Editorial note: this is a general guide to how the Starburst slots work. Slot rules, feature availability and RTP can vary between operators and game versions, so always check the in-game information panel before you spin. Slots are games of chance — nothing here is a prediction of results, and no strategy changes the odds.
Starburst slot: the original, Starburst Galaxy and Slingo Starburst
The Starburst slot is NetEnt’s 2012 classic: five reels, three rows and ten paylines that pay both ways, with one feature, an expanding wild that holds for a re-spin. Two spin-offs sit beside it in the Fortune Games lobby: Starburst Galaxy, a 2024 sequel on a 5x5 grid, and Slingo Starburst, which adds a bingo-style number grid.
Play Starburst and similar games · 18+
How the original Starburst plays
The Starburst wild lands only on reels 2, 3 and 4. When it does, it expands to fill the reel, locks in place and awards a re-spin; another wild during the re-spin locks too, up to three re-spins in a row. Lines pay from both sides, volatility is low and the top prize is 500x your stake. Our Starburst slot review covers the paytable.
Starburst Galaxy: the 2024 sequel
In Starburst Galaxy, a win is three or more matching symbols in a straight line, across or down, anywhere on the 5x5 grid. Winning symbols disappear and new ones drop in, and when a win with no wild in it clears, a wild is placed at its centre. Five wins in a row fill a feature generator that awards modifiers such as random wilds and symbol upgrades. The fifth award triggers Galaxy Star, which grows the grid to 7x7 with extra wilds, and three scatters trigger the Mega Star bonus.
Slingo Starburst: the Slingo version
Slingo Starburst is made by Gaming Realms, the studio behind Slingo. You get 10 spins of a single row of five reels to mark numbers on a 5x5 grid. Each completed line of five, a Slingo, moves you up a prize ladder, and from three Slingos you earn Win Spins on a Starburst-style reel set. See our Slingo Starburst review for the full ladder.
Game information
| Original | Galaxy | Slingo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Provider | NetEnt | NetEnt | Gaming Realms |
| Released | 2012 | 2024 | 2021 |
| Layout | 5x3, 10 lines that pay both ways | 5x5 grid (7x7 in Galaxy Star) | 5x5 grid, one row of 5 reels |
| Volatility | Low | High | Low to medium |
| Max win | 500x stake | 25,000x stake | 1,500x stake |
| RTP | Shown in each game’s information panel | ||
All three are in the Fortune Games lobby (18+). UK stakes are capped at £5 a spin (£2 for players aged 18 to 24).
All values (Bet Levels, Maximum Wins etc.) mentioned in relation to this slot game are subject to change at any time.
Frequently asked questions
Is Starburst Galaxy the same as Starburst?
No. Galaxy uses a 5x5 grid with falling symbols and a feature generator; the original is a 5x3 game with one feature, the expanding wild.
Does the original Starburst have free spins?
No. Its feature is the expanding wild re-spin, which can run up to three times in a row.
How does Slingo Starburst work?
You get 10 spins to mark numbers on a 5x5 grid. Completed lines, called Slingos, move you up a prize ladder.
What RTP do the Starburst games run at?
Each comes in more than one version, chosen by the operator. The game’s information panel shows the RTP of the one you are playing.
Related guides
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