Lights Out
One tap flips a cross of lights. Plan the overlaps and turn them all off — 99 puzzles from a small teaching board to a full 5×5 challenge.
Moves0
Minimum1
Cleared 0/99
Arrow keys move focus · Enter/Space flips · Z undoes · R restarts · H hints
About Lights Out
Lights Out is a toggle puzzle: each press flips one cross rather than a single light. Plan which crosses overlap to leave every cell dark. This version has 99 independently created layouts and works with mouse, touch or keyboard.
The boards grow from 3×3 to 4×4 and 5×5. The smaller puzzles teach corners, edges and overlaps; larger ones invite row-by-row planning. Every initial layout is solvable, with a verified shortest press count.
How to play Lights Out
- 01Tap a cell to flip it and its immediate up, down, left and right neighbors. Diagonal cells stay unchanged.
- 02Turn every light off to win. Unlit cells can be pressed too; the order of presses does not change the final pattern.
- 03Pressing a cell twice cancels its effect. The minimum is the fewest presses needed from the initial layout, not from your current position.
- 04Undo restores a previous board. Hint marks one cell in a shortest solution for your current board; you still press it yourself. There is no countdown or move limit.
- 05There are 99 original solvable puzzles. Completion and the current level stay in this browser; unfinished boards and cross-device progress are not saved.
Lights Out controls
- Mouse or touch
- Tap any cell, lit or unlit, to flip its cross. A solid center dot means on; a hollow ring means off.
- Keyboard
- Tab into the board; arrows move focus and Enter/Space flips. Z undoes, R restarts and H shows a hint.
- Hint and recovery
- Hint highlights one shortest-solution move without pressing it. Undo restores the board and move count. Restart returns to the original layout.
Lights Out: levels and progress
Levels 1–18: 3×3, minimum 1–4 presses. Levels 19–54: 4×4, minimum 3–7. Levels 55–99: 5×5, minimum 6–14. Within each size, minimum solution length does not decrease; equal-length layouts can feel different.
Choose any level from the menu. Each solved level is recorded locally. After a win, the next level starts in three seconds; Continue now or Stay here changes that choice. Level 99 remains on screen.
Current level and completed levels persist when storage is available; an unfinished board restarts on your next visit. Hint use is not penalized, so a clear record does not imply an unaided solution.
Lights Out tips and strategies
Think in pairs
Two presses on one cell cancel. Track which lights need an odd number of flips, rather than chasing each light in isolation.
Work from the top
Try a first-row pattern, then press below each remaining light to clear the row above. This leaves the decision on the bottom row; if it fails, revisit the first row.
Compare routes
The displayed minimum refers to the original board. After experimenting, use Undo or ask for a hint from your current position; it may differ from the initial solution.
- Watch overlapping crosses: a light flipped twice returns to its earlier state.
- On larger boards, clear a row by pressing directly below the lights that remain on, then check the bottom row.
- Use Undo to compare an idea with your previous board. Hint is available when you want a nudge.
Lights Out FAQ
Is Lights Out free?
Yes. Play 99 puzzles in your browser without a download or account.
Are all 99 levels solvable?
Yes. Every original layout has a verified solution. Rotated or mirrored duplicates are excluded.
Does Hint play for me?
No. It marks one useful cell; only your own presses change the board.
Can I press an unlit cell?
Yes. Any cell flips the same cross. Restricting yourself to lit cells can miss a solution.
What is saved?
Only the level selection and completed levels, not unfinished boards or a cross-device profile.