Stars Matching Demo Slot - Review, Demo Play, Payout, Free Spins & Bonuses

Game theme

We’ve played loads of CQ9 Gaming Online Slots, and many of them defy all explanation, but they’re almost always great fun to play. And they often feature unique bonus rounds, too. Stars Matching sounds as though it’s going to be concerned with horoscopes and romance, but it’s actually about - well, matching stars!

It’s hard to justify calling this game a slot since it plays out much more like Bejewelled, except there’s no interaction at all with the game, aside from triggering each new drop of coloured stars. But when you think of it as being a Cluster Pays mechanic accompanied by Avalanche Reels, it all starts to make a little more sense.

Graphics & Soundtrack

It’s the coloured blocks in Stars Matching that you’ll be watching as they tumble down from above. The fact that each block contains a star is really neither here nor there, but the star theme does allow for some associated symbolism in the Moon, Sun and Star icons that spin up with each new level.

The background graphics of the game resemble an old-fashioned handheld console. It looks a little bit dated, to be honest, but it still works well with the overall theme. The soundtrack is another matter altogether, at least throughout Level 1 of the game. Repetitive and jarring are the words that spring instantly to mind, but it does get a little better as the game progresses. If you really can’t wait it out, though, you’ll find the mute button tucked away within the menu at the top left of the screen.

How to Play Stars Matching

Your only real task when playing Stars Matching is to decide on how much to bet. When we tried out the game, bets were available at levels from x10 to x20,000, but it was configured for Asian currencies. Knowing CQ9, there will be a comfortable wagering level provided for all types of gamers.

Now you have two options. You can play out the games manually, hitting the Spin button each time, but bear in mind that the game plays out over three levels, with an absolute minimum of 15 spins attached to each level. To save yourself from carpal tunnel syndrome, let the Autoplay function do the hard work for you.

There are two Autoplay options. Auto 1 plays out at normal speeds, while Auto 2 spins at turbo speed for lightning-fast gaming. But aside from speed, both buttons will play out the same game for you - and you can even switch between modes if you like. You can also cancel Autoplay and return to manual spins without losing your place in the game. You can even change your bet during play, although this won’t apply retrospectively, of course!

You can keep playing all the way through the levels if you like, but keep in mind that exiting the game will automatically lose your current position. If you reload the game, you’ll have to start again from the beginning.

How to win at Stars Matching

When you start Level 1 of the game, you’ll be faced with a 4x4 grid on which you need to match up clusters of four or more matching coloured stars. These can be grouped horizontally and/or vertically, but not diagonally. Cash awards are paid out according to the number and colour of the symbols matched.

Each level has its own symbol. These are a moon, a sun and a rainbow-coloured star, respectively. Throughout Level 1, every time a moon symbol lands on the reels, one shield is removed from the right side of the reels. Once all 15 shields have been uncovered, the game moves on to Level 2.

In Level 2, the grid expands now that the shields on the right side have been removed and becomes a 5x5 matrix. Now you’ll need to spin up clusters of five or more matching stars to win a prize. Your Special Symbol for this round is a blazing sun. You’ll need to collect 15 of them to remove the left shields and progress to Level 3.

For Level 3, the grid expands to the maximum 6x6 format. Your Special Symbol for this round is a rainbow-coloured star, and each one will remove a shield from the bottom of the game. When all shields have been removed, the game reverts back to Level 1.

Stars Matching Free Spins

A Free Symbol landing on any reel will trigger 10 Free Spins. Throughout this bonus round, all wins are subject to a random Multiplier worth up to 5x.

RTP & Volatility

Unfortunately, the RTP and volatility details of Stars Matching haven’t yet been released, but we’ll update these details just as soon as we have them.

Our Verdict

There’s no denying that Stars Matching is a super fun slot. But that’s hardly surprising given the massive success of Candy Crush and other, similar games. Nevertheless, it has to be said that a lot of the appeal of those types of games is the interactive element, and that’s obviously lacking in most online slots games.

Until Stars Matching offers wagering options in multiple currencies as standard, we’re at a loss to understand them. Of course, the lack of RTP and volatility information make this game an improbable choice at an online casino. Luckily, you can play it right here instead, completely free of charge!

Disclaimer: Stars Matching trademark / license is owned by CQ9 Gaming. This site is not endorsed by CQ9 Gaming.