Superstars

Superstars Bonus Features Overview

Core Gameplay and Betting Structure

Grid Layout and Paylines

Superstars™ operates on a 5-reel, 5-row game grid. This larger format accommodates 45 fixed paylines. Winning combinations require matching symbols landing on a payline across adjacent reels, starting from the leftmost reel. You need three or more identical symbols for a standard win. The fixed nature means all 45 lines are active on every spin; you cannot adjust the number of active lines.

Symbol Payouts: Lows and Highs (Character Icons)

The paytable is divided into two tiers. The lower-value symbols are the standard playing card ranks: 10, J, Q, K, and A, designed with a colorful, slightly retro flair fitting the party theme. These provide smaller, more frequent wins. The high-value symbols are the main attractions – the NetEnt characters themselves. In ascending order of base value, these are typically Lady Pig™ (Miss Banks™), Finn™, the Space Wars™ Brute™, Gonzo™, and the iconic Starburst™ symbol acting as the highest paying standard icon. Landing five Starburst™ symbols on a payline awards 5x the total stake.

Setting Your Wager: Bet Ranges

NetEnt provides a flexible betting range suitable for various player budgets. Wagers start at a minimum of €0.10 per spin, accommodating casual play. The maximum bet can be set as high as €100 per spin, offering options for those seeking higher stakes. Adjustments are made using the standard NetEnt interface, typically involving coin value and bet level settings or a direct total bet selection.

The Heart of the Party: The Bonus Board Game

The real complexity and potential of Superstars™ unfolds within its central Bonus Game. This isn’t a simple free spins round; it’s an intricate fusion of reel-based multiplier collection and board game progression.

Triggering the Bonus Round: Diamond and Dice Scatters

Access to the Bonus Game is granted by landing three or more Diamond Scatter symbols anywhere on the reels during a base game spin. There’s a twist involving the Dice Scatter symbol. If a red Dice Scatter lands only on reel 5 simultaneously with two Diamond Scatters elsewhere, it substitutes for the third Diamond Scatter to trigger the bonus. Crucially, triggering the bonus with a Dice Scatter grants an initial Dice roll before the first Free Spin begins, giving you an immediate head start on the board.

Initial Setup: Multipliers from Scatters

Upon entering the Bonus Game, the triggering Diamond (and Dice, if applicable) Scatter symbols transform into random multiplier values. These multipliers, representing multiples of the triggering bet, are placed onto the corresponding positions on the now-cleared 5×5 grid where the Scatters landed. This forms the foundation for the hold ‘n win style multiplier accumulation that follows.

The Dice Mechanic: Collecting and Rolling

The Bonus Game starts with 3 Free Spins displayed on a counter. During these spins, blank positions on the grid can land new multiplier awards or special Dice symbols. Whenever a new multiplier award lands, the Free Spins counter resets back to its maximum (initially 3, potentially increased to 4 later). Landing a Dice symbol adds one Die to your Dice counter. You collect these Dice throughout the spins.

Navigating the Board: Token Movement

Before each Free Spin (if you have collected Dice), you roll all accumulated Dice. The total number rolled determines how many squares your red token moves clockwise around the board game track that surrounds the 5×5 grid. Landing on specific squares on this track is the key to activating the various character features and modifiers, adding layers of strategy and chance beyond the reel spins themselves.

Meet the Stars: Character-Driven Bonus Features

Landing your token on squares marked with the NetEnt character icons triggers their unique abilities, directly influencing the multipliers on the grid.

Finn™ Feature: Consolidating Multipliers

When the token lands on a Finn™ square, the cheerful leprechaun appears. He selects up to five existing multiplier awards currently on the reels and adds +5 to each of their values. Then, importantly, he consolidates these boosted values into a single location on the grid (one of the locations previously occupied by the chosen multipliers). This action not only increases potential value but also frees up grid spaces, allowing more new multipliers to land in subsequent spins.

Gonzo™ Feature: Random Multiplier Boosts

Activating the Gonzo™ square brings the adventurous conquistador into action. Golden blocks fall, and Gonzo™ randomly selects up to 24 multiplier prizes present on the reels. Each selected prize is then multiplied by a random factor of 2x, 3x, or 5x. This feature can significantly enhance the value of numerous multipliers across the grid simultaneously.

Miss Banks™ Feature: Adding and Stacking Prizes

Landing on the Miss Banks™ square prompts the appearance of Lady Pig™. She generously places up to 15 new, random multiplier awards onto empty positions on the reels. These new awards have values ranging from 1x to 5x the stake. A key detail here is stacking: if a new multiplier thrown by Lady Pig™ lands on a position already occupied by an existing multiplier prize, their values are added together, creating a higher value on that single spot.

Space Wars™ Feature: Cloning High Multipliers and Respins

Triggering the Space Wars™ feature involves the Brute™ character arriving in his UFO. He identifies the three highest-value multiplier awards currently on the grid and clones them. Then, he grants 3 special respins. During these 3 respins, only the cloned multiplier values (or blank spaces) can land on the grid. This provides a focused opportunity to land multiple instances of the highest values already achieved. The main Free Spins counter pauses during these respins.

