Starburst Features

Starburst is a video slot developed by NetEnt, released in 2012. The game is arranged on five reels and three rows, featuring ten fixed paylines. Unlike many slots, these paylines pay both from left to right and right to left, increasing the chances of winning on each spin. It uses HTML5 technology, making it accessible across a variety of platforms including the web, iOS, and Android devices.

Starburst’s gameplay centers on its expanding wilds known as Starburst Wilds. These wild symbols appear only on reels two, three, and four. When they land, they expand to cover the entire reel and lock in place for a respin. This mechanic can significantly boost your winning opportunities during gameplay.

The game has a low volatility level, meaning the wins tend to be smaller but occur more frequently, with a hit frequency of approximately 23%. The official RTP (return to player) is listed as 96.08%, though availability and RTP may vary with different operators and versions of the game.

Starburst lacks traditional bonus rounds like free spins or scatters. Its main attraction lies solely in the expanding wilds and the respin feature they trigger, combined with the dual-direction paylines.

Starburst Wilds: Expanding and respin mechanics

Starburst Wild symbols substitute for all standard symbols, helping to complete winning combinations. When a wild lands on reel two, three, or four, it expands to fill the entire reel. This expanded wild remains in place and triggers a respin, allowing another spin without an additional bet.

What to know

If additional Starburst Wilds appear during the respin, they too expand and lock in place, and the respin counter is reset. This process can repeat up to a maximum of three respins with expanded wild reels held steady, increasing the potential for larger payouts. After the last respin, gameplay resumes as usual with the locked wild symbols removed.

Starburst’s gameplay is defined by a combination of its win both ways paylines, expanding wilds, and respin mechanics. The paylines pay from both the leftmost reel and the rightmost reel, but only the highest win per active payline is awarded during a spin. This means a single payline cannot pay twice in the same spin, even though evaluation occurs from both reel directions.

The wilds, limited to reels two, three, and four, are the key gameplay catalysts. Their expansion across a reel locks wilds in place and triggers respins, with up to three respins possible per spin. Each new wild appearing during a respin adds another respin, maintaining player engagement.

Other useful controls in the game include the paytable, accessible via the Information button, which provides details about the symbols and payouts. Players can also use Quick Spin, which is subject to regional restrictions, and Autoplay features where available, to speed up or automate gameplay.

The game uses HTML5 technology and a 16:9 aspect ratio, ensuring compatibility on multiple devices and smooth visual performance.

Pay both ways and payout rules

The dual direction payout system evaluates paylines starting from both the leftmost and rightmost reels simultaneously. However, while wins can be counted from either direction, only the highest winning combination per active payline is paid out for each spin. This avoids duplicate payouts for the same line and ensures fairness in winnings.

Starburst is a classic online video slot by NetEnt featuring 5 reels and 3 rows, with 10 fixed paylines paying both left to right and right to left. Its key feature is the Starburst Wild, which appears only on reels 2, 3, and 4 and expands to cover the entire reel, triggering a respin. Players can receive up to three respins if new wilds appear. The game has low volatility with a hit frequency of around 23% and an RTP of 96.08%. It uses HTML5 technology for broad compatibility on web, iOS, and Android devices.

Expanding Wilds and Respins

The Starburst Wild substitutes for all other symbols and only appears on reels 2, 3, and 4. When it lands, it expands to cover the entire reel and locks in place, awarding a respin without an additional wager. Each new wild during the respin resets the respin count, allowing up to three respins in total. After the respins end, all held wilds are removed and regular gameplay resumes.

Paylines and Payout Rules

The game’s paylines pay both left to right and right to left, which increases the chance of winning combinations on each spin. However, each active payline pays only the highest win per spin, preventing duplicate payouts on the same line.

Starburst Features and Specifications