not about winning big and becoming a millionaire. Starburst provides a constant stream of wins that eases you into comfortable familiarity. It is great for players who need to take a breather from more intense games or that are just starting out.

Starburst Symbols and Audio & Video Design

One of the best things about Starburst is its straightforward gameplay. This allows beginners new to the concept of online gambling to grasp the game with ease. That’s because even if you make a mistake, you’ll bounce back in no time. All you need to do is choose your coin value and bet level. After this, click on the spin button and start playing Starburst.

A screenshot of the Starburst paytable showing the higher value symbols which are the Golden Bar symbol, the lucky 7 symbol, the yellow pentagon diamond, and the green hexagon
Starburst Paytable – Higher value symbols

The Starburst slot game features small yet perfectly formed selections of symbols. The game has an outer space theme however the symbols are gems. The higher value symbols are the classic lucky 7 symbol and a Golden Bar symbol. The reels overlay a golden-ringed planet. The symbols then get stacked, allowing for multiple winning combinations to occur more often in consecutive games.

Not only does the small number of winning symbols make it fast and easy to find the highest winning combination possible as you play the game, but it also means wins line up often. Additionally, with wins usually paid from left to right and right to left, players can enjoy their boosted chances of earning a lot of wins.

Finally, although this slot game follows fast-paced gameplay, players can further increase their speed by switching to its quick spin setting. However, always remember that there’s one more special symbol in Starburst slots you need to find: the star of the show—the colourful Starburst wild appears on the three central areas of the reels while substituting all other symbols with no exception. It’s an expanding wild, triggering the wild respin feature in different games.

A screenshot of the Starburst slot lower value symbols showing the orange pentagon, blue square, and the purple diamond
Starburst Paytable – Lower Value symbols

Most games include the Royals as the low-paying symbols but the Starburst slot machine has a number of different coloured gems instead which make a nice change. The table below provides a list of the different symbols in the game and the potential payouts.

Symbol
Max win
Purple Diamond
3, 4 or 5 = 0.5, 1 or 2.5x stake
Blue Square
3, 4 or 5 = 0.5, 1 or 2.5x stake
Orange Pentagon
3, 4 or 5 = 0.7, 1.5 or 4x stake
Green Hexagon
3, 4 or 5 = 0.8, 2 or 5x stake
Yellow Diamond Hexagon
3, 4 or 5 = 1, 2.5 or 6x stake
Lucky 7 Symbol
3, 4 or 5 = 2.5, 6 or 12x stake
BAR symbol
3, 4 or 5 = 5, 20 or 25x stake
Starburst Wild
Triggers a respin and the Starburst Wild Feature

Starburst Casino Bonuses

Since Starburst is one of the most popular games it’s not a surprise that casinos offer plenty of bonuses. Any online gambling fan can benefit from these, and different online casino providers have various promotions to give to gamblers. Generally, most casinos offer free spins and no deposit bonuses with the provided free spins on Starburst. This casino game is potentially the best online slot for free spins since its free spin bonus is unique. Players receive up to three reels as the way to get the exclusive bonus—all of which naturally ensure wins.

You can find that most online casinos offer free spins on Starburst as an ongoing promotion. Thus they want to encourage players to bet and win more. Meanwhile, all casinos with loyalty programs provide top points on Starburst, where users can exchange points for prizes and bonuses.

A casino welcome bonus is crucial when choosing which online casino you’re playing Starburst at. Just like most games, taking advantage of this bonus lets you play for a more extended period. It also allows you to fulfill wagering requirements and win real money.

Starburst Bonus Features

Starburst is actually quite different than other slot games as it does not have a free spins round. Instead of the usual free spins feature the game relies on expanding wilds. These trigger respins and increase the potential maximum payout.

Starburst Wild Feature

The Starburst Wild symbol only appears in the middle three reels, that is reels two, three, or four. This triggers the Starburst Wilds feature which is the only bonus round available in this slot machine.

The Starburst Wild symbol takes up all the spaces in the reel, locks in place and becomes a wild reel.

A screenshot of the Starburst Wild Feature showing the locked reels in position two and three
Starburst Wild Feature

Additionally, Starburst wilds trigger a free respin. For each consecutive wild symbol you get, you can get a maximum of three respins.

Although you can play a full set of wild symbols, it’s rare. However, when it happens, you can guarantee you’re grabbing a substantial real money win, depending on your bet amount. To trigger the max win of 500x, you have to lock the Wild symbol on the three middle reels. Reels one and five have to fill with the Bar symbol.

Mobile Features

The mobile version of Starburst is called Starburst Touch and that game has the same mechanics as the desktop version. The only difference in the game is that you can play with touch.

A screenshot showing Starburst Touch, the mobile version of Starburst
Starburst Touch

Where can I play Starburst online?

Starburst is available at the best online casinos in Canada. However, here are our recommended online casinos where you can spend plenty of time playing Starburst. Each of these casinos has a great welcome bonus and are all licensed to operate in Canada.

  1. $1500 Casino Welcome Bonus Package
    9.5 /10
  2. $1600 Bonus
    9.4 /10
  3. Up to $200 Casino Bonus
    9.2 /10
  4. 88 Free Spins No Deposit Bonus and $1500 Deposit Bonus
    9.0 /10
  5. 100% Deposit Bonus up to $1000 + 200 Free Spins
    8.9 /10
  6. $777 Casino Bonus + 250 Free Spins
    8.7 /10
  7. $1000 Casino Bonus No Wagering
    8.5 /10
  8. $1500 Bonus + 150 Free Spins
    8.4 /10
  9. $2,000 Casino Bonus + 200 Free Spins
    8.0 /10
  10. 150 Chances to win $1 Million for $10 + $150 Casino Bonus
    7.9 /10

Starburst Online Slot Review Final Thoughts

NetEnt slot is a famous staple at online casinos. All these are partially thanks to the special features it provides, including autoplay, easy-to-understand bets, quick spin, and mobile gaming options that allow you to tailor it to the left- or right-hand mode. NetEnt also produces plenty of games where the minimum bet value is lower than other slot games, making them more accessible to players that do not necessarily want to burn their entire bankroll in just a few spins. NetEnt games usually have average to higher-than-average RTP percentages, increasing users’ chances of winning back-to-back. Overall, games offered by NetEnt never fail to impress, and Starburst is among its best.

I am not exaggerating when I write that it is a true classic online slot. Although it’s been around since 2012, it remains one of the most popular in the industry. It’s a low volatility game, giving players a chance to win more frequently alongside a decent RTP rate of 96.09%. With all these factors, there’s no reason for you not to play Starburst, providing a quality gaming experience with many chances to win.

One final thing I would like to mention is that Starburst has proved to be so popular that in 2021 NetEnt released a sequel titled Starburst XXXtreme. I’ll cover that game in the future.

Starburst FAQ

About the Author

Michael Vella

Michael has worked in media and publishing for the last 20 years. His first jobs in online publishing were at online tech sites focusing on Microsoft Networking, Security all the way through SaaS and Cloud technologies. In 2016 he started his online gambling journey and since then has worked at Betsafe, Royal Panda, and STS before joining the iBet Network team.

He has also worked as a freelance writer for a number of newspapers and magazines and has interviewed dozens of local authors and celebrities. For seven years he was also the Co-Editor of Shlock Magazine, an online magazine of short fiction.
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