Neon Shapes - Review, Demo Play, Payout, Free Spins & Bonuses

With an element of skill and strategy and a large helping of retro '80s theming, this is unlike any slot you’ve played before. Whether you will want to play it again remains to be seen. With no reels, no bonus rounds, and no free spins, Neon Shapes is pushing the boundaries of traditional slot games.

Introduction 

Neon Shapes is a game by Evoplay slots where points really do make prizes. A combination of luck, strategy, speed, and skill is needed to place as many shapes as possible and fill the board. Placing more shapes means you will earn more points. With bonus points on offer throughout the game, this is a retro style slot game with a difference. Neon Shapes has the potential to be a runaway hit with slots players or a one-game wonder and will be looking to carve itself a niche amongst strategists and those who like playing a more involved game. 

Theme, Graphics & Soundtrack 

If Crockett and Tubbs (from Miami Vice the original, not the remake) designed slot games, they would probably design Neon Shapes. Think sleek styling, fluorescent lights, and a soundtrack that wouldn’t be out of place in a 1980s movie.

Due to the length of play, the music can start to grate after a while with the feeling of being on hold with a utility company and having to endure ‘muzak’ coming to mind. 

The minimalist design complements the playing style of the game and fits well; anything too jazzy would be an unhelpful distraction from what is already quite a difficult game to grasp. The only real break from the repetitive play is the pink diamond shape that fills the screen to signify a 'big win'.

How to Play Neon Shapes

1. Check the game settings to ensure they are set to your liking. 
2. Choose your stake. You can bet between 1 and 500 per play.
3. You will be given three shapes to pick from, which you need to place on the board (an 8X8 square that is made up of 64 tiles).
4. Once the first three are placed, if spaces are still available on the board, a further three shapes will appear. 
5. Try to fill as many lines as possible. Lines can be filled horizontally and vertically. Gold-coloured shapes need to be included in a completed line to generate a return.
6. Once the start button is filled in a pink colour, you are then able to rotate the shapes. The start button is filled by placing pieces to score skill points.
7. If a piece is illuminated, it means it can be played. It may need to be rotated.
8. The game ends when no more pieces can be played

Skill Points/Winnings

Skill points are a reward for playing the game well and are gained by placing as many pieces as possible, clearing horizontal and vertical lines and using the gold and orange pieces to maximum effect. These are called basic skill points.

Place any shape = 10 skill points
Clear a vertical line = 100 points
Clear a horizontal line = 100 points
Place a rotated shape = 100 points
End the round faster than the previous round = 250 points
Clear an entire gold shape after placement = 500 points
Clear the entire board of shapes = 500 points

Additionally, if you clear multiple lines in one move, you receive bonus skill points (called additional skill points).

Two lines = 300 points
Three lines = 600 points
Four lines = 1000 points
Five lines = 1500 points
Six lines = 2100

At the end of the game, basic and additional points are combined to give a skill point total.

Winnings are calculated depending on the colour and number of pieces used to clear a line or lines.

Ordinary shapes = Skill points only
Gold shapes = Skill points and winnings (winnings dependent on individual number of gold pieces on the line)
Orange shapes = A higher return with winnings awarded randomly for each tile of the shape

There are 114 pieces in total, and a random generator is used to determine which will be presented during the game.

38 Ordinary Pieces
38 Gold Pieces
38 Orange Pieces

The maximum payout on Neon Shapes is X9999. 

A non-monetary reward, as a challenge only, is to beat your previous skill points total, though most players will only really care about the cash prizes.

Neon Shapes RTP and Variance

The RTP on Neon Shapes is 96% with a high volatility. 

Overall Neon Shapes Review 

Neon Shapes is a unique mix of skill and luck underpinned by randomly generated pieces that ensures fairness and consistent, long-term RTP. It is, however, difficult to grasp and can get rather repetitive after a few games. Those who prefer to sit back while the reels spin might quickly find themselves heading back to the lobby to pick a more familiar style of game. For strategists, meanwhile, and those who enjoy an element of skill, this could become a go-to game. It certainly brings something new to the slots market but might just require too much player participation to get a real foothold.

Disclaimer: Neon Shapes trademark / license is owned by Evoplay. This site is not endorsed by Evoplay.