Line #117 Main/MatchThreeGame


1	[[quoteright:128:[[TabletopGame/TicTacToe https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tic-tac-toe-flash_2005.png]] ]]
2
3	A CasualVideoGame SubGenre of the PuzzleGame that is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin. The object is to match three objects of similar color/shape/species to eliminate said objects from the playing field. Specific objectives vary from game to game, but include:
4
5	# Play until you run out of time, space, or moves.
6	# Match a certain number of Object X to advance.
7	# Rack up a certain number of points to advance.
8
9	In competitive examples, where players compete against the computer or other players on a split screen, making a match may result in a few garbage blocks, which can be eliminated only by matching other objects connected to them, dropping onto the opponent's field; {{combo}}s will increase the number of garbage blocks. Games may also throw other special blocks onto the field, such as power ups, obstacles (like garbage, but indestructible) and other bonuses. You can also — again, depending on the game — get bonus points and/or helpful effects by matching four or more objects.
10
11	Match Three Games came about during the heyday of the 1990s handhelds — specifically with the advent of ''Columns'' for the Sega Platform/GameGear. With the boom in Casual Games, the genre has similarly expanded. Commonly employ FallingBlocks and DifficultyByAcceleration.
12
13	A "Merge 3" sub-genre has also grown in traction due to the popularity of ''VideoGame/MergeDragons''. In this type of game, matching three objects does not remove it from the board, but rather combine them into a higher tier version of that particular item. Games of this category often also contains elements of ConstructionAndManagementGames, as the purpose of levelling up the various objects are usually to produce better resources to (re)build a landscape, city or other types of setting. Several games also use a "merge 2" variant, where players only need two objects instead of three to level it up.
14
15	SubTrope of GridPuzzle, the general trope for puzzles solved by arranging the elements of a grid. Compare MagicSquarePuzzle (a square array of integers that sum the same in each row, column, and main diagonal).
16	----
17	!!Examples:
18	[[foldercontrol]]
19
20	[[folder:Falling pieces]]
21	The player must control each piece as it falls from the top of the screen, moving it around and usually rotating it or shifting parts of the piece. A few have pieces arrive from some other direction, but the principle is the same.
22	* ''VideoGame/{{Columns}}'' (1989; the UrExample)
23	** ''VideoGame/{{Magic Jewelry}}'' (Its NES bootleg)
24	* ''VideoGame/{{Klax}}'' (1989; possibly tied for UrExample) -- the challenge, as well as certain staged, tended to need complex formations for big points or by making other tiles fall into scoring positions.
25	* ''VideoGame/DrMario'' (match four)
26	** ''[[VideoGame/{{Hebereke}} Hebereke's Popoitto]]'', a similar game to Dr. Mario
27	* ''VideoGame/{{GemStorm}}'' (match three to seven, depending on level)
28	* ''VideoGame/{{Lumines}}'' (match a 2x2 square)
29	* ''Super Puzzle Fighter II''
30	* ''VideoGame/PuyoPuyo'' (match four)
31	* ''Taisen Puzzle Dama/Crazy Cross'' and its numerous sequels and themed {{Spin Off}}s:
32	** ''Susume! Taisen Puzzle Dama/Let's Attack Crazy Cross''
33	** ''VideoGame/{{Twinbee}} Taisen Puzzle Dama''
34	** ''VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorial Taisen Puzzle Dama'' and ''Tokimeki Memorial 2 Taisen Puzzle Dama''
35	** ''Tsuyoshi Shikkari Shinasai Taisen Puzzle-Dama''
36	** ''Chibi Maruko-chan Taisen Puzzle Dama''
37	** ''[[VideoGame/PopnMusic Pop'n]] Taisen Puzzle Dama Online''
38	* ''Tetris 2'' (can best be described as ''Dr. Mario'' with ''VideoGame/{{Tetris}}'' pieces)
39	* ''Yoshi'' (match two)
40	* ''[[VideoGame/CriticalMass2011 Critical Mass]]'' has you manually place the blocks on a cube that gradually expands, but the spirit is the same.
41	* ''Blastris B'', one of the six games sold with the [[LightGunGame Super Scope]].
42	* ''VideoGame/{{Bomberman}}: Panic Bomber''
43	* ''Hatris'' (match five)
44	* ''Tidalis'' has you match disconnected blocks using "streams".
45	* ''[[VideoGame/{{Hebereke}} Hebereke's Popoon]]''
46	* ''VideoGame/BakuBakuAnimal'' (match animals with their StockAnimalDiet)
47	* ''VideoGame/TekiPaki'' (match five in any configuration)
48	* ''[[http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/oh-my-god/ Oh My God!]]''
