September 12, 2023
Top Match-3 Games
By Munira Rangwala
According to GameRefinery, Match-3 games are the most prominent sub-genre in the US market - accounting for as much as 21% of the market’s revenue!
Match-3 games draw a huge audience of casual and veteran gamers. And the icing on the cake is that most Match-3 games are free-to-play and easily available on both iOS and Android. You have to admit that there is something intangibly satisfying about Match-3 games - for instance, when blocks explode in a shower of gems!
Here’s why Match-3 games continue to be a huge hit amongst mobile gamers:
- They are ideal for smaller screens
- These games are laid back enough to play idly while you’re doing something else
- They don’t require you to have any prior gaming knowledge
We’ve rounded up some of the best Match-3 games and done a quick analysis on what works for these games. Read on!
Disco Match
What is the game about?
Disco Match, developed by studio 54, is a Match-3 game that will make you get your groove on. The game follows the hustling protagonists - Wendy and Brandon - as they restore disco venues for the 21st century.
What works for this game?
In between traditional Match-3 stages, players have to guide Wendy and Brandon through unique Match-3 dance performances! The experience is a blast to the past that makes Disco Match one of the best Match 3 games in the dance genre.
Pokemon Shuffle
What is the game about?
Are you a fan of the Pokémon series? Do you like Match-3 games? If yes, you ought to check out Pokémon Shuffle. Players are required to match tiles in pursuit of catching Pokémon. The more moves you have remaining at the end, increases your odds of a successful capture.
What works for this game?
In most Match-3 games, players are required to match blocks and gems. In Pokémon shuffle, however, you will be playing with actual Pokémon! The gameplay is simple, fun, and super intuitive. Even though Pokémon Shuffle may seem fairly easy at the beginning, you get to show your puzzle-solving skills as the levels progress.
Two Dots
What is the game about?
Want a story adventure while you’re playing your matching game? Two Dots is about the story of Emily and Jack - they are two “dots” who are on an adventure through a fierce tundra. This Match-3 game is slightly different from the other matching games on this list. Instead of simply lining up 3 dots, you must connect 3 or more.
What works for this game?
This game gives you the freedom to align the dots in a creative manner. Your goal is to make the biggest chain you possibly can, then observe what falls and breaks the chain so you can do it again. With plenty of puzzles to do and lands to explore, Two Dots will challenge your creativity as the levels progress.
Lily’s Garden - Design and Relax
What is the game about?
Lily’s childhood property is now dilapidated and needs an upgrade. Lily’s Garden is an addictive Match 3 game that requires players to refurbish Lily’s Garden and bring it back to life. What do you need to do? Complete Match-3 levels to earn currency and customise your various renovations - both structural and floral.
What works for this game?
The gameplay is simple and captivating and that’s what makes Lily’s Garden a top contender in this list. Players need to break the blocks quickly. Your score increases depending upon the colour of the bricks and the best part is that the bricks don’t even need to be in a row! Power-ups make things easier and far more interesting. For instance, you can blow up entire grids with a single input. And finally, when you see the garden transform before your eyes owing to your efforts, it makes you keep coming back for more.
Candy Crush Saga
What is the game about?
This list would not be incomplete if we didn’t include Candy Crush Saga! This confectionary Match-3 game series by King has captured the attention of one and all. Did you know? The app rakes in $850,000 per day! In this gameplay, users must combine candies to collect points and finish stages or lose a life.
What works for this game?
The vivid colours of the candy and blasts of confectionary on the screen make this gameplay a satisfying one. What adds to the fun is that players are given only five lives at a time. If you’ve lost the five lives, you need to wait another 30 minutes to regain lost lives. The legacy of Candy Crush Saga will live in the fabric of mobile Match-3 gaming for decades to come.
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With countless of Match-3 games launching every month, making your game stand out with a combination of interesting gameplay, colourful graphics, and innovative levels is crucial. Match-3 games are a perfect example of ‘easy to learn, hard to master’. The simplistic nature of this genre of games makes it an ideal choice for when you’re waiting in a queue and have a few minutes to kill. You can easily cross a few levels and gain a sense of accomplishment.
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