Triple Match Unveiled: A Fresh Take on Puzzles

Reviewing games for a living can seem like a dream job, but it comes with its own set of challenges that often go unnoticed. Imagine trying to write while constantly battling the urge to play just one more round of a game so addictive it interrupts your work. Or, consider the scenario where you can only focus on your writing while waiting for the game to replenish your lives. It's a real struggle.

Triple Match, developed by Boombox Games, is a prime example of such a game. It's not the first casual match-three mobile game to put reviewers in this predicament, and it certainly won't be the last. Yet, it stands out as a particularly compelling title. Boombox Games is known for their polished casual puzzlers, and Triple Match is no exception. It strikes a balance between familiarity and innovation, offering a core free-to-play loop that feels both known and refreshingly new.

Invented a Sub-genre

Triple Match could be seen as the pioneer of a new sub-genre within the match-three puzzle category. Since its launch in April 2022, it has amassed an impressive 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 dive into what makes Triple Match familiar yet unique. The game challenges you to complete puzzle stages against the clock, utilizing power-ups and boosts to enhance your chances of success. As you progress, you earn coins that can be spent on additional boosts, power-ups, extra attempts, and even gifts for teammates. The game's subtle multiplayer feature allows you to request lives and make donations, adding a social element to the experience.

Throughout the campaign, you'll work towards various goals, such as building your Kyoto Zen Oasis, creating a village, unlocking features, and competing in tournaments. This adds depth and variety to the traditional match-three gameplay.

How Do I Play?

Unlike traditional match-three games where you slide objects in a grid, Triple Match presents a chaotic pile of items—pianos, notebooks, umbrellas, letters, clouds, cakes, and more. Your task is to clear them by tapping three identical objects in succession. A bar at the bottom of the screen holds seven spaces, and each tap transfers an object to this bar. When three identical objects align in the bar, they vanish. However, if the bar fills up or time runs out, you lose.

Initially, this seems simple enough—tap on matching items. But as you advance, the items start to resemble each other too closely, making it challenging to distinguish between them. Is that a red and yellow rocket or a pair of binoculars? An apple or a tomato? The 3D jumble adds to the confusion, as a 7 can look like an I or a dash from certain angles.

This forces you to make quick decisions based on limited information, turning what started as a straightforward task into a test of nerves, accuracy, and eyesight. Hidden among the chaos are various boosts, such as a lightning strike to clear three items, a clock to extend time, and bonus items. Power-ups allow you to shuffle the play area, eject items from your bar, freeze the timer, and instantly match three items.

In Conclusion…

Triple Match can be best described as "Mahjong meets Fruit Ninja." It's an addictive, colorful, and novel addition to the match-three genre that penalizes hasty moves, poor eyesight, and clumsy fingers, yet rewards teamwork. Themed events, like those for Earth Week or Saving the Reindeer during Christmas, keep the game engaging throughout the year.

Triple Match is available on Google Play and the App Store, with the official site here.

A Must For Puzzle Game Fans

If you enjoy casual free-to-play puzzle games on mobile, Triple Match is highly recommended.

8.1 Graphics: 8 Gameplay: 8.3 Controls: 8