Candy Stars by Pragmatic Play

The Candy Stars slot machine is a fruit candy game, as the name would imply. Unlike some other pokie games, it doesn't attempt to overdo the concept. The game looks beautiful, and the symbols are easily drawn. Although the game still looks fantastic, we think they could have been made a little more "life-like." Blue and purple are the predominant hues. The song is a straightforward melody that you may hear in a fruit machine. 

Some numbers now. The gameplay is set on a 5x3 reel grid with 576 ways to win. Being a medium to high variance pokie, it comes with less frequency in winning, but the payout can be much higher. Its maximum win potential reaches up to 5,000x your bet, and this will be fun for casual players while also being exciting for high rollers.

These days, it seems that slot providers work far too hard to come up with original themes. Even if their efforts are admirable, there are cases when players want something easier, which is when the Candy Stars pokie comes in handy. This is a straightforward, traditional slot game that takes players back to the heyday of fruit machines. This pokie features subtle, unobtrusive fruit-sweet symbols. For those who enjoy traditional fruit machines, this makes it an absolute treat. 

Let's move on from the theme and examine some of the game's features.

Premium candy symbols

In Candy Stars, the premium candy symbols are the highest-paying icons. These icons can reward up to 2x to 7.5x of your stake for five of a kind and hence will be important if you want to increase your overall earnings with even a bet as low as AU$1, fetching you AU$2 to AU$7.50 on the landing of these top symbols.

Star Wilds

The game has Star Wilds, appearing only on the top horizontal reel. These Wilds substitute for all other pay symbols to help players complete a winning combination. While the Wilds themselves do not offer any direct payout value, they possess an important multiplier feature. This multiplier can give great value to your payouts when mixed with other winning symbols.

Tumbling Reels mechanic

Candy Stars features the so-called Tumbling Reels gameplay mechanism, also known as cascading reels. What does it mean? Every time a winning combination occurs, the winning symbols disappear - they are replaced by a fall of new symbols from above. This allows for consecutive wins within one spin. As long as new winning combinations keep forming, you can keep on earning without having to spin again.

Wild multipliers

In the base game, the Wild multiplier starts at 1x and increases by +1 for each tumble win. That means every time a tumble win is achieved, the multiplier keeps growing and can go up to a maximum of 128x. During the Free Spins feature, the Wild multiplier starts at 2x and doubles with each tumble win, topping at 128x. This feature can easily lead to massive payouts, especially during FS when Wilds are guaranteed to appear.

Free spins

You will trigger the Free Spins bonus round by landing three diamond Scatter symbols on reels 1, 3, and 5. When this is triggered, you will receive 8 free games. During these spins, the Wilds are guaranteed to show up on the top horizontal reel, while the multipliers double with each tumble win. Moreover, if you get three Scatters in one spin or tumbling sequence during the Free Spins feature, you are awarded an additional 5 extra spins which means you get even more chances of winning.

Bonus buy 

Players can also use the Bonus Buy feature in Candy Stars, wherein you can buy your way to the Free Spins feature for 80 times your stake. 

Using an AU$2 total bet as an example, that would mean paying AU$160 to buy into the Free Spins feature directly. The ability to buy into the Free Spins feature bypasses the waiting process of Scatter symbols landing in your favour to start and improves your chances of winning immediately. Note, however, that when you activate this feature, the RTP of the game adjusts slightly to 96.26%.

Yes, winning in Candy Stars can be a very exciting adventure, especially once you apply smart strategies to have an upper hand in your game. Here are some committed tips to help you increase your chances of winning, accompanied by examples for better understanding:

Tip #1. Remember that Candy Stars is a high-volatility pokie

Being a highly volatile game, Candy Stars will pay out less frequently, though the wins can be major. Here are some specific tips on how to manage your playing session based on its volatility:

• Longer sessions with lower stakes: If you prefer relaxation, you can play longer sessions when you bet lower. This means you can enjoy the game as you minimise risks and extend gameplay.
• Smaller sessions with higher stakes: Alternatively, if you like to play at a high variance in hopes of big hits, play for shorter lengths of time and higher bets. It will yield big payoffs this way but increase the danger of losing one's bankroll in a lot less time.

Tip #2. Choose a licenced and reliable platform only

Always play at a licensed, reputable online casino that protects your data and lets you play fairly. Examples are the platforms regulated by the ACMA authority. Why should a casino have at least one licence displayed on its page? It should make you stress-free during a game.

Tip #3. Use online casino bonuses

Most online casinos give out numerous bonuses that can increase your bankroll dramatically. Here's how to take full advantage of them:

• Welcome bonus offers: For example, registering at a casino that has something like a 100% match-up bonus up to AU$200 will add AU$200 to your deposited sum of AU$200 to make you AU$400 in-game money.
• No-deposit bonuses: Some platforms give you an AU$10 no-deposit bonus for signing up. You can try Candy Stars without spending your money this way.

Tip #4. Know the game mechanics

Before wagering for real money, get familiar with how Candy Stars operates:

• First, check out the paytable to help determine the value of each symbol. For instance, five premium candy symbols can pay anywhere from 2x to 7.5x your stake.
• Learn about special features, such as Wilds and multipliers. Knowing Wilds occur on the top horizontal reel will help you come up with better strategies.

Tip #5. Set your budget

Set a clear budget for your gaming session and stick to it to ensure responsible gambling. For instance, if you allocate AU$50, divide it into smaller amounts, say AU$10 per session, to prolong your sessions. This helps you enjoy more sessions and cuts down on impulsive spending when playing Candy Stars. If you lose your session budget, take a break instead of chasing losses, which can lead to overspending.

Tip #6. Use the demo mode

Lots of online casinos in Australia allow players to play Candy Stars using demo mode. Why is it a great opportunity? This way, you will not spend a single penny of your hard-earned money - you will be playing using virtual credits. Just like this, you get a good understanding of how to get along with the fundamentals of this particular slot game and how to use extra spins and multipliers, increasing your confidence for gameplay when you are up for real money.

Tip #7. Monitor your gameplay

Keep your win/loss tally at the end of every session of gaming. How does it work? For instance, imagine that after a few wins, your bankroll increases from AU$50 to AU$100. You may withdraw some of your winnings and proceed with the rest to continue gaming. Conversely, you scale back by reducing the size of your bets or time out if you find yourself on continuous losing streaks to avoid further depletion of your bankroll.

Tip #8. Control your emotions

When you're winning or angry during a losing run, it's simple to get carried away. However, for long-term success, you need to stay cool and level-headed. Something else? Yes. Take a break from the game for a while if you're feeling stressed or overwhelmed. You can avoid rash bets and make better selections if you have a clear brain.

Candy Stars is quite an interesting pokie made by Pragmatic Play; it is simple and captivating, combined in equal parts. Among the big positives are a competitive RTP of 96.47%, cascading reels, and the possibility of winning up to 5,000x your stake to please both low- and high-rollers. The Wild multiplier feature, which doubles in free spins and goes as high as x128, makes every spin quite exciting.

Moreover, the Bonus Buy feature will allow entering the Free Spin round on the spot for those players who can't wait. The candy theme, combined with a tranquil soundtrack, results in an appealing and nostalgic feeling, like classic fruit machines.

As we said, this game is very high in volatility, so winning is a rare event that might keep players on low budgets away. Also, its basic gameplay may fail to charm players who love a bit of complexity in the game mechanics or elaborated themes. Regardless of these flaws, Candy Stars provides an excellently balanced approach to a classic type of pokie game with a modern twist and can be highly appreciated by genre fans.