Reviewing games for a living might sound like a dream job, but it's not without its hidden challenges. What happens when the game you're reviewing is so addictive that it constantly interrupts your writing process with irresistible cravings? Or when your productivity is tied to waiting for the game to replenish your lives? These are real dilemmas that reviewers face, and Triple Match by Boombox Games is a prime example of such a game.
Triple Match isn't the first casual match-three mobile game to put reviewers in this tricky position, but it's certainly a notable one. Developed by Boombox Games, a studio known for its refined casual puzzle games, Triple Match offers a blend of the familiar and the innovative. While its core free-to-play mechanics are well-trodden ground, the gameplay itself feels fresh and unique.
Invented a Sub-genre
Triple Match could be seen as pioneering a new sub-genre within the match-three category. Since its launch in April 2022, it has amassed 20 million downloads across iOS and Android, according to SensorTower. Its success has even spurred the creation of similar games, like Peak's Match Factory, which debuted 18 months later.
Let's delve into what makes Triple Match tick. The game features puzzle stages that you must complete within a time limit, using various power-ups and boosts to enhance your performance. Completing these stages earns you coins, which you can then spend on additional boosts, power-ups, extra attempts, and even gifts for your teammates. Triple Match includes a subtle multiplayer component, allowing you to request lives and make donations.
As you advance through the campaign, you can work towards multiple objectives, such as building your Kyoto Zen Oasis, constructing a village, unlocking new features, and competing in tournaments. This is all standard fare for a casual match-three game. However, Triple Match distinguishes itself through its unique gameplay mechanics.
How Do I Play?
Unlike traditional match-three games where you slide objects in a grid to align them, Triple Match presents a different challenge. The screen is filled with a chaotic heap of items—pianos, notebooks, umbrellas, letters, clouds, cakes, and more. At the bottom of the screen, there's a bar with seven slots.
When you tap an item, it moves to this bar. If three identical items appear in the bar, they disappear. However, if the bar fills up completely or you run out of time, you lose. Initially, this seems straightforward—you just need to tap items that look the same. But as you progress, the items begin to resemble each other too closely for comfort.
Is that a red and yellow rocket or a pair of binoculars? An apple or a tomato? The 3D jumble makes it even harder, as a 7 can look like an I or any number of other shapes. This forces you to make quick decisions under pressure, turning what starts as a simple tapping game into a test of nerves, precision, and visual acuity.
Scattered among the chaos are various boosts to aid you, such as a lightning strike that clears three items, a clock that adds time, and other bonus items. Power-ups allow you to shuffle the playing area, remove items from your bar, freeze the clock, or instantly match three items.
In Conclusion…
The best way to describe Triple Match is as a blend of Mahjong and Fruit Ninja. It's an addictive, vibrant, and innovative addition to the match-three genre that penalizes rash decisions, poor eyesight, and clumsy fingers, yet rewards teamwork.
Themed events, such as those for Earth Week or Saving the Reindeer at Christmas, keep the game feeling fresh throughout the year. Triple Match is available on Google Play and the App Store, with more information on the game's official site.
A Must For Puzzle Game Fans
If you enjoy casual free-to-play puzzle games on your mobile device, Triple Match is an easy recommendation to make.
8.1 Graphics: 8 Gameplay: 8.3 Controls: 8
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