Star Clusters Megapays™

Star Clusters Megapays™ Slot Review

Slot Provider: Big Time Gaming

RTP: 96.27% | Variance: High | Maximum Win: 27,050x

Our Score: 9.0

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About Star Clusters Megapays™

Reviewed by:

Published Date: 30th September 2022

How We Review Slot Games

We test and rate all slot games across 5 criteria, assigning a score out of 10 for each and an overall score that is an average of the 5. To build an accurate assessment of each game we gather information from the supplier and play in real play or demo mode. Find out more.

Star Clusters Megapays™ is a progressive jackpot version of the original Star Clusters Megaclusters™ slot game from Big Time Gaming. This sequel was launched in March 2022. It retains the same design format and gameplay as the original, with some small tweaks to the maths model and top payout and adds on the four progressive jackpots that make up the Megapays™ network.

Star Clusters has a slightly retro, 80s feel to it, backed up by a very synth-heavy soundtrack. This is not unusual for a game studio whose slots, like Lil Devil and Wild Flower, have sometimes been inspired by 80s bands. The game utilises reactions and splitting cells to increase the size of the grid after any win. There are also Wild Multipliers and Free Spins. If you liked the first version, you’ll be right at home here!

And of course, there is the progressive feature. Star Clusters joins a handful of other Megapays™ games to date (September 2022) including Bonaza Megapays™ and The Great Pigsby Megapays™. The biggest jackpot is seeded at £300,000, and will regularly hit the £1,000,000 mark before paying out.

Star Clusters Megapays™ Game Information

  • RTP: 96.27%
  • Variance: High
  • Maximum Win: 27,050x
  • Progressive Jackpot: Yes
  • Reels: 4 to 8
  • Rows: 4 to 8
  • Paylines: Cluster Pays
  • Minimum Stake: £0.20
  • Theme: Gems
  • Features: Avalanche Wins, Expanding Grid, Free Spins, Wilds, Wild Multipliers, Progressive Jackpots

What We Liked

  • Progressive multipliers on all reactions
  • Big 27,050 top win available
  • FOUR progressives including Mega JP
  • Expanding grid makes up to 256 symbols

What We Didn't like

  • Very high variance so tough to play

Star Clusters Megapays™ Review Scores

  • Theme and Design
  • RTP and Variance
  • Maximum Win
  • Symbols and Paytable
  • Features and Gameplay

What Our Reviewer Says ...

"A super-cool slot gets the jackpot treatment and becomes even better! A star in the making!"

Overall Score: 9.0

RTP and Variance

Our Score

What is RTP?

RTP (Return to Player) refers to the amount a game will pay out in cash prizes expressed as a percentage of all the money wagered on that game. For example, a 96% RTP means a game will pay out £96 for every £100 wagered. This is an average number and will vary from one session to the next.  Read more here.

What is Variance?

Variance refers to how far a game will deviate from its RTP over time. High variance games deviate a lot and produce uneven win distributions and unexpected windfalls. Low variance games provide a more stable and even distribution of wins. Read more here.

The RTP for Star Clusters™ Megapays™ is 96.27%. Keep in mind however that 9.6% is also used as jackpot contribution. So in the main game you are actually playing with an RTP of 86.67%. This is standard for progressive JP games and it’s enough to feel a change in the return as you spin. Of course, this is offset by the chance of winning one of those four high value jackpots.

Super volatile, Star Clusters Megapays™ is everything we’ve come to expect from a BTG slot with lots of frustrating spells of play punctuated by some short bursts of thrilling win sequences.

Outside of the progressives, the biggest win available on Star Clusters™ Megapays™ is 27,050x which is 3,000x higher than in the original game.

Spins start at 20p per play.

Symbols and Paytable

Our Score

Star Clusters is all about the gemstones of various colors and with the chance of hitting epic clusters of 25 or more symbols, it’s possible to hit some big wins, particularly when Multiplier Wilds are involved too. Here are the highlights of the paytable:

  • This is a cluster pays slot with wins triggered by landing 5 or more identical gems in clusters matching horizontally, vertically or diagonally.
  • The gemstones are turquoise, yellow, orange, green, blue, red and purple. The lowest value turquoise pays out 10x for 25 or more in a cluster. The top value purple pays out 50x for 25 or more.
  • Look out for the standard Star Wild which can sub for all others to form wins. And the Gold Star Wild Multiplier which is progressive when included in consecutive reactions.
  • There are NO SCATTERS in this game. Instead, free spins are triggered by hitting5 or more consecutive reactions on one spin.

Features and Gameplay

Our Score

Star Clusters Megapays™ plays much like the original game but with the jackpots bolted on. There are Reactions, Multiplier Wilds and Free Spins. And of course, the expanding grid. Here is how it works.

Reactions and Splitting Symbols

Reactions in Star Clusters are not the same as they are in other BTG slots. Instead of removing winning symbols from the reels, now the game splits winning symbols into 4 more. You’ll notice gaps appearing as this happens, into which more symbols of the same size as the new ones drop.

