Starburst: Everything You Need To Know About the Slot Game

Written by William Taylor Last updated: 12/02/2024

Introduction to Starburst

Starburst pokie is the most popular and exciting slot game of all time from NetEnt. It is a 5-reel online slot machine that features 10 paylines. The slot game has a unique theme based on the bright lights of arcades from the 1980s. For over a decade, Starburst has offered players beautiful and bold graphics complemented by a soothing soundtrack reminiscent of the good old arcade days.

As simple as it sounds and looks, the Starburst slots game gives you a chance to win a lot of money if you make a lucky spin. Backed by exciting reel re-spins and stacked wild reels, it is no surprise that players adore the Starburst slot game.

This review will analyze what the incredible Starburst slot game can offer you and explain the bonus rounds and features. We’ll also give you valuable tips on how you can win real money in the game.

Starburst Features

This retro game is one of the easiest online slot games to play. Here are some features that make Starburst pokie a favourite NetEnt game with New Zealand players.

2-Way Pay & Starburst Wild Symbols

The Starburst slot game is famous for its 2-way pay feature. This means you can match symbols from the left or the right. Since paylines pay both ways, you have more chances of winning money.

In addition to 2-way paylines, the colourful Starburst Wild symbols reward players from both sides, allowing online gamblers to win more money. The expanding Wild can replace any other symbol on a payline. Plus, if the Wild lands, it expands to take up the entire reel, offering better payouts.

Other Symbols

Starburst has sparkling jewel symbols, including rubies, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires and amethysts. You will also find the gold bar symbol on a flaming sun which is the highest paying. There’s a glistening lucky ‘7’ symbol, the second highest paying symbol. The low pay symbols are sparkling purple, blue, yellow, red and green gems.

Free Re-spins and a Single-Spin Jackpot

Starburst gives its players a chance to enjoy instant free spins bonuses. For each consecutive Wild you get, the reels re-spin up to three times. You can benefit from the Starburst wild on your first and subsequent free spins, giving you several chances to win big with just a single wager. If you land 5 Starburst wilds, you could get a jackpot of up to $50,000 from a single spin.

Compatible with All Devices

The Starburst slot game is compatible with all devices. You can enjoy this medium-risk casino game on a PC, tablet, or smartphone. Since it is powered by one of the casino industry’s top developers, NetEnt, you can rest assured that your online gambling experience will be great.

Additional Features:

• Bar symbol x5 – yields up to 2,500 coins
• Diamond x 5 – pays up to 600 coins
• Lucky 7 symbol x 5 – yields up to 1,200 coins
• Emerald symbol x 5 – yields up to 500 coins

How to Play Starburst

Starburst is an excellent game to start with if you are new to online slot games. It is a simple yet classic game with easy-to-understand rules. It has a standard layout, with every clickable button appearing in a control panel at the bottom of the screen for easy access.

The bottom right-hand corner of the panel shows how many coins you have and includes other tools you can use to control the game. Here’s a rundown of the game’s features:

Coin value

Changing the coin value will determine how much is in your account as the bets decrease or increase proportionally. You can change the coin value to anywhere between $0.01 and $1.00.

Autoplay activation

At the centre of the control panel is a big green button that you can press to activate the reels. If you don’t want to tap it continuously, you can click on “Autoplay” to start the reels automatically.

Max bet

You can change your bet amount and the level you play at in the control panel. Clicking the “Max Bet” icon increases your wager to the maximum level and ensures that the next casino game starts with the current coin value.

Bet level

The “Level” section allows you to adjust your bet manually between 1-10, which reflects the bet amount per line. The minimum bet is $0.10, while the maximum bet is $100.

Information

The information button is in the bottom left corner of the screen. Press it to find information about the pay table, expanding wilds and pay lines. You can also visit the help section before you start playing to find answers to any questions you may have.

Starburst also allows you to play the game for free. You can use the demo mode to learn the rules before you start wagering your own money in a real version.

Starburst Pokie RTP, Maximum Win & Volatility

RTP, known as Return to Player Percentage, is the expected percentage of wagers that a specific game returns to players in the long run. For example, if a game has 90% RTP, for every $100 bet, the game should pay out $90.

By default, the average RTP for the Starburst game is 96% which is suitable for new players. However, NetEnt has introduced a flexible RTP. Depending on the market, operators can adjust it to anywhere between 90% and 99%.

The game’s low volatility is one of its best features since it means that the game plays out smaller but more regular winnings. Its low setting ensures that players who are not high rollers enjoy their gambling experience. The maximum win for Starburst is $50,000.

Starburst Slots Graphics & Sounds

Starburst is well-designed even though it is relatively simple. The symbols are distinguishable and come in eye-catching colours and shapes. The soundtracks in the background complement the graphics, which makes spinning the reels very entertaining. The sound effects that play each time you win are exciting and a cause for celebration. Overall, NetEnt has done a terrific job at creating an online pokie game that feels like a real casino slot machine.

Starburst Pokie Jackpot

You should not play Starburst with the sole aim of hitting the jackpot. As a low volatility game, the maximum win amount is capped; therefore, you shouldn’t expect to win more than $50,000. You need to get at least 5 of the golden bar symbols on a payline at a maximum bet of 10 levels and a coin value of $1 to get the max win.

