Lightning Link Slot

Launched back in 2015, the Lightning Link slot game has been an absolute trailblazer when it comes to game design. It revolutionised land-based slots, introducing the frustratingly addictive Hold & Spin bonus feature. But that’s not all, it was also the first to offer player-selectable multi-denominations and the first to incorporate the Aristocrat patented ‘Hyperlink’ feature that meant big jackpots could be won on every spin. 

Within a year of launch, it became a global sensation and by 2021, Lightning Link was the industry’stop-grossingg slot title. Its success spawned a multitude of other ‘Link’ games, catapulting games designer Aristocrat into the big leagues, and they’ve stayed there ever since.

The 12 Lightning Link variations all have a different theme, but have the same three game mechanics – Free Games, Hold & Spin, and Progressive Jackpots. A winning formula that has been carried into its successors – Dragon Link, Buffalo Link, and Lightning Dollar Link, to name a few. If it's not broken, don’t fix it, right?

Lightning Link real-money slots are not available to play online, but can be played for free in social casinos. However, you can find similar slot bonus features in other games, such as Blue Wizard by Playtech or Big Bass Hold & Spinner by Pragmatic Play. 

Every variation has a different theme, but you know it's a Lightning Link slot when there’s a bright electric blue screen with gold strikes of lightning flashing through it. They usually come in banks of three or four that catch the eye across the casino floor. 

The Lightning Link games are as follows:

• Happy Lantern
• Magic Pearl
• Sahara Gold
• High Stakes
• Bengal Treasures
• Best Bet
• Dragon’s Riches
• Eyes of Fortune
• Heart Throb
• Moon Race
• Tiki Fire
• Wild Chuco

Each game has its own specific symbols and audio, so Tiki Fire has parrots, butterflies, and totem poles while High Stakes has supercars, roulette wheels, and Las Vegas showgirls. The Hold & Spin value symbols differ too, but all come with a distinctive sound effect for each.

The common theme throughout all Lightning Link games is the buzzing electric-style current that flashes around the cabinet and the lightning strikes that hit each symbol when it counts up the winnings.

Lightning Link games all carry the same reel setup and similar bonus features with a twist. But, because it comes in multi-denominations and has both low-stakes and high stakes versions, the gameplay differs greatly. Here are some key stats:  

• Grid: 5x3
• Paylines: 5-50
• Denominations: 1c-$2
• Bet Levels: 50c-$500 per spin
• Free Spins Bonus Feature
• Hold & Spin Bonus Feature
• Fixed Mini and Minor Jackpots based on denomination
• Progressive Major and Grand Jackpots 
• RTP: generally 85-98% but is set by the casino and local regulations
• Volatility: Medium to High

Outside of the bonus rounds, wins are formed by landing two of the highest paying symbols or three of all other symbols on a payline from the leftmost reel. Wilds substitute for all symbols apart from the Scatter. 

Lightning Link is considered by most land-based slot lovers, including me, to be a regular payer in general. The medium to high volatility can be brutal, but it can also return regular line-pays with stacked wilds and frequent bonus features, too. It’s certainly one of my go-tos in a casino. 

If you’re playing Lightning Link, you’re wishing for two main things: 3 Bonus Symbols or 6 value symbols. The ideal scenario is that a big, juicy progressive amount lands within the Hold & Spin too, but you’ve got to trigger it first. Here’s a quick summary of what to expect from the slot bonuses. 

You need to land three Scatter/Bonus symbols on a single spin to trigger the Free Games. If you’re lucky, you can also get retriggers. But in terms of the actual numbers and mechanics, it really depends on which Lightning Link game you play, as they differ massively. Here’s a breakdown:

The Hold & Spin feature can also be triggered within the Free Games, and who doesn’t love a bonus within a bonus, right? 

Landing at least six value symbols on a single spin will trigger the much-loved Hold & Spin Feature. Commonly referred to (by me) as just ‘balls’ – the symbols can actually be coins, cups, lanterns, hearts, chips, moons, and so on. But you’ll recognise them because they all have a numerical value on them. This will be an actual figure (100 or $10, depending on denomination) or a jackpot word (MINI, MINOR, or MAJOR).

When you land six, the bonus starts, and you are given three spins to land another value symbol. Every time you land one, the spins reset to three, so you get three more chances to land another. If you can land one of the jackpot totals, it can seriously increase your payouts, as well as your heart rate! 

When the spins stop, each symbol is added up with a loud crash of lightning striking it, and the winning fanfare begins. If, by any chance, you manage to fill all 15 spaces with value symbols, congratulations, you’ve just hit the Grand! 

As with all land-based slots, the usual perks apply – namely, comped drinks and player rewards points. Lightning Link slots are popular, so you’ll likely find a steady waitress service, and the loud lightning strikes help draw attention too! 

There’s no denying the impact Lightning Link has made on the gaming industry. Much of what it pioneered is now standard practice across land-based slots and, indeed, online games as well.

The mix of iconic bonus features and shared branding combined with different themes and symbols somehow makes each Lightning Link slot machine both familiar and fresh at the same time. This has certainly played a big part in the games longevity and popularity. 

Of course, there are some downsides to the game. Sometimes the Hold & Spins can drop nothing but minimum bet amounts. Sometimes the Free Games features can be total duds, with the symbols getting in the way of each other or just not lining up. 

Being completely honest, Lightning Link is probably past its best these days. Now, in its 10 years, it has been overtaken both in player opinion and gaming floor space by many of its successors. You're much more likely to see Dragon Link, Buffalo Link, and Lightning Dollar Links on the casino floor than Lightning Links. But if anything, that’s just a further testament to its legacy.