49	* ''Kirby's Star Stacker'' (match two)
50	* ''Battle Balls'' (match four)
51	* ''Tecmo Stackers'' (match four)
52	* The ''VideoGame/MarioParty7'' special minigame Stick 'n' Spin (match five)
53	* ''VideoGame/MarioPartyTheTop100'': The minigames classified within the Puzzler category, namely Block Star (''6''), Stick 'n' Spin (''7''), and Jewel Drop (''10''). The mechanics are different in each, but all of them involve connecting incoming objects or entities of the same color to make them disappear and earn points.
54	* ''Gururin'' for the Platform/NeoGeo, which doesn't let you rotate the falling pieces, but does let you rotate the playfield.
55	[[/folder]]
56
57	[[folder:Swapping pieces]]
58	The player has to swap two or more pieces. As blocks are cleared, the field is replenished with more pieces, either immediately after they're cleared or continuously from some source.
59	* ''VideoGame/OneHundredSleepingPrincesAndTheKingdomOfDreams'', which combines the mechanic with a fantasy adventure OtomeGame plot.
60	* ''VideoGame/AiToYuukiToKashiwaMochi'' (match four)
61	* ''VideoGame/AkanesasuSekaiDeKimiToUtau'', the SpiritualSuccessor of ''[=Yume100=]'' above.
62	* ''VideoGame/AroundTheWorldIn80Days''
63	* ''VideoGame/{{Beglitched}}'', where matching three gives an effect based on the items being matched, and has an objective to find and blast the opponent hiding in the grid.
64	* ''VideoGame/{{Bejeweled}}'' (TropeCodifier, what a lot of people ''[[OlderThanTheyThink think]]'' is the UrExample). The first ever was called [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shariki Shariki]], developed by Russian programmer Eugene Alemzhin for DOS in 1994.
65	* ''Big Kahuna Reef''
66	* ''VideoGame/BTSIslandInTheSeom''
67	* The ''VideoGame/CradleSeries'', less commonly known as the ''Jewel Master'' series, originally developed by Awem Studio, combines this with city-building elements. It consists of:
68	** ''Cradle of Rome'' (2007): The first game in the series, originally released for PC (along with an MediaNotes/AdobeFlash online demo version) by Awem Studio. Ported to the Platform/NintendoDS in 2008 with its original title by Creator/D3Publisher and ported to the Wii in 2009 with the title ''Jewel Master: Cradle of Egypt'' by Destineer (the European DS version also used this name). The PC and Flash versions also use the name ''Rome Puzzle'' on some versions of the game.
69	** ''Cradle of Persia'' (2007): The sequel. Originally released for PC (along with an Adobe Flash online demo version) by Awem Studio. Ported to the Platform/NintendoDS in 2012 with the title ''Jewel Master: Cradle of Persia'' by Rising Star Games.
70	** ''Jewel Master Egypt'' (2009): The first game in the series without a PC version. It was released exclusively for the Platform/NintendoDS by Storm City Games. Called ''Jewel Master: Cradle of Egypt'' in Europe.
71	** ''Jewel Master: Cradle of Athena'': The second game in the series released exclusively for the Platform/NintendoDS by Storm City Games.
72	** ''Cradle of Rome 2'' (2010): The series returns to Rome in this game. Originally released for the PC by Awem Studio, it was ported to the Platform/NintendoDS as ''Jewel Master: Cradle of Rome 2'' in 2011 and to the Platform/Nintendo3DS as ''Jewel Master: Cradle of Rome 2 3D'' in 2012, both by Rising Star Games.
73	** ''Cradle of Egypt'' (2011): Originally released for PC (along with an Adobe Flash online demo version) by Awem Studio. Ported to the DS as ''Jewel Master: Cradle of Egypt 2'' and to the Platform/Nintendo3DS as ''Jewel Master: Cradle of Egypt 2 3D'', both in 2012 by Rising Star Games. The number 2 was added so it wouldn't be confused with the previous game ''Jewel Master: Cradle of Egypt'', however the number 2 was retained even in the USA, where said game was just called ''Jewel Master: Egypt''.
74	** ''VideoGame/CradleOfEmpires'' (2014): The first game in the series to be an AllegedlyFreeGame and not be released on any computers or consoles (it's only on Platform/{{iOS}} and Platform/{{Android}})
75	* King Games' Saga series: ''VideoGame/CandyCrushSaga'', its sequels ''Candy Crush Soda Saga'' and ''Candy Crush Jelly Saga'', and sister/spin-off titles, ''Farm Heroes Saga'' and ''Pepper Panic Saga''.
