NetEnt

Starburst

Slots Video Slots Fantasy Action & Adventure Space Gems Star Arcade

A NetEnt classic defined by accessible two-way play

SlotRanker Score

/ 99

05099

The SlotRanker Score is calculated from the visible data below. It is not affected by affiliate deals, and it cannot be bought.

How this score is built

RTP

96.09%

return to player

Volatility

Low volatility

variance

Max win

500×

top multiplier

Min bet

$0.10

per spin

Reels

10 lines

Player rating

4.0 ★

3 votes

DEMO Play free, no signup

NetEnt

Embed on your site

4.0 / 5

3 ratings

User ratings are shown separately from the Slot Score unless stated otherwise.

Five weighted signals shape the composite. Four context signals refine ties. See how we rate for the full methodology.

Payouts & RTP9/10

RTP 96.09% → 9.0/10

Volatility6/10

low → 6.0/10

Win Potential5.4/10

x500.00 (500×) → 5.4/10

Features9.5/10

15 features → 9.5/10

Game Mechanics5.1/10

f=15 r=5 p=10 → 5.1/10

Context signals (tie-breakers)

Layout6/10

5x3 → 6.0/10

Bet Flexibility6/10

0.1–100 (×1000) → 6.0/10

Provider Reputation7.2/10

provider avg 7.2 → 7.2/10

Popularity7.6/10

search demand p98 + proxy blend (70/30) → 7.6/10

Popularity blends real player search demand (~30 markets) with a catalogue-derived proxy; games without measurable search demand use the proxy alone. Not live play telemetry.

Cite this score

SlotRanker Score: 74 — Starburst by NetEnt

https://slotranker.com/netent/starburst#score

How to cite

Slot Summary

NetEnt's 2012 classic Starburst became an early reference point for simple online slot design, pairing a cosmic arcade presentation with a pay-both-ways mechanic described as innovative at release. It later became the first game in a series that includes Starburst Galaxy. Its lasting identity is not feature volume, but the clarity of a short loop that remained widely played while newer games pursued larger and more complicated bonus structures.

How It Plays

Starburst uses a 5x3 grid with 10 paylines, but wins are evaluated in both directions, letting identical symbol combinations count from either side.

The base loop stays deliberately quick: a successful line resolves, an Expanding Wild may cover its reel, and the resulting Respin gives that position another chance to contribute.

Theme & Atmosphere

Space, Star, and Gems themes meet through a cosmic setting that treats jewels as the main visual language rather than as a separate treasure story.

Retro electronic sound and Arcade cues give the presentation its period character, creating a retro-meets-futuristic tone that distinguishes the original from a purely modern galaxy slot.

Fantasy Action & Adventure Space Gems Star Arcade

Features & Win Potential

An Expanding Wild can fill its reel and award a Respin, making one symbol responsible for both substitution and the game's most recognizable interruption.

Pay Both Ways broadens how the 10 paylines are read, while Sticky Wilds and Respin Wild behavior can keep a productive reel relevant for the follow-up result.

Free Spins Wild Symbol Respins 5 Reels Expanding Wilds Pay Both Ways Low volatility Sticky Wilds Expanding Symbols RTP range 10 Paylines 96% RTP Respin Wild Expanding wild with re-spin Starburst mechanic

Spec sheet

Starburst at a glance.

Identity

Slot nameStarburst

StudioNetEnt

Released11/12/2013

Math

SlotRanker Score74

RTP96.09%

VolatilityLow volatility

Max win500×

Bet range$0.10 – $100.00

Player rating4.0 / 5 · 3 votes

Format

Reels5

Paylines10

Layout5x3

This game is searched most in United States.

Expected average based on this slot's 96.09% RTP — individual sessions vary with volatility.

Bet per spin

Spins per hour400

Session length (hours)

Cost per hour$1.56

Cost per session$1.56

Estimate only, for entertainment purposes — treat gambling as entertainment, not a way to make money, and set a budget you can afford to lose.

How long could a bankroll last on Starburst? We simulate thousands of sessions from this game's published RTP and volatility — the long-run math, not a prediction of your next spin.

Bankroll ($)Bet per spin ($)Speed

Volatility tier: Low

Running simulation…

How this works

Each simulated spin either misses or returns a win drawn from a log-normal distribution, with the hit rate and spread set by the slot's volatility tier (Low). The model is calibrated so the average return equals this slot's published RTP (96.09%), with wins capped at its top multiplier (500×).

This is a simplified, parametric model of the game's math — not its real paytable. It exists to make the house edge visible over many sessions, so the numbers above are averages across thousands of runs, never a forecast of one.

This is math, not a prediction. Real sessions vary wildly, and no strategy changes a game's built-in house edge. Play for fun, set limits, and never bet more than you can afford to lose.

Where to play Starburst

No matching casinos for your region yet

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Compare Starburst with other games

	Starburst Score 74This game	Legend of Legends Score 62	Over the Moon Score 82	Euphoria Megaways Score 79	Space Sam Walk and Win Score 75
Identity
Studio	NetEnt	KA Gaming	Big Time Gaming	iSoftbet	Booming Games
Released	11/12/2013	3/8/2023	4/20/2023	5/10/2023	7/22/2024
Math
RTP	96.09%	96%	96.55%	96%	95.7%
Volatility	Low volatility	—	High volatility	High volatility	High volatility
Max win	500×	—	13,570×	10,000×	7,500×
Format
Reels	5	5	6	6	5
Layout	5x3	5x4	6x7	6x7	5x3
Paylines	10	1024	117649	117649	10
Min bet	0.1	0.4	0.2	0.2	0.1
Max bet	100	200	1	20	50
Features
Progressive	—	—	—	—	—
Wild symbol	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Free spins	✓	✓	✓	✓	✓
Scatter symbol	—	✓	✓	✓	—
Multiplier	—	✓	✓	✓	✓
Bonus game	—	—	—	—	✓
Respins	✓	—	—	—	✓

Every number is shown as a delta against Starburst.

Comparing against

Starburst

NetEnt

RTP

96.09%

Max win

500×

Score

+ Scatter+ Multiplier− Respins

+ Scatter+ Multiplier− Respins

+ Scatter+ Multiplier− Respins

Space Sam Walk and Win

+ Multiplier+ Bonus Game

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