This gives the grid a weird asymmetrical feel but it can also lead to further clusters forming and more wins. The process repeats until no more wins are triggered.

Gold Wild Multipliers Boost Wins

On any base game spin you may see TWO Gold Wilds land, represented by a Gold Star symbol. When they land they are attributed with a 1x multiplier. When they form part of a cluster, the multipliers are applied to the win.

With each reaction and subsequent win, the multiplier increases by 1x. This continues until no more wins are formed. Then the Wilds are removed from the grid and a new spin starts.

Free Spins With Re-Triggers

If you hit 5 or more reactions in a sequence in the base game then the Free Spins round is triggered. Now you get 2 free spins for 5 reactions, and 1 extra spin for every extra reaction that triggered the feature.

As we have come to expect with BTG slots, as the bonus round opens up, the temperature rises somewhat and the potential for big wins to unfold increases. Now, the grid size is increased to 8×8, with 64 symbols, and with reactions and subsequent symbol splits it’s possible to land up to 256 symbols (64×4) on the grid and therefore much bigger clusters.

Gold Wild Multipliers are still active here and any that were active in the triggering spin will be carried over into your free spins.

And that’s not all … if you get lucky and the Gold Wild Multiplier value reaches 10x you also earn yourself 2 more free spins.

Star Clusters Megapays Big Win

Megapays™ Jackpots

There is no requirement to play at a higher stake level to enter the Megapays™ JP feature. However, note that higher stakes improve your odds of triggering it. This can happen at ANY point in the base game or bonus round. You’ll see that as you play, some of the letters below the logo that make up the word Megapays™ will turn pink. When they ALL turn pink, the Jackpot feature triggers. 

The format for Megapays™ is two-fold. The action takes place in front of an opulent hotel with palm trees either side. There is also a Megapays™ ladder with the JPs displayed on it.

First, one of the low pay symbols is chosen as the Megapays™ symbol for the game. Then, a series of spins takes place. Each time the Megapays™ symbol lands, then one more rung on the ladder lights up. This continues until no Megapays™ symbols land. The minimum level to win a JP is 4 rungs. To hit the big one – the Mega Jackpot – you need 15 rungs or Megapays™ symbols.

Here is how that looks:

  • Mini Jackpot (from £100) – 4 to 7 rungs on ladder
  • Midi Jackpot (from £1,500) – 8 to 11 rungs on ladder
  • Major Jackpot (from £20,000) – 12 to 14 rungs on ladder
  • Mega Jackpot (from £300,000) – 15+ rungs on ladder

NOTE: If you land less than 4 symbols you win nothing – there are NO GUARANTEES!

More Games Like Star Clusters Megapays™ Slot

Here are two more games featuring the Megapays™ jackpots.

Bonanza Megapays™ – The biggest and best (BTG) slot of all time was the first to be re-released with the Megapays™ feature. Its largely the same slot with avalanche wins, progressive multipliers and free spins causing mayhem on the reels. Super volatile with a 17,926x top win in the main game, it’s a serious slots players delight!

The Great Pigsby Megapays™ – this is a Relax Gaming slot utilising the BTG license to run with both Megaways™ expanding reels and the Megapays™ jackpots. Its sumptuous setting is inspired by The Great Gatsby novel and film. Look out for lots of wilds and re-spins to drive up wins in the base game. The top payout is 20,000x, higher than Bonanza, but a little lower than Star Clusters.

Where to Play Star Clusters Megapays™ Slot – Further Recommendations

If you are looking for a new slot site to play this game on, try these:

Duelz – So called because it allows you to duel against other slots players to win points and prizes, this slot site offers over 100 Book of Dead spins on first deposit and over 1,000 slots to spin on. The full Big Time Gaming catalogue is available. Minimum deposit is £20 and you can fund and play slots with Paypal.

MrPlay – We also recommend this casino from Aspire Global. With around 700 slots it is slightly smaller than others in our listings, but they give you 100 NetEnt spin to get started which is a good bonus. As well as BTG slots there are also more from Blueprint, WMS and Yggdrasil. The minimum deposit is £10 and Paypal is available.

The Final Verdict

Big Time Gaming have kept things simple when creating a jackpot version of Star Clusters. This is one of their most popular slot games so it makes sense to retain the core style and features. And that is exactly what they’ve done.

The only real differences here are in the maths model – the RTP is lower to account for the progressive jackpot contributions and the top win is somewhat higher at 27,050x. Taking these facts into account, if you are not bothered about progressive jackpots, we recommend you stick with the original where the RTP offers better value in the main game. But if you love jackpot chasing and don’t mid that cut on your return, then this new version will suit you better.

Good luck and have fun!

Who Made Star Clusters Megapays™?

  • Name: Big Time Gaming
  • Established: 2011
  • UK License: 38696
  • Total Games: 55 +
  • Known For: Inventing Megaways, super volatile slots, high max payout slots, rock n roll soundtracks
  • Popular Slots: Bonanza Megaways, Max Megaways, Outlaw, Danger! High Voltage
Find More Big Time Gaming slots

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