New online slots are released every day, but only a few of them can ever hope to become top 10 titles, let alone genre-making game changers that enjoy sustained popularity for the long term. Starburst is a much-loved slot that achieved all of that and more. Released by NetEnt in 2012, this space-themed gem-matching slot is now celebrating its 10th birthday, and players still can't get enough of it. So what is it that makes Starburst so special, and why have players taken the game for more than 18 billion spins worldwide?
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Starburst - An Iconic Video Slot
Starburst, by Swedish game developer NetEnt, is a five-reel slot with ten fixed pay lines that pay in both directions. That means you can win by matching symbols from the right to the left as well as from the more traditional direction of left to right. The action takes place in deep space and the reels are transparent, giving you a gorgeous view of sunlight creeping over the surface of a planet in the lower left section of the screen.
The symbols appearing on the reels are five vividly colored space gems, a red 7 against a blue planet, a golden BAR against a gold planet and a Starburst Wild on the second, third and fourth reels. All of these symbols stand proud against the darker space backdrop, giving the game a clean, bold look that impresses just as well on mobile devices as it does on larger screens.
As you play this game, you'll be treated to a relaxing ambient soundtrack, while incidental audio effects are cleverly engineered so that they can be clearly heard over it. Those effects really kick into gear when a Starburst Wild symbol appears, so be sure to keep your ears pricked for when that happens.
The timelessness of the space theme, rich audio and simplicity of gameplay (as we'll discuss in a moment) never get old, and that's why Starbust is as popular today as it was when it was first launched a decade ago.
Starburst Game Features
If you haven't yet read our Starburst slot review, then let us tell you about some of the awesome game features. The slot has several great features for players to benefit from, but none of them makes it at all complicated to play. Let's take a quick look at each one in turn:
1. Win Both Ways
Get three or more matching symbols running adjacent from left to right or from right to left and you'll win a prize. You'll only pay for 10 lines per spin, but the Win Both Ways feature effectively doubles your chances of landing a win.
2. Starburst Wild
The Starburst Wild symbol can substitute for any other symbol, making it easier to land a winning combination. Even better, any Starburst Wild symbol that lands will automatically expand to fill the reel. The symbols on the reels will then be reviewed to see if the wild reel has helped you to win a prize.
3. Starburst Wild Re-spins
Whether or not the expanded Starburst reel has helped you to win, it will be held in place and you'll be awarded an automatic free respin of the remaining reels. This gives you another chance to win. You can get up to five such respins, so if you get lucky you could win several times in a matter of seconds.
Starburst Slot Payout Up to 50,000 Coins
While it isn't technically a feature, Starburst has a maximum payout of 50,000 coins. That makes it one of the best games around as far as payout potential is concerned.
Play Starburst Slot Today
What more can we say about the Starburst slot? As you can see, when NetEnt developed Starburst, they made an iconic slot which other game providers could only dream of making. Because Starburst is so easy to play, it's ideal for all online slots fans including complete beginners. Plus, its ability to pay out up to 50,000 coins makes it just as attractive to the most experienced of players. If you haven't yet played this legendary game, now is the perfect time to do so. And if you start playing Starburst slot, then you might still be enjoying playing it for another 10 years from now!
