Lights Slot Machine

Not all Asian slots are created equal. Some have a drastic focus on China itself — the red colour, the dragon, and its many cultural manifestations. Others are more focused on their deities, such as the God of Wealth, who makes a constant appearance in games. Lights slots is a purely beautiful game.

Other titles focus on other oriental countries like Japan or Korea, and yet they've all been more or less forgettable, while this NetEnt title is something that will stick with you for a while. Lights offers gamblers a 5x3 playing field with 9 paylines, and makes up for that lack of paylines by guaranteeing players the presence of two Wilds at every given spin, as well as a lucrative free spins bonus on top of that.

The user interface follows the standard look for modern NetEnt. The reels and user interface are blended together nicely, but the bright green colour clashes horribly here.

Given the zen, calm nature of everything in this title, the smooth, calming music, the animated flowing waterfall and the field full of fireflies in the distance, the beautiful atmosphere of a wide open field with a river flowing through it doesn't quite meld well with the attention-grabbing bright green offered here. A colour swap, or making the buttons see-through instead of green, could have done miracles to improve immersion.

The symbols on the playing field are a mix of playing card icons — 10, J, Q, K and A — and five different candle holder designs. Each with a different colour and shape, and within each one, a candle burns. Fireflies, candles, the sunset — the theme is very predominantly all about the light here, and it's honestly gorgeous to look at. As the years have passed, NetEnt has made a lot of slots, and a lot of them had better graphics. But in our honest opinion, they never nailed the atmosphere in them like they did here.

As we already mentioned, at every given moment you have two Wilds that appear in random positions every turn, carried by a swarm of fireflies. You can get up to four Wilds at once during normal gameplay. If you want more, you'll have to activate the free spins. To do this, you win three, four or five Scatters at the same time, which will reward ten, twenty or thirty free spins, respectively. During free spins, you have guaranteed three floating Wilds, with a maximum of six available at the same time. It is also possible to win additional free spins during the feature.

The gameplay here isn't as glamorous as you might think, unfortunately. The idea of multiple Wilds present at all times sounds great on paper, but NetEnt designed the game in accordance to exactly that. This means that despite having two Wilds or more up at any given time, you will usually get a combination of icons so it won't necessarily matter.

However, that doesn't stop Lights from delivering some awesome wins with enough luck. It has a medium volatility and a 96.09% RTP, gorgeous looks and an atmosphere so well done that NetEnt has yet to reach those same heights. The gameplay can be lacklustre at times, which stops it from reaching great heights — but its visual and audio design remains remarkable.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the RTP of the Lights slot?

The Lights slot has an RTP (Return to Player) of 96.09%, which is above average for a NetEnt oriental-themed video slot. The game has medium volatility, meaning wins arrive at a reasonable pace. The guaranteed floating Wilds on every spin — rising to six during free spins — are the primary mechanic driving payout frequency, making the 96.09% RTP feel consistent in practice.

Can I play Lights slots for real money online?

Yes, Lights real money slots are widely available at licensed NetEnt online casinos across the UK, Europe and other regulated markets. The game runs on all devices without download. With bets spanning a wide range, it suits both casual players and those looking for a calm, atmospheric real money experience — though its 9 paylines make it a more suitable choice for players comfortable with low-payline mechanics.

How many paylines does Lights have, and how does it compensate?

Lights has just 9 paylines — significantly fewer than most modern video slots. NetEnt compensates for this by guaranteeing a minimum of two floating Wild symbols on every single base game spin, carried by animated fireflies. During free spins this rises to a guaranteed three Wilds, with up to six possible simultaneously. This constant Wild presence helps maintain winning frequency despite the low payline count.

How are free spins triggered in the Lights slot?

Free spins in Lights are triggered by landing 3, 4 or 5 Scatter symbols simultaneously on the reels, awarding 10, 20 or 30 free spins respectively. During the feature, three floating Wild firefly symbols are guaranteed on every spin (up from two in the base game), with a maximum of six Wilds possible at once. Additional free spins can also be won during the feature.

What is the theme and visual style of the Lights slot?

Lights is set in a serene oriental landscape featuring a wide open field, a flowing river, a waterfall and swarms of fireflies. The symbols include five candle holder designs in different colours and shapes, alongside standard playing card icons. The game's atmospheric soundtrack, calming visual palette and animated firefly Wilds create an immersive experience that many players consider one of NetEnt's most beautiful aesthetic achievements.

What is the volatility of the Lights slot?

Lights is a medium volatility slot, meaning players can expect a relatively consistent stream of smaller wins during the base game, with the free spins feature providing the best opportunity for larger payouts. The guaranteed two Wilds per spin in the base game and three Wilds per free spin help sustain the win rate, though the low payline count means very large wins typically require Wilds to align across multiple paylines simultaneously.