The Starburst slot machine is one of the most popular games in online casinos today, offering a unique blend of cosmic fruitiness and explosive wins that has captivated players worldwide. Developed by NetEnt, a leading software provider for online gaming, Starburst has become a staple in many top-rated casino platforms. In this comprehensive article, we will delve into every aspect of the game, from its captivating theme to its volatility and RTP (Return to Player) rate.
The Cosmic Fruit Theme
Starburst’s success can play Starburst online for free be attributed largely to its visually stunning design and engaging gameplay experience. The slot takes players on a journey through space, where cosmic fruits are bursting with flavor and excitement. The reels are set against a starry night sky, while the symbols themselves resemble colorful, glowing fruits – oranges, lemons, grapes, and watermelons – which appear to be floating in mid-air.
The game’s design is sleek, modern, and highly detailed, making it an absolute treat for players who appreciate visually stunning interfaces. Each symbol has been carefully crafted with vibrant colors and intricate designs that add a touch of authenticity to the overall experience.
Symbols and Payouts
Starburst features 5 reels, each containing 3 rows of symbols. The paytable is relatively simple, but offers generous payouts for matching combinations. Here are all the symbols and their respective payouts:
- Grapes: x1-x25
- Lemons: x2-x50
- Oranges: x2-x100
- Watermelons: x5-x125
- Barrels: x10-x250
The Wild Symbol is represented by a barrel icon, which can substitute for any other symbol to complete winning combinations. The Scatter Symbol, however, does not appear on the reels at all – more about this below.
Wild Symbols
In Starburst, Wild symbols behave in a unique way compared to traditional slot machines. Whenever a Wild appears, it explodes and replaces itself with two new Wilds, which then also explode, leading to further replacement of other symbols with more Wilds. This process continues until no more Wilds appear on the reels.
This feature adds an extra layer of excitement and unpredictability to the game, making it easier for players to win big prizes while playing Starburst.
Scatter Symbols
Contrary to traditional slot machines, there is no Scatter Symbol in Starburst that grants free spins. However, this absence has been cleverly compensated by a high RTP rate (more on this later) and an exciting Bonus Feature, which triggers Free Spins under certain conditions.
Bonus Features and Free Spins
The game’s bonus feature activates whenever a Wild symbol appears on reel 1 or reel 5 in the same spin. This triggers up to 3 extra free spins, during which all reels become sticky, while new ones are replaced with matching symbols from the paytable. Each winning combination pays out as it would normally do.
This mechanism provides additional chances for players to win without disrupting their existing winning combinations or losing valuable winnings. The Free Spins Bonus also activates when 2 Wilds appear on consecutive reels (1 and 2, or 4 and 5) in any single spin, allowing up to a maximum of 3 extra free spins.
RTP Rate
One of the key factors contributing to Starburst’s popularity is its excellent Return to Player rate. According to official figures from NetEnt, this slot boasts an impressive RTP value of 96.09%, making it one of the top-tier games in online casinos today.
This means that for every £100 deposited into a player account and placed as stakes on the game over time (typically calculated over millions of spins), they can expect approximately £96.09 back as winnings, along with an expected profit margin above 3% compared to other slot machines available at the same casino platform. This makes Starburst highly attractive for both casual players seeking entertaining gaming experiences and high-rollers chasing large wins.
Volatility
Another key aspect of online slots is their volatility level – some games offer frequent smaller payouts, while others pay out less frequently but with larger prizes. In terms of volatility, the game falls into a mid-range category (Medium).
While it does not guarantee exceptionally high-paying combinations, Starburst’s winning frequency and payout amounts are relatively consistent, allowing players to maintain an engaging experience throughout extended gaming sessions.
Betting Range
Starburst accepts various stakes across multiple denominations. As with many NetEnt slots, bets range from a minimum of £0.01 up to as much as £100 for each spin – suitable for both low-stakes beginners and high-rollers alike who enjoy wagering large sums on individual games.
With the ability to choose different bet amounts, players have more control over their gameplay experience in terms of affordability and risk management.
Maximum Win
As an incredibly rewarding game with substantial potential payouts, Starburst offers a top prize worth up to 50,000 coins. With many slot machines offering lower jackpot prizes or extremely low minimum stakes combined with restricted maximum bets (hence even smaller max wins), this relatively high ceiling makes it one of the most coveted online games worldwide.
Gameplay Experience
While playing Starburst for real money is straightforward enough due in part to its user-friendly interface, some nuances set this game apart from others:
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Fruit Blasts : The Wilds’ explosion system creates temporary clusters where identical symbols replace existing ones until all positions are fully filled or the spin ends.
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Variable Expanding Reels : Since Starburst’s design is non-traditional, when any winning combination occurs during a Free Spins Bonus session using Sticky Wilds as part of those rewards, more reels expand to display additional new symbols for maximum possible gains.
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Tightness Control : Although relatively tight compared with games featuring bonus spin features or lower stakes and limited max wins – players still experience satisfaction through consistent returns from bets without being overwhelmed by over-reliance on randomness.
Mobile Play
As one of the pioneering developers in mobile gaming solutions, NetEnt’s Starburst also boasts an impressive touch-optimized version for Android and iOS devices. Users can download apps directly via their respective platforms or play through web-based versions via instant access within supported browser environments – ensuring seamless enjoyment across all mainstream operating systems.
Conclusion
Starburst is undoubtedly one of the most thrilling games in today’s slot machines, characterized by its otherworldly fruit explosion design, an energetic gameplay experience enhanced with special Wild symbols replacing any symbol on winning combinations while triggering 2 extra free spin rounds during this Bonus feature. Alongside competitive returns and relatively consistent payouts through variable bets and maximum stakes combined to reward strategy along with the high-stakes excitement for users – giving every kind of player a new level of potential rewards.
Overall, as evident throughout our exploration into Starburst’s design themes, gameplay mechanics, paytable elements, return on investment figures, bet range variability options and lastly rewarding jackpot wins which attract many professional gamers searching to strike an advantage over casino platforms by their gaming strategies in each game round played using any device at home.