Star Bounty is the latest online pokie from Pragmatic Play, and it offers a space theme with a 4×6 grid and 4,096 ways to win. For more details on this release, please see the following review.

Volatility

This game is rated as having the highest possible volatility by Pragmatic Play. This means it pays out less often, on average, but it also has a greater chance of awarding big wins within a short span of time. To enjoy this sort of pokie, make sure you’ve got a solid bankroll and plenty of patience.

Return to Player

Return-to-player measures the average payout of a particular poker machine. For example, a pokie with an RTP of 94% pays back (on average) $94 for every $100 wagered. This percentage varies a great deal in the short term, but it always holds true over thousands of spins.

The RTP for Star Bounty is 96.6%. That’s a notable percentage, as you’re unlikely to find a higher number among virtual or land-based slots.

Range of Wagers

One to eight coins can be wagered per line, with each ranging in value from $0.01 to $0.50. Total wagers range from $0.20 to $100, making Star Bounty suitable for most types of punters (but especially low to medium rollers).

Where to Find Star Bounty

Star Bounty is located at any online casino featuring games from Pragmatic Play. For Aussies, this includes options such as 7 Reels Casino and Woo Casino. I’m especially fond of the latter due to their wide selection of games and excellent customer service.

Tumble Feature

At the end of each spin, winning combos are paid and the combinations disappear. Then, all symbols fall to the bottom of the reels, and empty positions are filled with new icons. This “tumbling” can occur multiple times, and it continues until no new winning lines are produced.

Virtual reels for Star Bounty poker machine

Star Bounty Pay Table

This section examines the various symbols in the game, as well as their accompanying payouts. Keep in mind that cash prizes fluctuate depending on the wager, so larger risks result in greater rewards. For the purposes of this section, let’s assume the punter is risking $20 per spin.

  • Jack and Queen – These symbols pay $1 for three matches, $2 for four, $8 for five, and $20 for six.
  • King and Ace – These classic poker icons pay $2 for three matches, $4 for four, $10 for five, and $30 for six.
  • Blue and Green Symbols – On a winning line, either of these symbols pays $4 for three matches, $6 for four, $16 for five, and $40 for six.
  • Maroon and Purple Symbols – These icons are worth $8 for three matches, $12 for four, $30 for five, and $60 for six.
  • Blue and Green Aliens – Covered in metal with colored visors, these aliens pay $12 for three matches, $20 for four, $40 for five, and $100 for six.
  • Sci-fi Heroine – This butt-kicking woman pays $16 for three matches, $24 for four, $60 for five, and $200 for six.
  • Sci-fi Hero – The game’s primary hero is worth $20 for three matches, $40 for four, $150 for five, and $300 for six.
  • Wild – This symbol appears on reels two through six and substitutes for all icons except the scatter.
  • Scatter – Also known as the Free Spins symbol, this icon appears on all reels. When three or more turn up during the base game, the bonus feature is triggered.

Missile Feature

This metallic orb icon can appear on reels two through four. When this happens, the orb opens up and fires a laser into the sky. The laser then comes back down, striking a random number of symbols and turning them wild.

Free Spins

Once this feature is triggered, a re-spin mini-feature activates. The number of re-spins is equal to the number of scatters that triggered the bonus. Only the Free Spin icon remain on the screen, and each new one results in an additional spin during the upcoming bonus. This continues until all spaces are filled or no new symbols are added to the screen (with a maximum of 24 possible spins).

Now, the Free Spins Feature begins, continuing until all bonus spins have been exhausted. Once this occurs, the total winnings are tallied, and the player is returned to the base game.

Buying Free Spins

If you’re tired of waiting for the bonus round to trigger, you have the option of buying it outright. To do this, just click on the icon to the left of the reels that reads “Buy Free Spins.” The cost of doing so is equal to 75% of the current wager, and the number of free spins will randomly be set from three to six.

Final Thoughts

At first glance, Star Bounty looks similar to the Mass Effect video game franchise. While it can’t hold a candle to those games, it does offer a number of interesting flourishes and an impressive RTP percentage. Patient punters with a solid bankroll are urged to give it a try.

Additional Reading

For more poker machine reviews, please see the following: