Introduction to Stars Bonanza 3x3
Stars Bonanza 3x3 is a casino slot from Nailed It! Games with somewhat of a mix of space and jokers. Stars are massive, glowing spheres of hot gas, held together by gravity. They produce energy through nuclear fusion, converting hydrogen into helium and releasing light and heat. Our Sun is a typical star and provides the energy necessary for life on Earth. The real star of this show is, however, a female Joker. Fans of the game developer will recognize her since she also stars in Stars Bonanza. However, this is not the regular type of sequel because the reels from the original 5x3 game have been decreased to a 3x3 grid. Let’s find out what differentiates this release from its predecessor.
If you want to get a grip of the compact grid in Stars Bonanza 3x3, you can play the free demo at the top of this page.
Theme, Gameplay, and Payouts
Stars Bonanza 3x3 is a video slot from Nailed It! Games with just 3 reels, 3 rows, and 5 paylines. The Min.bet is 0.1, and the Max.bet reaches 80. The game has medium volatility and an RTP of 96.05%. The max win is capped at 2,840x the bet, and the hit frequency of 15.05% means that about 1 spin in 7 is a winner, on average.
The game has a red and orange background with a pulsating star-shaped light traveling from the middle of the screen towards the edges. In the middle are the three dark reels, and around them runs a frame with stars. To the left is a smiling woman wearing a Joker outfit in red and yellow, and beneath her is the game’s logo. To make a win, you need to land 3 symbols on one of the 5 paylines going left to right. The game is available on mobile phones, tablets, and desktop computers.
The lower-paying symbols in Stars Bonanza 3x3 are cherries, lemons, oranges, and plums. They pay between 1x and 4x the bet for a winning combination. The higher-paying symbols are grapes, watermelons, bells, and 7s. These symbols will give you between 16x and 50x the bet for a 3-of-a-kind win. The Wild Symbol substitutes all the mentioned symbols in making winning combinations on paylines. However, it doesn’t substitute the Starfruit Symbol.
Special Features & Slot Mechanics
What is the max win in the slot Stars Bonanza 3x3?
You can win up to 2,840x the bet.
What features are available in the slot Stars Bonanza 3x3?
The features are Wild Symbol, Wild Collection, Starfruit Symbols, Starfruit Multiplier, and Stars Bonus.
Wild Symbol
The Wild Symbol is represented by a Joker. It can replace all symbols except Starfruit symbols to help create winning combinations. The Wild Symbol can appear on all three reels.
Wild Collection
Each reel has its own Wild Collection feature. Every collection contains 2 spots that need to be filled to activate the feature. The spots are on a divided Joker hat on top of each reel, and you fill them up by landing Wild Symbols on the reels. Once a collection is full, that reel becomes a Wild Reel for the next 2 spins, turning all the symbols on the reels Wild.
Starfruit Symbols
Starfruit symbols can form their own winning combination when they land anywhere across 3 consecutive reels. However, Starfruit symbols cannot appear when at least 1 Wild Reel is active.
Every Starfruit symbol reveals either a cash prize between 1x and 8x the bet, or a Jackpot prize. The Jackpots are Mini (10x), Minor (20x), Major (50x), and Mega (500x). Only 1 Mega Jackpot can appear during a single spin.
All cash prizes and Jackpot prizes are multiplied by the current Starfruit Multiplier.
Starfruit Multiplier
The Starfruit Multiplier increases by 0.5x whenever Starfruit symbols land on both reel 1 and reel 2 without creating a winning combination. It starts at 1x and can grow up to a maximum of 5x. It only applies to winning Starfruit symbols.
The Starfruit Multiplier resets back to 1x after Starfruit symbols create a winning combination, except during the Stars Bonus feature.
Stars Bonus
Starfruit symbols that do not help create a winning combination, or do not increase the Starfruit Multiplier when it has already reached 5x, are added to the Starfruit Collection. The more Starfruit symbols collected, the greater the chance of triggering the Stars Bonus feature. This bonus can randomly activate on any spin.
During the feature, you will land Starfruit symbols that guarantee a win. The Stars Bonus cannot be triggered while at least 1 Wild Reel is active. The Starfruit Multiplier remains active during the Stars Bonus and does not reset.
Final Thoughts on Stars Bonanza 3x3
Stars Bonanza 3x3 feels a bit like someone took the original slot, shrank it in the wash, and hoped nobody would notice. And to be honest, it’s often barely noticeable because the games are so similar. The 3x3 setup makes it simpler than ever, and you only have to keep track of 5 paylines instead of 10. The less impressive detail is that the gameplay can feel repetitive faster than a playlist with only three songs. The Wild Reels and Starfruit features add a little excitement, but the low hit frequency means there can be long stretches where the reels seem more interested in eating your balance than entertaining you. You normally also expect more from a sequel than from its forerunner, but making a slot more compact doesn’t increase the excitement, especially not when the max win is lowered.
The Starfruit Multiplier can slowly climb to help you make bigger rewards, but it is unfortunately also worsened, with a cap at 5x instead of the original’s 10x. The Stars Bonus can deliver decent moments, but it often feels like waiting for a bus that may or may not show up before winter arrives.
For other star-themed releases, check out Triple Edge Studios’ Assassin Star or Big Time Gaming’s Star Cluster 2.
Stars Bonanza 3x3 from Nailed It! Games struggles to stand out in a crowded casino galaxy. Bigger isn’t always better, but shrinking a decent game is not going to make it fly.
