Popstar - Review, Demo Play, Payout, Free Spins & Bonuses

Introduction

This mobile-optimised slot is a collaboration between Spearhead Studios and Swedish pop star Erik Segerstedt. Played on a 5x4 grid, there are 1,024 ways to win in this unusual neon slot.

There are 11 different symbols in Popstar, with Erik and the judges standing in as high-paying symbols and six low-paying royals from nine to ace. You will also be on the lookout for the wild that replaces all other symbols except the scatter to create the potential for more base game wins.

Your objective is simple - land identical symbols on adjacent reels and you will be awarded a payout for up to five of a kind. Collect the golden mic scatter to trigger free spins with a golden ticket feature that adds more spins to your free games. This is not a difficult game to get to grips with, but you can play free Spearhead Studios slots in risk-free demo mode here at Slots Temple before you commit your bankroll. The layout and graphics are designed to look great on mobile and tablet.

Theme, graphics & soundtrack

Erik Segerstedt is a great person for Spearhead Studios to partner with on an X Factor-style slot. The Swede was runner up in the Swedish version of Idol in 2006 and went on to find fame in EMD, a boyband comprising ex-Idol contestants.

Spearhead has done surprisingly well in capturing the feel of a TV talent show. There is an audience that goes wild as the music starts and a frenetic free spins feature with one of Erik’s songs as the soundtrack.

The colour scheme is predominantly purple and blue with a neon feel that reflects the glitzy, night-time world of the popstars. We can just glimpse the four judges giving Erik and the other contestants the once-over.

The soundtrack isn’t bad, although it is a bit middle-of-the-road for our taste. You could always mute and play Erik’s greatest hits instead!

RTP & volatility

The combination of the high 96.7 per cent RTP and high volatility gameplay will make this game appealing to both casual players and risk-takers.

How to play Popstar

High-volatility slots can eat up your bankroll, so set a session budget and a time limit so that you can enjoy playing Popstar responsibly.

This brief guide will help you to get your game set up fast:

1. Tap the menu to the top right to access the following:

- Settings including graphics and sound and the option to set a reminder.
- Paytable information.
- Game rules.

2. The lightning bolt to the bottom left speeds up your spins.

3. Autoplay to the left of the spin button lets you set from 10 to an unlimited number of spins with win and loss limits

4. Tap the pile of coins to select a total bet amount.

5. When you are ready to play, hit the spin button to start your Popstar career

Min & max bets + top wins

The user-friendly bet menu has something for everyone, with a minimum bet of just 0.20 to cover all win ways. Risk takers will hit the max bet button to play at the maximum stake of 100.00 per spin. Spearhead states that the top win in this slot is 4,000x, although wins of this size are rare thanks to the volatility of the gameplay. Diving into the paytable, we see the maximum five-of-a-kind wins pay in multipliers of your stake:

- Erik pays 25x
- Tony Tantrum pays 5x
- Spicy B pays 5x
- Fortuna pays 5x
- B Reel pays 5x
- Ave pays 3x
- King and queen pay 2x
- Jack, ten and nine pay 1x

Max-win 4,000x

Volatility High

Top RTP 96.70%

Free spins features

The free spins feature creates all the potential in this slot. Look out for three or more golden mic symbols to trigger free games.

In the base game, scatter symbols award:

- 6, 7 or 8 free spins for three scatters.
- 9, 10 or 11 free spins for four scatters.
- 12, 13 or 14 free spins for five scatters.

In free spins mode, scatter symbols award:

- 3 free spins for two.
- 6 free spins for three.
- 9 free spins for four.
- 12 free spins for five.

Golden ticket feature

During the free spins, the four judge symbols will sometimes land with a golden ticket. Collect all six tickets to earn two extra respins.

Overall review: our verdict

Popstar is a decent mid-chart performer rather than a monster hit and would probably have been improved with a separate bonus feature. There is plenty of potential in the free spins feature if you keep collecting the golden tickets but not enough to get us hooked, so it’s a no from us.

The X Factor slot from Ash Gaming is a good example of this theme done right. There are some great bonus features, including a 200x multiplier and a pick and win game, in addition to wilds and free spins.

Disclaimer: Popstar trademark / license is owned by Spearhead Games. This site is not endorsed by Spearhead Games.