Lock And Pop (NetEnt) – Review & Demo Play

The Lock and Pop Slot Game

I went into Lock and Pop from NetEnt expecting a chilled classic with a space tint, and that’s exactly what I got. The grid is a 5x5 frame, though only the middle 3 rows spin in the base game, giving 20 fixed paylines. Stakes run from 0.20 to 120, so I could dial in a comfortable level. The tone is light, the pace steady, and the real spark arrives in the bonus, where the extra rows open and the special mechanics finally get a proper say.

Symbols and Payouts in Lock and Pop

The paytable keeps it familiar. Lows are 10, J, Q, K, and A, while bells, 7s, and diamonds sit at the top. Wilds land anywhere and stand in for all regulars, but not the Prize symbol. Wins pay left to right on the 20 lines, three of a kind or more. For reference, the high symbols step up nicely, with bell to 5x for five, 7 to 6.25x, and diamond to 7.5x, so lines can still tick over between features.

Prize symbols carry cash values from 0.5x up to 1,000x and double as scatters. In the main game they can land anywhere, and hitting six or more brings on Free Spins. Those Prize symbols then turn sticky, sitting in place as the feature plays out while empty positions respin for blanks or more prizes. Top and bottom rows come into play during the bonus, storing collected values above each reel and displaying a random modifier below when a reel fills.

Lock And Pop Symbols and Paytable

Symbol	Quantity	Payout
	Wild
	5	x7.5
	4	x2.5
	3	x1.25
	5	x6.25
	4	x2
	3	x1
	5	x5
	4	x1.5
	3	x0.75
	5	x2
	4	x1
	3	x0.5
	5	x2
	4	x1
	3	x0.5
	5	x1
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.25
	5	x1
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.5
	5	x1
	4	x0.5
	3	x0.25

Lock and Pop Slot Bonus Features

Free Spins start at seven. If one or more reels fill with Sticky Prizes, a Lock and Pop modifier triggers on the reel that filled. Each modifier only affects its own reel, and when it finishes, the Sticky Prizes on that reel are cleared, with their totals moved to the top row collection. Only blanks or fresh Prize symbols can land in the empty spots, so you’re cycling, filling, clearing, and banking values, with the 5x5 area fully active for the duration.

The ten modifiers cover neat ways to grow or copy values. Retrigger grants +3 spins. Adder drops 1x or 2x on all Sticky Prizes in its reel. Magnet copies adjacent reel positions vertically, while Super Magnet copies the same positions across all reels. Topper finds the highest value on its reel and copies it to the rest. Blaster adds 1x or 2x, banks the reel to the top, then fills three random blank positions anywhere with the Blaster value.

Duplicator creates a second game area with cloned Sticky Prizes and three empty reels, sliding horizontally and merging to fill gaps or stack values if it lines up. Big Bang doubles all Sticky Prizes in its reel, then doubles the collected total for that reel once it’s banked. Super Collector pulls values from its reel and adds the totals from other collectors. Hammer collects its reel, spreads that new amount to every position there, and at the end, all visible cash prizes are paid.

Feature Buy in Lock and Pop

Skipping the grind is an option. The Feature Buy takes you straight into Free Spins for 50x the bet, which suited me when the base game felt too quiet. You get the same seven spins and the same Prize symbol setup as if you had triggered it naturally. It’s a tidy way to sample the modifiers without waiting for six Prizes, and it keeps the focus where the game shines, on filling reels and cashing the collections.

How to Win at Lock and Pop Slot

The setup is straightforward. Pick a stake between 0.20 and 120 and spin the 5x3 active window across 20 paylines. Wins land for three or more from the leftmost reel, with wilds helping complete lines. The interface gives a speed toggle and an autoplay menu, and the game runs cleanly on mobile or desktop. In the base game I’m watching for Prize symbols dropping in clusters, as building towards six is the gateway to where the numbers stack up.

When I’m not in the mood to wait, I buy the feature and aim to fill reels quickly for modifiers. Otherwise, line hits with bells, 7s, and diamonds keep the balance ticking over while I fish for the sixth Prize. The swing sits in the bonus, so my focus is on sticky stacking and clearing reels to feed the top collections. It’s a rhythm that clicks once you’ve seen a couple of reels cycle through their effects.

Lock and Pop Slot RTP & Volatility

Lock and Pop runs on low to mid volatility, and the default RTP sits at 96.09%, with alternative versions at 93.98% and 87.95% appearing in some markets. Top potential reaches 4,046x the bet, which matches the gentler maths profile quite well. I found the hit pace agreeable for longer sessions, helped by steady line wins and the chance to snowball values during Free Spins. If RTP matters to you, check the version in the game info before playing.

Lock and Pop: Slot Verdict

Lock and Pop lands as a relaxed spin with a tidy hook. The base game is bare, no extra features, and I often let it hum along while I waited for prizes to cluster. Once Free Spins kick in, the board opens, the modifiers add texture, and the pace picks up. It’s not a slot built to blow the doors off, but it has a clear centre, fill, collect, repeat, and watch the top row stack as the reels cycle.

As a low-mid maths package, the 4,046x cap feels fair, and the buy option helps those of us who prefer to get straight to the meat. Ten modifiers provide variety without overcomplicating things, and a couple of reels chaining into Duplicator or Big Bang can lift a run nicely. It won’t satisfy high-stakes thrill seekers chasing towering ceilings, yet for a cheerful session with tidy mechanics, Lock and Pop did the job for me.