76	* ''VideoGame/DisneyEmojiBlitz'' features famous Creator/{{Disney}}, Creator/{{Pixar}}, and even ''Franchise/StarWars'' characters and items in emoji form. Its main draw is that it comes with a free mobile keyboard that allows players to use the emojis in their favorite messaging apps, but the emojis have to be unlocked by playing the game itself.
77	* ''VideoGame/ElementalStory''
78	* ''VideoGame/{{Experiment}}''
79	* ''VideoGame/{{Fishdom}}''
80	* ''VideoGame/FrozenFreeFall'': This one features the characters and setting of the Franchise/DisneyAnimatedCanon film franchise ''Franchise/{{Frozen}}''.
81	* ''VideoGame/FunkoPopBlitz'', based on the Toys/FunkoPop toyline, features a variety of pop culture characters on the board.
82	* ''VideoGame/{{Gardenscapes}}''
83	* ''VideoGame/GemsOfWar''
84	* ''VideoGame/GirlsOverboard'', an HGame in which the player fishes for gems (presented as a slot machine), then matches the gems in order to make gifts for various attractive women.
85	* ''VideoGame/{{Gunspell}}'', which is an UrbanFantasy RPG where you match gems to get Mana (of three different colors) to power up your gear, green celtic crosses to heal, or skulls made out of precious metals to directly damage an enemy.
86	* ''VideoGame/{{Gyromancer}}'', which was co-developed by the same people as ''VideoGame/{{Bejeweled}}'' and is basically a hybrid of that and a RolePlayingGame.
87	* ''VideoGame/HarryPotterPuzzlesAndSpells''
88	* ''VideoGame/HenryHatsworthInThePuzzlingAdventure''
89	* ''VideoGame/{{Hexic}}''
90	* ''VideoGame/HuniePop'', a DatingSim which uses the puzzles to advance relationships with the girls.
91	* ''VideoGame/JewelOfAtlantis''
92	* ''VideoGame/JewelQuest''
93	* ''[[Franchise/JoJosBizarreAdventure JOJO]] Pitter-Patter Pop'' (match four)
94	* ''VideoGame/{{Knightfall}}'': In the first game, three is the minimal amount of same-color blocks that can be eliminated. When there are no combinations left, the game lets you switch blocks around. In the second game, blocks can be eliminated in pairs and individually, but doing so consumes you AP at double and triple rates.
95	* ''VideoGame/TheLegendOfBumbo'' a match-3 puzzle game like Candy Crush but is also a deckbuilding roguelite & a spin-off of The Binding of Isaac
96	* ''VideoGame/LegendOfFae'', a hybrid of this and a simple side-scrolling {{RPG}}
97	* ''VideoGame/MarioParty9'': King Boo's Puzzle Attack is a boss mini-game where players score points by attacking King Boo by swapping two power-up tiles around a board to make three of the same power-up in a row.
98	* ''[=MassiveMatch.io=]'', an IoGame (obviously) where everyone plays simultaneously on the same board. Rotates between several different cooperative and team-competition modes, though they all track individual scores as well.
99	* ''Maui Wowee''
100	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Mixels}}: Mix Your Neighbor'' plays for a variation, where matching one of each colored tribe gives a Max tile that clears vertical and horizontal, along with special "Mix" goals that give extra points if the two specified Mixels are placed next to each other. Each level has a special goal, such as a certain point amount in an allotted time or a specific amount of Mixes and Maxes obtained.
101	* ''Megapanel''
102	* ''[[https://outplay.com/games/mystery-match Mystery Match]]''
103	* ''VideoGame/PanelDePon'', a.k.a. ''Tetris Attack''
104	** ''Franchise/{{Pokemon}} [[VideoGame/PanelDePon Puzzle League]]''
105	* ''VideoGame/PokemonBattleTrozei'', a sequel to ''VideoGame/PokemonTrozei'' but removing the ''falling'' mechanic. Also, it has nothing in common with ''Puzzle League'', which is a simple ''VideoGame/PanelDePon'' reskin.
106	** ''VideoGame/PokemonShuffle''
107	* ''VideoGame/PrimalLegends''
108	* ''VideoGame/PrincessFarmer''
109	* ''[[VideoGame/PuzzleQuest Puzzle Quest: Challenge Of The Warlords]]''
110	** ''VideoGame/PuzzleQuest: Galaxtrix''
111	** ''Puzzle Kingdom''
112	** ''Puzzle Chronicles''
113	** ''Puzzle Quest 2''
114	** ''VideoGame/MarvelPuzzleQuest''
115	** ''Magic Puzzle Quest'' (combines ''Puzzle Quest'' with ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'')
116	* ''VideoGame/PuzzlesAndSurvival'', at least three pieces must be combined to cause damage to an opponent.
