Reviewing games for a living might sound like a dream job, but it's not without its challenges. Imagine trying to write while constantly battling the urge to dive back into a game that's just too addictive to resist. What if your productivity hinges on waiting for those precious extra lives to replenish? It's a real struggle.
Take Triple Match, for instance. It's not the first casual match-three mobile game to put us in such a bind, and it certainly won't be the last. Yet, it stands out as a particularly captivating offender. Developed by Boombox Games, known for their polished casual puzzlers, Triple Match is a blend of the familiar and the innovative. While its core free-to-play mechanics are nothing new, the game itself offers a fresh take on the genre.
Invented a Sub-genre
Triple Match might even be heralded as the pioneer of a new sub-genre. Since its launch in April 2022, it has amassed 20 million downloads across iOS and Android, according to SensorTower. Its influence is evident with the release of similar titles like Peak’s Match Factory, which followed 18 months later.
Let's delve into the familiar aspects first. In Triple Match, you tackle puzzle stages against the clock, utilizing power-ups and boosts to enhance your chances of success. Completing stages earns you coins, which you can spend on additional boosts, power-ups, extra attempts, and even gifts for teammates. The game features a subtle multiplayer component, allowing you to request lives and make donations.
As you advance through the campaign, you'll work towards various objectives, such as constructing your Kyoto Zen Oasis, developing an entire village, unlocking features, and participating in tournaments. This is where Triple Match starts to feel like a typical match-three puzzler. However, it's the core gameplay mechanics that truly set it apart.
How Do I Play?
You're likely accustomed to matching items arranged in a grid by sliding them into alignment. Triple Match takes a different approach. It presents its matchable objects in a sprawling heap, challenging you to clear them by tapping three in succession.
Here's how it works: The screen is filled with a diverse array of items—pianos, notebooks, umbrellas, letters, clouds, cakes, and more. At the bottom of the playing area, there's a bar with seven slots. When you tap an object, it moves to this bar. If three identical objects appear in the bar, they disappear. However, if you fill the bar completely or run out of time, you lose.
Initially, this might seem straightforward. You simply tap on similar-looking items. But as you progress through the levels, the objects start to resemble each other a bit too closely. Is that a red and yellow rocket or a pair of binoculars? An apple or a tomato? The 3D clutter can make a 7 look like an I, a dash, or any other shape.
Consequently, you must make rapid decisions based on the information at hand, all while racing against the clock and the filling bar. What starts as a simple tapping exercise quickly evolves into a test of nerves, precision, and visual acuity.
Scattered within the jumble are various boosts to aid you, such as a lightning strike that clears three items, a clock that adds more time, and a variety of bonus items. Power-ups allow you to shuffle the playing area, eject objects from your bar, freeze the clock, and instantly match three items.
In Conclusion…
The most concise way to describe Triple Match is "Mahjong meets Fruit Ninja." It's an addictive, vibrant, and innovative addition to the match-three genre that penalizes hasty actions, blurred vision, and clumsy fingers, yet rewards teamwork.
Themed events, such as those for Earth Week or Saving the Reindeer during Christmas, ensure the game remains engaging throughout the year.
Triple Match is available on Google Play and the App Store, with more information on the game's official site [ttpp].
A Must For Puzzle Game Fans
If you enjoy casual free-to-play puzzlers on mobile, Triple Match comes highly recommended.
Overall Rating: 8.1 | Graphics: 8 | Gameplay: 8.3 | Controls: 8