Starburst™ Feature: Vertical Multiplier Stacks

When the token hits a Starburst™ square, the famous multi-colored star appears. It places a vertical stack of three identical multiplier awards onto one reel. These stacked multipliers have equal values, ranging from 2x to 5x the stake each. This guarantees filling three positions on a single reel with potentially valuable multipliers.

Strategic Board Squares: Enhancing the Bonus

Beyond the character features, specific squares on the board offer direct enhancements to the core Bonus Game mechanics.

Extra Spin Feature: Increasing the Spin Counter Maximum

The square located in the top-right corner of the board game track holds a significant advantage. Landing the token here permanently increases the maximum number of Free Spins awarded by the reset mechanic. The counter maximum changes from 3 to 4 for the entire duration of the current Bonus Game. Landing on this square also immediately resets the current spin count to this new maximum of 4.

Extra Life Feature: A Safety Net for Spins

Successfully navigating the token all the way around the board track (completing a full lap) awards an Extra Life, visually represented by a heart icon. This acts as a one-time safety net. The next instance the Free Spins counter reaches zero, the Extra Life heart is consumed, and the counter is automatically reset to its current maximum (either 3 or 4). You can only hold one Extra Life at a time.

Spin the Wheel: The Wheel Game Modifiers

Certain squares on the board are marked as Wheel squares. Landing the token on one of these triggers the Wheel Game, offering a chance to win one of several potentially powerful modifiers.

Activating the Wheel Game

Simply landing the token on a designated Wheel square initiates the feature. A separate wheel interface appears, and players get one spin.

Wheel Segment: 1 Dice / 2 Dice

These segments are straightforward. Landing on “1 Dice” adds one extra Die to your Dice counter for the next roll phase. Landing on “2 Dice” adds two extra Dice.

Wheel Segment: +1 Multiplier Increase

If the wheel stops on the “+1” segment, the value of every single multiplier award currently present on the 5×5 grid is increased by 1. This provides a universal boost to all accumulated values.

Wheel Segment: Upgrade Feature Explained

The “Upgrade” segment offers a unique board enhancement. When activated, it adds a base value, equivalent to 1x the total bet, to every unoccupied square on the board game track itself (not the main grid). Subsequently, if the token lands on one of these upgraded track squares during movement, the values of all multiplier prizes on the main 5×5 grid increase by the amount shown on that track square. This creates ongoing potential for grid value increases through board movement.

Wheel Segment: Random Character Feature Trigger

Landing on the “Random” segment presents a smaller, secondary wheel. This wheel contains icons representing the five character features (Finn™, Gonzo™, Miss Banks™, Space Wars™, Starburst™). Spinning this mini-wheel randomly triggers one of these character features immediately, just as if you had landed on their respective board square.

Wheel Segment: Replay Feature Ticket

The “Replay” segment awards a special golden ticket. This ticket allows you to replay the very next character Bonus Feature (Finn, Gonzo, etc.) or Wheel Game feature that you trigger by landing on its corresponding board square. The ticket is consumed after the replay. This offers a chance to double up on a potentially high-impact feature.

The Grand Finale: Understanding the Final Game

The climax of the Superstars™ bonus structure is the Final Game, a distinct phase triggered under specific conditions.

Trigger Condition: Filling the Reels

The Final Game begins only when all 25 positions on the main 5×5 grid are filled with multiplier awards during the Bonus Game. Once the grid is full, no more Free Spins occur, and the transition to the Final Game takes place.

Final Game Board Setup: High Multiplier Squares

In the Final Game, the focus shifts entirely to the board game track. Most squares around the board are assigned high fixed multiplier values: 25x, 50x, 75x, 100x, 500x, or even 1,000x the stake. However, the top-right (Extra Spin) and bottom-left corner squares retain their function of awarding Dice when landed upon, instead of holding a fixed multiplier.

Dice Conversion: From Spins, Hearts, and Replays

You enter the Final Game with the number of Dice remaining in your counter from the Bonus Game. Additionally, several elements are converted into extra Dice:

• The maximum number of Free Spins you had achieved (3 or 4) is added as Dice.
• Any unused Extra Life hearts are converted into Dice.
• Crucially, if you possess an unused “Replay” ticket from the Wheel Game, your first Dice roll number in the Final Game is doubled.

Gameplay and Objective

The objective in the Final Game is simple: roll your accumulated Dice to move the token around the board and collect the high multiplier values assigned to the squares you land on. Each time you land on a multiplier square, its value is added to your total win for the feature. The game continues until you run out of Dice rolls. The sum of all collected board multipliers constitutes your Final Game win, added to any multipliers collected on the grid before triggering this phase.

Essential Symbols and Their Roles

Understanding the key symbols is vital for navigating both the base game and the intricate bonus features.

