Queen of the Castle has been catching plenty of attention, so we put it through its paces to see how it really holds up. This is a Light & Wonder game, sitting firmly in the a medium high volatility profile bracket and paying back a return-to-player rate of 95.96%. Visually it's given an engaging visual treatment, with the action running on a 5-reel grid running 40 paylines. It first went live in 2023 and still earns its place today. Top wins are capped at 5,000x your stake, a healthy ceiling worth chasing. But is it actually worth playing? Read on.
Written by Rachel Kim · Last updated: March 2026
Queen of the Castle is a game from Light & Wonder, built with crisp artwork and atmosphere and powered by 40 paylines across 5 reels. The result is a medium high-variance maths model paired with 95.96% RTP.
Where Queen of the Castle earns its keep is the feature set. Look out for scatter symbols that unlock free spins and extra bonus rounds. Its medium high variance balances steady wins with the odd larger payout. All told, it's a solid entry in the Light & Wonder catalogue.
At 95.96%, the RTP is slightly below the industry average of ~96%. While this is typical for many popular slots, players should be aware of the slightly lower theoretical return.
Medium-high volatility means wins come less frequently but tend to be larger when they hit. Players should be prepared for dry spells between bigger wins, requiring a moderate bankroll.
About 1 in 3 spins results in a win. This is a moderate hit frequency that balances win frequency with payout size.
Queen of the Castle features scatter symbols that can trigger free spins rounds. Landing the required number of scatter symbols anywhere on the reels activates the free spins feature, giving you extra chances to win without additional bets. During free spins, special modifiers may apply to boost your winning potential.
3.0 / 5 — Good
Queen of the Castle by Light & Wonder is a solid offering that delivers good entertainment value. The 95.96% RTP combined with medium high volatility creates a well-balanced gaming experience.