117	* ''Sally's Quick Clips'' is a combination of piece-swapping Match Three and a TimeManagementGame.
118	* ''VideoGame/SmallTownMurders''
119	* ''VideoGame/SpandexForce''
120	* ''Taisen Tokkae Dama'', the "swapping pieces" sister series of ''Taisen Puzzle Dama''
121	** ''VisualNovel/TokimekiMemorial Taisen Tokkae Dama'', themed SpinOff of the original ''TTD'' game
122	* ''VideoGame/TheTreasuresOfMontezuma''
123	* ''VideoGame/YoshisCookie'' (match rows/columns)
124	* ''Yes Chef''
125	* ''VideoGame/ZooKeeper2003''
126	** ''VideoGame/ZookeeperBattle''
127	[[/folder]]
128
129	[[folder:Swapping ''and'' Falling]]
130	The player has to swap two or more pieces. However, blocks also come down from the top of the screen at the same time. There is limited control in where and how falling pieces will land.
131	* ''VideoGame/{{Meteos}}''
132	* ''VideoGame/PokemonTrozei'' (match four; a hard mode requires the player to match five)
133	* ''VideoGame/{{Tetrisphere}}'' has the player shift around and drop pieces in order to clear them.
134	[[/folder]]
135
136	[[folder:Launching pieces]]
137	The player chooses the direction or location each piece will go before it starts moving. Once a piece is in motion, it is out of the player's control.
138	* ''7 Wonders''
139	* ''VideoGame/AnimalRotary'' combines this with the Merging system. The player launches an animal-shaped piece into the available slots within a circular board to try and merge them into a different animal based on the Eastern Zodiac order, plus a few more. The game ends if you've filled up the board.
140	* VideoGame/AstroPop (match four)
141	* ''[[http://www.starthinker.com/sand/bubbles.swf Bubbles]]'' (browser game requiring Flash).
142	* ''VideoGame/BubbleWitchSaga''
143	* ''Dynomite!''
144	* ''WesternAnimation/InsideOut Thought Bubbles''.
145	* ''VideoGame/{{Luxor}}''
146	* ''VideoGame/MagicalDrop''
147	* ''VideoGame/{{Magnetica}}''
148	* ''Money Idol Exchanger'' (match two or five)
149	* ''Palamedes'', with the twist that blocks can only be matched after being individually eliminated from the board
150	* ''Plotting'' (match two)
151	* ''Pop'n Pop''
152	* ''VideoGame/{{Potpourri}}''
153	* ''[[VideoGame/BubbleBobble Puzzle Bobble]]'' a.k.a. ''Bust a Move''
154	* ''Puzzloop''
155	* ''VideoGame/{{Snood}}''
156	* ''VideoGame/{{Sparkle}}''
157	* ''Tetrisphere''
158	* ''VideoGame/{{Thrillville}}'' and its sequel have a playable {{Minigame}} on the food and drink stands called Vendor Tender where the pieces are food or drink items.
159	* ''VideoGame/{{Tropix}}'': The game and its sequel contain a ''Puffer Popper'' minigame where you play as a crab taking out pufferfish attempting to destroy a sandcastle with colored bubble.
160	* ''VideoGame/{{Tumblebugs}}''
161	* ''VideoGame/{{Zuma}}''
162	[[/folder]]
163
164	[[folder:Merging pieces]]
165	The player can freely move pieces around the board, combining them to increase the level of the item.
166	* ''VideoGame/LoveAndPies'', a Merge-''2'' game
167	* ''VideoGame/MergeDragons'', the GenrePopularizer.
168	* ''Merge Gems!''
169	* ''Merge Magic!''
170	* The Elf Quest event from ''VideoGame/HarvestTown''
171	[[/folder]]
172
173	[[folder:Other]]
174	The mechanics in these games don't fit in any category above or are unique.
175	* ''[[VideoGame/TwoThousandAndFortyEight 2048]]'' is a match ''two'' game where the player uses the arrows to shift gravity and make two similar tiles merge together to get a tile of double the value.
176	* Similar to ''Klax'' is ''VideoGame/{{Audiosurf}}'', which combined the concept with levels generated from ''your'' music files.
177	* ''VideoGame/BestFiends'' has players create a line through at least three of the same piece to clear them off of the board, filling up meters to unleash special attacks and depleting slug hit points. Some levels require certain amounts of a piece to be cleared to finish it.
