Stellar Portals Slot Game Review
The realm of space-themed slots encompasses hundreds, if not thousands, of titles from various developers; however, none appear to cease the continuous release of new entries to enrich this niche.
Without a doubt, the standout title is NetEnt’s Starburst, which has inspired an innumerable array of games that not only adopt its design as a developmental guide but also incorporate its mechanics into their own slot offerings.
On the other hand, Stormborn Games, with their Stellar Portals slot, seem to be the innovators who enjoy breaking conventions and devising their own creative concepts. Stellar Portals marks the third addition to the developer’s portfolio, and despite being relatively new to the market, they have already begun to draw in players due to their unconventional approach to game development.
The gameplay unfolds on a standard 5×3 grid featuring 20 different ways to win. Stellar Portals operates on a highly volatile mathematical model, which means you will need to exercise patience as you await significant payouts.
However, due to the moderate hit frequency, wins are likely to happen often enough to keep you in the game. The return to player (RTP) rate is also commendable at 96.04%, slightly exceeding the average within the sector.
With a betting range from $0.20 to $20 per spin, Snowborn’s creation certainly offers considerable potential. Players can achieve a jackpot of up to 7,777 times their stake in Stellar Portals. Considering the maximum betting limit of $20, high-rollers can anticipate a potential win of $155,540 on a single wager when utilizing the maximum bet option available.
Design
As mentioned previously, the game features a space theme, with the reels positioned in the depths of space, drifting through the infinite void. The visuals are quite appealing, as the unusual patterns adorned with iridescent hues create a stunning backdrop. The soundtrack enhances the immersive experience, perfectly complementing the gameplay with an electronic beat that plays while you spin the reels.
The collection of symbols consists of 8 regular symbols, categorized into high and low values. All symbols are depicted as strange extraterrestrial elements. At the lower end, the paytable begins with shiny blue, green, yellow, and red icons. Following these are 4 premium symbols, which resemble colorful black holes or portals, as suggested by the title. These premiums are also available in 4 colors: blue, green, yellow, and red, with the last one notably resembling the Mangekyou Sharingan.
To achieve a win, you need at least 3 symbols aligned on a line, with the highest payouts awarded for combinations of 5 identical symbols. Stellar Portals is quite generous with its payouts, starting at 6.25x for 5 of the same symbol, while the top-paying symbol can yield up to 75 times your bet. The lower-value symbols offer payouts ranging from 1.5x to 3.75x of the bet. Additionally, the game includes 2 types of Wild symbols, both of which serve as substitutes for any regular symbols and hold the same value as the highest-paying symbol in the game.
Bonus Features
When it comes to bonus features, Snowborn Games truly excels. The developers have infused the gameplay with an extensive array of features designed to keep you engaged in both the base and bonus games. If your initial impression of Stellar Portals was that it’s just another genuine imitation of Starburst, a glance at the paytable will certainly change your perspective.
As mentioned earlier, the game features 2 Wild symbols. The first is a standard Wild that can show up on any reel during any spin, helping you create winning combinations or enhance existing ones. The second is a Sticky Wild, which functions as a regular Wild while also serving as a trigger for the Respins feature, adding another layer of excitement.
Each time you land a Sticky Wild, it stays in place and grants you 1 Respin. The Respins continue until no new Sticky Wilds land, allowing for the possibility of multiple consecutive Respins from a single spin.
The Free Spins feature is undoubtedly the centerpiece of Stellar Portals, offering various Free Spins modes, each with unique bonuses. There are a total of 4 distinct modes, each activated by the corresponding Scatter symbols that can appear on reels 1, 3, and 5.
Multiplier Bonus
Obtaining 3 Multiplier Bonus Scatters will activate the Free Spins feature with a 5x multiplier, which will be applied to every win you achieve during this feature. It grants a random number of Free Spins ranging from 6 to 9, and the feature cannot be retriggered.
Rising Multiplier Bonus
Landing 3 Rising Multiplier Bonus Scatters will initiate the Free Spins round with a progressive multiplier. You will enter the bonus game with 6 Free Spins, and at the start of each spin, the multiplier will increase from 2x on the first spin to 10x on the sixth spin.
Stacked Wild Bonus
3 Stacked Wild Bonus Scatters will activate the Free Spins round that includes Stacked Wild symbols. You will receive between 6 to 9 spins, determined randomly, and during this feature, Stacked Wilds can appear on any reel.
Sticky Wild Bonus
Landing 3 Sticky Wild Bonus symbols will award you 6 Free Spins featuring Sticky Wilds. Whenever a Wild symbol appears on the reels during the bonus, it will stay in place for the entire duration of the bonus, but it cannot trigger the Respins.
The Bounty Slot Game Review
The Bounty marks the fourth title from Snowborn Games, and they have successfully established their own distinctive style. Although the game may not be a contender for any awards, it remains a commendable effort that is definitely worth exploring.
You can wager between 15 cents and $45 for each spin, which is quite reasonable, and even the base game provides substantial payouts thanks to the 2x multiplier wilds and the high-value premium symbols. As is often the case, you will likely need one of the bonus rounds to achieve significant wins, and we appreciate how the wanted poster jackpots can be increased (or even quadrupled) through special golden posters.
Features
This game features 2 wild symbols, with the standard “deputy wild” resembling a silver sheriff star. It substitutes for all regular pay symbols and is also the highest paying symbol, alongside the Sheriff himself, offering 100x for 5 on a payline. Additionally, there is a bronze sheriff star that acts as a 2x multiplier wild, labeled “Marshal Ghost Canyon”.
The Ambush bonus round activates when you land 3 Ambush scatters on reels 3, 4, and 5. You will receive 8 free spins, with all wins automatically subject to a 2x multiplier. The +1 bullet symbol awards 1 extra spin for each bullet that appears, while the +1 dynamite symbol raises the progressive multiplier without any upper limit.
Moreover, there is a Bounty Jackpot bonus round available in this game. This is triggered by landing a fully stacked (3 symbols high) Bounty bonus symbol on reel 5. This feature involves collecting jackpot wanted posters and grants 10 free spins that cannot be retriggered.
The objective of the game is to gather 6 matching wanted posters to claim the associated jackpot. It is possible to win multiple jackpots during a single Bounty bonus round. The starting values for the Jackpots are as follows:
- Grand Jackpot – has a value of 1,250 times your stake
- Major Jackpot – has a value of 100 times your stake
- Maxi Jackpot – has a value of 18 times your stake
- Minor Jackpot – has a value of 7 times your stake
- Mini Jackpot – has a value of 5 times your stake
Additionally, you can find golden wanted posters, which will double any corresponding jackpot they are associated with. By doing so, you can even quadruple the jackpot amount, resulting in a maximum possible jackpot of 5,000 times your stake.