Popstar

It’s time to learn some lyrics and polish up your voice because the ultimate singing contest is taking place in the Popstar slot!

If you like talent show-themed games, this one might be your perfect cup of tea. Help the struggling artist Erik to win over the hearts of tough jurors, and he might lead you to very nice prizes.

Every tone of his singing performance can bring you closer to a bonus round with extra spins, collectibles and symbol upgrades. A decent RTP will make this engaging gameplay even more fun, while the visuals will wow you on every spin.

It seems like Spearhead Studios has stepped up its game with this title and managed to create a highly entertaining slot with various winning opportunities.

Theme

Popstar slot has a talent show theme, reflecting a TV singing competition. It’s a cartoonish version of such a spectacle with a set-up of four judges – Tony Tantrum, Spicy B, Fortuna, and B. Reel.

Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

That’s because it looks like a rip off of the “... Got Talent” TV show contest franchise where singing prodigies and wannabees perform on stage in front of the jury and live audiences.

The top performer of this slot is also the main character Erik, who is the highest paying symbol. With quite an attractive visual appeal, the reels are frameless. Set on a show stage with beaming spotlights, the grid is hosting pay symbols in bright neon colors, spinning in front of the judges table and cheering crowd.

As expected...

…the catchy pop tune played in a loop is there to support the theme, but it can become a bit annoying in the long run. Overall, this is a nice-looking slot with great graphics and animation.
You can play it at mobile casinos also, since it’s available on all devices.

Betting Options

This slot has a grid with 5 reels and 4 rows. There are 1,024 ways to win, while the pays are awarded for adjacent symbols from left to right only.
The betting range is quite wide - tickets for joining this show start from 0.20 to 10 credits per spin.

While it can’t fit into the category of the highest RTP slots, its Return To Payer is well above average at 96.70%.
It goes well with medium volatility, making this title suitable for different types of players.

When it comes to symbols...

…the strict judges are the ones you will be glad to see in your winning combinations as they are the most valuable cards. Hitting 5 of each across the reels will result in a win 5x your bet.

If the talent show winner Erik decides to grace you with his presence in the form of 5 matching cards, this will award a prize of 25x your bet.

Regarding lower-paying symbols...

…they are represented as the usual card royals ranging from 1x to 3x your stake.

Popstar Slot Features

Releases by Spearhead Studios aren’t known for abundant features, rather for the high quality of those present.

In this game, the honor goes to the Bonus round that brings extra spins. It is triggered by the Golden Microphone scatter symbol. The wild is also a part of the gameplay, preforming its common substitution duties and recognizable as the big Neon Logo.

Bonus Spins Round

Landing 3, 4 or 5 scatters will activate this feature. The initial number of awarded extra spins is based on the amount of triggering scatters.

Therefore:

• 3 scatters bring 6, 7 or 8 additional spins
• 4 scatters bring 9, 10 or 11 extra spins
• 5 scatters will trigger 12, 13 or 14 bonus spins

With the start of this feature, the images of the four judges appear on both sides of the grid. Each of them has a counter with six golden tickets, and every time a judge appears during the extra spins the golden ticket will be added to its collection. Once you have the collection of six tickets, the respective symbol is upgraded to Erik symbols. In addition, each completed character receives 2 more spins.

Having all four judges upgraded to Erik symbols brings the highest winning odds, since only the royals and the top-paying symbol will remain on the reels.

Two to 5 scatters will give additional 2 to 12 spins, so this feature does come with a retrigger option.

Our Take

With the Popstar slot, the provider has really enriched its portfolio and managed to make an interesting game with a lot of potential. While the theme isn’t innovative, great graphics and animation are there to enhance the playing enjoyment. It may not bring anything new to the table, but it's still one of those releases you simply have to try out.