178	* [[https://www.moddb.com/games/break-blocks Break Blocks]] involves a rhythm game to construct a large block (otherwise parts of the block have the wrong color), then dropping it towards the outside of the ring. Blocks need to be matched in the same color, may use a secondary color to bridge to a different color, and then broken in a set of 10 or more.
179	* ''Collapse!'': Rows of colored blocks emerge from the bottom of the screen, and you click a group of three or more blocks of the same color to clear them from the screen.
180	* ''VideoGame/{{Chromashift}}'': You change the color of the gems, instead of moving the gem positions. [[https://www.deviantart.com/akuoreo/art/Chroma-Shift-532740849 ]].
181	* ''VideoGame/DisneyTsumTsum'': Players drag their fingers over three or more {{Puni Plush}}ies of Creator/{{Disney}}, Creator/{{Pixar}}, and ''Franchise/StarWars'' characters to clear them away.
182	* ''VideoGame/LilysGarden'' has you tapping on sets of two or more tiles in order to match them away. New tiles fall from above to fill the empty spaces.
183	* ''VideoGame/MagicShop'': You click on three or more pieces that are adjacent to each other to collect them.
184	* ''Magic Vines'' has you rotating branches of various flora instead of swapping tiles. Align three or more and ''poof''!
185	* ''VideoGame/MarioPartyStarRush'':
186	** Tiles and Tribulations challenges the players to move tiles around a grid depicting different enemies to line up three in a row to earn coins. The players use a square-shaped cursor to rotate four pieces in a clockwise motion.
187	** Boo's Block Party is a side mode where blocks with the numbers 1 through 4 rise from the bottom of the screen. Players can move their cursor around to select blocks and rotate them through the four numbers to match three in either a horizontal or vertical line to eliminate them and score points. The objective is to go as long as possible without letting the blocks rise to the top of the screen.
188	* ''VideoGame/PuzzleAndDragons'': You touch and drag a piece, and the piece can go anywhere at all, shifting other pieces behind it as it goes. Any pieces that are eliminated get filled with new pieces. You only have a few seconds to shift it around and line up three before it counts as a turn.
189	%%* ''VideoGame/DoctorWhoLegacy''
190	* The game show ''Series/ThreeOnAMatch'' had contestants attempting to match either prizes or images (depending on when in the run it was) on a large 4x3 game board, using money earned from answering questions to uncover boxes.
191	* TabletopGame/TicTacToe (Noughts and Crosses) might be the simplest match-three game. Two players. The first to get three [=Xs=] or [=Os=] in a row, column, or diagonal is the winner.
192	** Game show ''Series/TheHollywoodSquares'' and its UK counterpart ''Celebrity Squares'' are based on this, as are ''Series/TicTacDough'' and the Secret "X" game on ''Series/ThePriceIsRight''.
193	* ''Triple Town'': the player places objects on a field, combining them to make other objects. Three grasses make a bush, three bushes make a tree, three trees make a house, and so on until the board is full.
194	* Two games in the ''VideoGame/WithFriends'' line:
195	** In ''Matching With Friends'' you drag and drop pieces onto the board to match three or more of a color to be removed from the board.
196	** In ''Gems With Friends'', you drag and drop individual gems onto the board; once three or more match a color, they condense to form one gem of the next higher number.
197	* ''VideoGame/WreckingCrew '98'': Each row of panels can be shifted, though unwanted panels can usually be demolished individually.
198	[[/folder]]
199
200	[[folder:Uncategorized]]
201	* ''Bounce Out!''
202	* ''VideoGame/{{Chuzzle}}''
203	* ''Fruit Smash'' and its seasonal sequel, ''Trick or Treat Smash''
204	* ''VideoGame/{{Glissaria}}'' (match five)
205	* ''Mariposa''
206	* ''[[http://www.kloonigames.com/blog/games/m3 Molesting the Match-3 Market]]''
207	* ''Puzznic'' (match two)
208	* ''Tip Top''
209	* The Bilge Pumping and Rumble games in ''Yohoho! VideoGame/PuzzlePirates''. The Sailing game also has a match-four mechanic, but it's not the primary goal.
210	** The developers at Three Rings really like these; the Foraging and Treasure Haul games are also Match Three.
211	* As an AprilFoolsDay joke, Kongregate featured a Match ''One'' game.
212	* ''Paris Hilton's Diamond Quest''. Really.
213	* ''Alphacat'' combines this with TurnBasedCombat. The more matching tiles you draw a line through, the more effective your attack is.
214	** ''VideoGame/MagicalDaysTheBratsParade'' with a similar mechanic.
215	[[/folder]]
216

Context Main / MatchThreeGame