Lights Out is a free online logic puzzle on a 5 by 5 grid. It runs in your browser with no download or sign up, works on phones and computers, and keeps working offline once the page has loaded. Every level can be solved, so there is always a way to turn every light off.
Inspired by: Lights Out, the electronic puzzle toy released by Tiger Electronics in 1995.
How to play Lights Out
- You see a grid of lights, some on and some off.
- Press a light and it flips, along with the lights above, below, left and right of it.
- Your goal is to turn every light off.
- Fewer presses give a higher score. Each level shows a par number of moves.
- Stuck? Press Hint to highlight a light that is part of a solution. Hints lower the score a little.
- Restart a level any time, then clear all 15 levels to finish the game.
Controls
- Keyboard: Arrow keys move the highlight. Space presses a light. X shows a hint.
- Mouse: Click a light to press it. Use the Hint and Restart buttons below the grid.
- Touch screen: Tap a light to press it. Use the Hint and Restart buttons below the grid.
Tips to score higher
- Work from the top row down. Turn off the lights in each row by pressing the lights in the row below.
- Pressing the same light twice cancels out, so never press one twice.
- The order of presses does not matter, only which lights you press.
- If you get stuck near the end, press Restart and try a different start.
- Use a hint instead of guessing. It costs fewer points than wasted moves.
The story behind Lights Out
Lights Out was released by Tiger Electronics in 1995 as a handheld electronic puzzle with a grid of buttons that lit up. It looks simple, but it hides some neat mathematics, because each press is like adding a pattern to the board. The toy was a hit with puzzle fans and became a popular exercise for people studying logic and computing. Many people remember it as a small gadget that lived in a school bag next to a Tamagotchi or a brick game console.
Questions players ask
Is Lights Out free to play?
Yes. It is free with no sign up and no download.
Can every level be solved?
Yes. Each level is built by pressing lights from a dark board, so there is always at least one way to solve it.
How many levels are there?
There are 15 levels, and they get harder as you go.
What is par?
Par is the number of presses used to build the level. Solving in par moves or fewer gives the best score.
Does it work on a phone?
Yes. Just tap the lights.