A Great Game with Long-time Popularity
There are so many online slots π° out there, that it can be daunting to pick one when you’re ready to play. Okay, it might not be daunting for everyone, but, in my case, the more options I have, the more indecisive I am about picking something, and it can get overwhelming.
If you’re new to online slots and you find it a little overwhelming too, then I thought I’d share the online slot I think is a good jumping off point. That slot (if you haven’t already guessed by the top imageπ) is NetEnt’s Starburst**. The inspiration for this post came after I answered the “What is the best online slot machine to play?” question I came across on Quora, which you can view here (and even share your own opinion if you wantπ).
If you’ve already played Starburst, then you likely know the simplistic awesomeness that is this classic title. If you haven’t, then here’s a bit of info about it and why it’s my top pick.
About Starburst Slotπ°π
Without getting into the nitty gritty of how to play the game (because, honestly, I find writing that boring and this isn’t meant to be a Starburst slot review π), here’s the essentials of what I think matters about the game (with screenshots for visual aid) if you’re thinking about playing it.
The Starburst slot is a 5Γ3 online video slot with 10 fixed paylines. It has a theme that combines space and gems with an 80s retro-arcade vibe (complete with a jazzy EDM soundtrack and synthesizer sound effects!β‘π΅) Various coloured Gems (green, blue, orange, yellow, purple), red 7s and a gold Bar are the symbols that dot the reels. Land 3 of any of the same symbol on an active payline to trigger a win.
Beyond the graphics and sounds, the Starburst slot stands out for its two main features: Win Both Ways and Starburst Wilds.
The β¬ οΈWin Both Waysβ‘οΈ mechanic means that instead of like most slot machines that only pay out from left to right, Starburst pays out from both left to right and right to left. π In short, this means that there is a higher chance of scoring a winning combo. It also means if you’re lucky enough to fill the reels with the highest paying game symbol (gold Bar), this will be a 500x stake win and not 250x, because you’ll get paid both ways.
TheπStarburst Wildsπ is triggered when one of the pointy muti-coloured stars lands on reels 2, 3, or 4. This wild symbol vertically expands over the entire reel and will stay there, substituting for all other symbols, and awards a single, immediate and automatic free spin of the reels (re-spin). As many as 3 Starburst Wilds can be active at the same time, awarding a maximum of 3 re-spins.
Other than that, it’s also worth noting that Starburst is one of the best slots I’ve played on mobile, as it’s been fully optimized to accommodate a small screen and has an extremely user-friendly interface, no matter the device you use (of course, I still prefer to play via my computer π). Here are some other quick facts about Starburst:
Starburst Slot β General Game Stats
- Software Developer: NetEnt
- Release date: 2012
- Game theme: Space, 80s Retro, Gems
- Reels: 5
- Paylines: 10 (Fixed)
- Notable features: Win Both Ways, Re-Spins, Wild Substitution
- Bet Range: $0.10 β $100.00
- Max Win: 50,000 coins
- Jackpots: No
- Variance/Volatility: Low
- RTP: 96.09%
- Free version available: Yes*
- Where I played it for real money: PlayOJO**
*Note if you’re in Ontario, you won’t be able to demo Starburst free from the official NetEnt site or likely from the online casino where you play (no idea why…guessing because of regulationsπ€·βοΈ). Of course, if there’s a will there’ a way, and before I tried it for real money, I did a little hunting and found that I could demo it for free from certain review sites like Slots Temple**.
Why I Think the Starburst Slot is a Good First Choice for Online Slots Newbies
To sum it all up, here are the reasons why I think the Starburst Slot is an ideal game to start with:
It pays both ways (that’s double the chance of scoring a win )π€
It has a good bet range (bet as low as 10 cents or as high as a 100 bucks)π°
Starburst Wilds trigger often (at least they have in my experience) π°π
You can demo it for free (but remember what I said about Ontario players)βοΈ
Gameplay is straightforward (it’s easy to learn how to play)π
Its features are limited (better to keep things simple when just starting out)π
Its perfect on the computer and mobile (the UI is ideal for all screen sizes)π»π±
The theme is fun (the game is easy on the eyes and the soundtrack is good too)π€©
What do you think? Do you agree with my Starburst slot pick? If not, what slot game do you think is best for beginners and why? Please share in the comments!
Until next time, good luck and have fun!
Mia π©π»
**All opinions are my own. I am not affiliated with NetEnt, PlayOJO, or Slots Temple.
***All links are for informational purposes only.