Even if you don’t max out all the paylines and make your coin value the highest, you can still win smaller amounts. Plenty of symbol combinations pay out thousands of dollars if you land them.

Where to Find Starburst Free Spins

If you have been looking for the best online gambling sites with free spins for Starburst, you are in the right place. We have done the hard work of researching and comparing different online casino sites for you. Our casino review experts have come up with a list of the best online casinos that offer 10, 20, 50 and even more free spins with no deposit required. Check the top of the page to see our top picks, or try out the casinos we recommend below:

• Jackpot City Casino
• Spin Casino
• LeoVegas
• Mr Green

Be sure to look out for welcome offers, a bonus system, casino game variety, and wagering requirements at our recommended sites so that you can choose one that appeals to you most. Then, not only can you play Starburst slots, but you’ll also be able to enjoy a more fruitful and rewarding online gambling experience.

Starburst is Available at The Following Casinos

Ways to Play Starburst Online

There are many ways you can play the Starburst pokie game online. Firstly, you can enjoy an instant play version on many casino platforms. Instant play allows you to start playing Starburst almost immediately, without having to necessarily register at the site or download any third-party software onto your device.

You can also play Starburst on your mobile device. Plenty of casinos are hosting this popular game, and many have dedicated mobile apps for Android and iOS. NetEnt also uses the best software to ensure that Starburst is playable with mobile phones for players who like gambling on the go.

For players who are solely looking for fun and not to risk any money, there is also a free mode that you can access in many places. Alongside being available on the NetEnt website, you can play the Starburst demo mode on many online casinos.

Tips for Playing Starburst Pokie

Here are some of our top tips to improve your chances of winning when playing the Starburst slot online.

Understand the features and bet levels

Before you start wagering real money in a Starburst game, learn how the game works. Read our guide above or play the game in free mode. You can make sensible bet decisions by understanding what the symbols mean, how the paylines work, and what the different bet levels affect.

Don’t bet more than you can afford

We recommend that you spread out your funds and never bet more than you can afford to lose in a game of Starburst pokies. While making the maximum bet each time may be appealing, it could cause you to run out of money quickly.

Use free spins bonuses

Many casinos offer free spins bonuses that you can use with Starburst. Use these promotional offers to increase your chances of winning when you play the slot game.

Alternatives to Starburst – Other Pokies To Try Next

After Starburst became an instant hit in the online gaming world, developers decided to take inspiration from its wild success and create other similar slot games.

If you are looking to enjoy the same simplicity that Starburst offers, there are other alternatives that you can try out. These easy-to-play games have diverse themes that enable you to test different styles. Below is a list of the Starburst alternatives for New Zealand players to try:

Inferno Star

This game may remind you of your childhood days when your mother used to tell you not to look directly into the sun to protect your eyes. It has bright, dazzling features that are hard to look away from.

Inferno Star has the same 5×3 layout as the Starburst slot machine. However, it has 5 fixed pay lines, not 10 and a high volatility re-spin feature for the max win. If you land on reel 3, the raging sun is activated for a re-spin. You can win up to 2,500x of your stake in this game with an RTP of 96%.

Magic Stars 3

This casino game takes you on an adventurous journey into the galaxies of outer space. The mixture of beautiful colours, exciting animations and a catchy soundtrack playing in the background gives you a unique experience that is hard to find anywhere else.

Magic Star 3 has 3 reels and 5 fixed pay lines, while Starburst has 5 reels and 10 pay lines. It also has a rainbow-coloured icon that acts as a wild to create more winning combinations.

Space Spins

The game is about a spaceship drifting through outer space as you take charge and direct its course through the stars and explore several amusing galactic crystals. Using the Space Pile Feature, you can stack up random space pile symbols into reels to create more winning pay lines. If you land a minimum of 3 scatter symbols, you unlock 25 free spins instantly.

Turning Totems

Turning Totems has a Native American theme with 5 reels represented by totem poles. The energetic native American dances cause the reels to create more winning pay lines or trigger the lightning bonus feature.

Like Starburst, Turning Totems also pays out in both directions. If you land a thunder snake on the totem, the Thunder Spin activates a re-spin.

Star Spinner

This game has a dark background with bright neon-coloured symbols that blend well with the shades of purple, making it similar to Starburst. It is played on 5 reels across 10 pay lines and has a 3-row pay table. The slot respin is activated when the multi-coloured wild star spinner symbol lands on reels 2, 3 or 4.

Verdict on Starburst

It’s clear why this online pokie game is such a hit with New Zealand players. It’s easy to play, has a simple yet enticing design, and has a similar feel to slot games you can find in land-based casinos and arcades.

If you’re a newer online casino player or prefer games with low risk, then Starburst is the perfect option. It’s a low-volatility pokie game with a significant payout percentage. This means you can spread your bets further and potentially enjoy multiple wins during one session.

Plenty of online casinos host Starburst and some casinos change the RTP of the game. Fortunately, we’ve found the best casinos offering the Starburst pokie game so that you can quickly start spinning the reels and increasing your winnings. Check the top of this guide to find out which sites we recommend.