The Starburst™ Wild Symbol

Represented by the familiar multi-colored Starburst™ icon embellished with extra stars, the Wild symbol functions conventionally in the base game. It substitutes for all other paying symbols (both low and high value) to help form or extend winning paylines. It cannot substitute for Diamond or Dice Scatter symbols. Wilds gain additional significance through the Starburst™ feature in the bonus round.

Diamond Scatter Symbol Functions

The shimmering Diamond Scatter is the primary key to unlocking the main Bonus Game. Landing 3 or more anywhere on the reels in the base game triggers the feature. Inside the Bonus Game, the triggering Scatters transform into initial multiplier values on the grid, setting the stage for the accumulation process.

The Dice Scatter Symbol Advantage

Appearing exclusively on reel 5 in the base game, the red Dice Scatter serves a dual purpose. Firstly, it can act as a substitute for a Diamond Scatter if only two Diamonds land elsewhere, helping to trigger the Bonus Game. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, entering the Bonus Game via a trigger involving the Dice Scatter grants an immediate Dice roll before the first Free Spin, providing a valuable head start in navigating the board game track.

Instant Access: The Buy Feature Option

For players who prefer to bypass the base game grind and directly access the main event, Superstars™ includes a Buy Feature option. Activating this requires a payment equivalent to 150 times the current total bet. Upon payment, the Bonus Game is immediately triggered, initiating the Free Spins and board game sequence with randomly placed initial multipliers derived as if triggered by standard Scatters. The availability of this feature may vary depending on casino jurisdiction regulations.

Performance Metrics: RTP, Volatility, and Payout Potential

Evaluating the statistical profile of Superstars™ helps in understanding its potential behavior and risk level.

Understanding Superstars RTP Variations

The theoretical Return to Player (RTP) for Superstars™ is advertised with a primary value of 96.08%. However, it’s critical to be aware that NetEnt offers this game to casino operators with lower RTP configurations as well, typically 94.06% or 92.01%. The actual RTP active at a specific online casino can significantly impact long-term theoretical returns. Players should always verify the RTP setting at the casino where they intend to play, if this information is available. The 96.08% figure sits around the industry average for modern video slots.

Decoding Medium/High Volatility

Superstars™ is classified as having Medium/High volatility. This rating suggests a gameplay experience where wins might be less frequent compared to low volatility slots, but there’s a higher potential for substantial payouts, particularly during the bonus features. The base game might feel somewhat uneventful, with wins often being small. The real potential is concentrated within the multi-layered Bonus Game, where multiplier accumulation and feature triggers can lead to significant swings and larger wins. This volatility level implies a degree of risk; players might experience longer periods without significant returns, balanced by the chance of hitting high-value combinations within the bonus structures.

Maximum Win Exposure (4,596x)

The maximum potential win in Superstars™ is capped at 4,596 times the player’s total stake. While respectable, this figure isn’t exceptionally high compared to some other high-volatility slots on the market. Achieving this maximum likely requires an extraordinary run within the Bonus Game, culminating in a highly successful Final Game phase with optimal multiplier collection from the board track. It underscores that while the game has potential, it’s not designed for astronomical, life-altering jackpots but rather significant wins relative to the stake within its defined cap.

Personal Testing Report and Final Assessment

During my extended testing sessions with the Superstars™ demo provided by NetEnt, the game’s ambition became immediately clear. It attempts to weave multiple established NetEnt characters and mechanics into a single, cohesive experience centered around the board game bonus. Graphically, it’s a vibrant celebration, successfully capturing the essence of each included character. The initial base game spins confirmed the medium/high volatility – wins were sporadic and generally minor. The true engagement begins when triggering the Bonus Game, which happened reasonably often, though sometimes requiring patience.

Navigating the board game using collected Dice proved intriguing; landing on character squares consistently provided boosts, with Gonzo’s multipliers and Miss Banks’ added prizes feeling particularly impactful during my sessions. The Wheel Game offered welcome variety, though the Upgrade and Replay features required careful observation to fully grasp their strategic value. Filling the grid to trigger the Final Game felt like a significant achievement, and the subsequent high-multiplier chase was genuinely exciting, although heavily dependent on the number of Dice carried over and converted. Analyzing the session data, assisted by Google’s Gemini tools for pattern recognition, highlighted the bonus round’s dependency on early momentum and strategic Dice accumulation.

Overall, Superstars™ is a complex, feature-dense slot that will likely appeal most to players who appreciate NetEnt’s legacy characters and enjoy intricate bonus structures over straightforward base game action. Its medium/high volatility demands a measured approach. While the max win isn’t groundbreaking, the journey through the multi-stage bonus can be highly entertaining if you enjoy layered mechanics. I would recommend trying the Superstars™ demo extensively first to understand its complex flow before considering real-money play, primarily because its elaborate nature might not suit everyone’s taste. It’s a commendable effort in character integration, offering depth for those willing to learn its many facets.