One of the most played slots of all time is Starburst. This slot was launched in 2012 by game developer NetEnt. Starburst is not only immensely popular at non GamStop casinos but has also been cloned extensively, as many players looking to discover games outside GamStop on thegamepoint.io explore similar titles across various platforms. Game providers try to capitalize on Starburst’s success and copy its game mechanics in detail. This is why it’s interesting to examine the origins of Starburst’s popularity.
How the Starburst Mechanism Works?
Starburst has a 5-reel, 3-row playing field with 10 paylines. The symbols consist of gemstones and stars. The wild symbol plays a significant role in this slot and only lands on reels 2, 3, and 4. The wild symbol in Starburst works as follows:
- Wild: Substitutes for other symbols, making winning combinations easier to achieve.
- Expanded wild: Spreads across the entire reel, giving you three wild symbols and increasing your chances of winning.
- Sticky wild: Remains in place during the re-spin.
- Re-spin: Triggered whenever a wild symbol lands.
The slot does not have a free spins feature. The gameplay features revolve around the wild symbol and the re-spin mechanic. The wild symbol can expand, become sticky, and trigger re-spins.
Starburst has a payout percentage of 96.1% and a low variance. The maximum win is 500 times the stake — not especially high, but typical for a low-variance slot at non GamStop casinos.
The Success of the Starburst Mechanism
Starburst is successful for several reasons. First, it has a solid payout percentage of 96.1%, which is slightly above average. The graphics and animations were excellent for a 2012 release and impressed players at the time. The gameplay is dynamic, as features activate frequently. The wild symbols keep the game engaging and appear regularly.
Online casinos have also contributed to Starburst’s success. Many platforms offer free spins on this NetEnt slot, making it familiar to a wide audience. Because it appeals to both new and experienced players, Starburst remains extremely popular.
Slots That Use the Starburst Mechanism
There are many slots similar to Starburst. Developers often copy the features, theme, variance, and maximum win. However, there are also small differences depending on the slot.
Spectrum
Spectrum by Wazdan is an unapologetic Starburst clone. With nearly identical symbols and features, Wazdan clearly aims to capitalize on Starburst’s success. Spectrum features expanded wild symbols, re-spins, and a 5×3 playing field with 10 paylines. The maximum win is also 500×. The key difference is the payout percentage (96.3%, slightly higher) and the adjustable variance — you can choose low, medium, or high.
Boomanji
Boomanji by Betsoft is another direct Starburst clone. It uses a 5-reel, 3-row layout with 10 paylines and includes expanded wilds and re-spins, just like Starburst. Differences include the payout percentage (95.96%) and the theme, which is centered around New Year’s celebrations. You can also adjust the number of paylines.
Shooting Stars
Novomatic’s Shooting Stars strongly resembles Starburst. It features a star theme, the same playing field (5×3), 10 paylines, a 96.1% payout percentage, a 500× maximum win, and low variance. Wilds land on reels 2, 3, and 4, expand across the reel, and trigger re-spins. The main differences are slight graphical changes and the option to reduce the number of paylines.
As you can see, the gameplay and features are very similar. These slots are clear Starburst clones.
Where to Play Starburst Clones
There are dozens of online slots with the Starburst mechanism at non GamStop casinos. The mechanism is so popular that many developers have created their own versions. To play these games, simply choose a slot you like and then select a reliable online casino. You can search by game name or provider.
