Starburst: expanding wilds and wins both ways

Why everyone has played it

NetEnt released Starburst in 2012 and it quickly became the slot casinos used for welcome spins, which put it in front of millions of new players. It has stayed popular because it is easy to read. Five reels, three rows, ten paylines, a handful of coloured gems, a bar and a lucky seven. Nothing to learn, nothing hidden behind menus.

The one twist on the lines is that they pay both ways: from left to right and from right to left. That roughly doubles the chances of a small win landing on any spin and gives the game its steady, frequent rhythm.

The Starburst Wild

The multicoloured star is the only feature, and it is a good one. It can land on reels two, three and four. When it does, it expands to cover the whole reel, stays in place and triggers a free respin. If another star lands during that respin, it expands too and grants another respin, up to a maximum of three wild reels at once. Three expanded middle reels with gems lining up on both sides is the best moment the game offers.

There are no free spins and no bonus game. Everything happens in the base game, which is exactly why the pace feels so even.

Using the Starburst demo

The Starburst free play version opens with 1,000 virtual credits, no download and no sign-up. Because wins come often and are mostly small, it is a good slot for understanding how a calm game behaves:

• Play 200 spins at a stake equivalent to £0.10 and count the wild respins.
• Watch how many times a second wild arrives during a respin; it is rarer than you might expect.
• Compare your balance after 100 and 200 spins: Starburst usually moves in small steps rather than sudden jumps.

A good starting point

If you're new to slots, Starburst teaches the basics without overwhelming you. If you prefer bigger swings, it may feel gentle. The same game is available for real money at the casinos below.