| Developer | NetEnt |
|---|---|
| Release date | 2012 |
| Theme | Space gems |
| Reels x rows | 5x3 |
| Paylines | 10 fixed, pays both ways |
| RTP | 96.09% |
| Volatility | Low |
| Max win | 500x |
Starburst is the slot that taught a generation of players what an online slot could feel like. NetEnt’s space-gem classic has no free spins, no bonus game and no huge multipliers, yet more than a decade after launch it’s still in the lobby of almost every casino that carries NetEnt games. Its secret is in two simple ideas: wins that pay both ways, and an expanding wild that gives you a free respin.
Starburst Free Demo and Review game details
Starburst game details
| Detail | Starburst |
|---|---|
| Developer | NetEnt |
| Released | 2012 |
| Grid | 5×3, 10 fixed paylines |
| Pays | Both ways (left to right and right to left) |
| RTP | 96.09% |
| Volatility | Low |
| Max win | 500x your stake |
| Signature feature | Starburst Wilds with respins |
The RTP and volatility are from NetEnt’s official game information.
How Starburst plays
Five reels, three rows and ten fixed paylines. What made Starburst different in 2012 was Win Both Ways: every line pays from left to right and from right to left, so matching symbols on the far right of the screen count just as much as those on the left. The low-paying symbols are coloured gems, and the top payers are the lucky seven and the gold bar.
Starburst Wilds and respins
The rainbow star is the wild, and it only lands on the middle three reels. When it does, it expands to fill the whole reel, substitutes for every paying symbol and triggers a free respin with the wild held in place. If another Starburst Wild lands during the respin, it expands too and earns another respin, up to a maximum of three wild reels at once. That moment, with reels two, three and four all glowing, is the closest Starburst comes to a bonus round, and it’s where its best wins come from.
RTP, volatility and max win
A 96.09% RTP is solid, and low volatility means frequent small wins rather than long dry spells. The trade-off is the ceiling: 500x your stake is tiny next to modern slots like Gates of Olympus 1000. Starburst is designed to stretch a budget, not to change your life, and that’s exactly why it suits beginners.
Why Starburst became a classic
Starburst arrived when most online slots were busy, feature-heavy games, and it went the other way: clean neon visuals, a hypnotic soundtrack and a feature anyone could understand in one spin. Casinos used it for years as their go-to free spins offer, which put it in front of millions of new players. NetEnt has since built variations on the formula, but the original is still the one most people mean when they say “Starburst”.
Who it suits
Starburst suits newcomers, casual players and anyone who wants long, low-stress sessions. If you want big swings and bonus rounds, look elsewhere, perhaps NetEnt’s own Gonzo’s Quest, which adds cascades and a free spins feature.
FAQ
What is the Starburst RTP?
96.09%, according to NetEnt.
What is the max win on Starburst?
500x your stake, most often reached when Starburst Wilds cover the middle reels.
Does Starburst have free spins?
No. Its feature is the Starburst Wild respin, which can award up to three respins in a row.
Can I play Starburst for free?
Yes. The demo at the top of this page uses virtual credits, with no download and no sign-up. 18+ only.
Starburst is a gambling game for adults aged 18 and over, or the legal age where you live. Outcomes are random and no strategy changes the RTP. Only play with money you can afford to lose, and if gambling stops being fun, see our responsible gambling page.
18+ only. Free demos use play money. If you play for real money, set a limit first. Responsible gambling.