"Triple Match: A Fresh Take on Puzzles"

Reviewing games for a living might sound like a dream job, but it's not without its hidden challenges. Imagine being so hooked on a game that you can't stop playing long enough to write about it, or finding yourself only productive while waiting for those extra lives to recharge. It's a real struggle.

Take Triple Match, for instance—a casual match-three mobile game developed by Boombox Games. This title is both comfortingly familiar and intriguingly unique. You've seen the free-to-play loop countless times, but Triple Match brings something new to the table. It's so addictive that it might just be the poster child for games that disrupt your workday.

Invented a Sub-genre

Triple Match could very well be the pioneer of a new sub-genre within the match-three 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 hit the market 18 months later.

Let's dive into what makes Triple Match tick. The game follows the typical match-three format, challenging you to complete puzzle stages within a time limit, utilizing power-ups and boosts to keep your streak alive.

As you progress, you earn coins which you can spend on more boosts, power-ups, extra attempts, and even gifts for your teammates. The game features a subtle multiplayer aspect, allowing you to request lives and make donations to others.

The campaign offers various goals, from building a Kyoto Zen Oasis and creating a village to unlocking new features and competing in tournaments. So far, it's a standard match-three experience. But here's where Triple Match stands out: its innovative gameplay mechanics.

How Do I Play?

Unlike traditional match-three games where you slide objects on a grid, Triple Match throws all its items into a chaotic pile. Your task? Tap three identical objects in succession to clear them. The game's interface includes a bar at the bottom with seven slots. When you tap an item, it moves to this bar, and when three matching items appear, they disappear.

The catch is that filling the bar completely or running out of time results in a loss. Initially, it's straightforward—tap on items that look the same. But as you advance, the objects become increasingly similar, challenging your perception. Is that a rocket or a pair of binoculars? An apple or a tomato? The 3D jumble can make a 7 look like an I or any other shape, forcing you to make quick, accurate decisions under pressure.

Scattered among the chaos are helpful boosts like lightning strikes to clear three items, clocks to add time, and various bonus items. Power-ups let you shuffle the board, eject items from your bar, freeze the timer, or instantly match three items.

In Conclusion…

To sum up Triple Match succinctly, it's like "Mahjong meets Fruit Ninja". It's an addictive, colorful, and innovative twist on the match-three genre that penalizes haste, poor eyesight, and clumsiness, yet rewards teamwork.

The game keeps things fresh with themed events throughout the year, such as Earth Week or Saving the Reindeer at Christmas. You can find Triple Match on Google Play and the App Store, with more information available on the game's official site.

A Must For Puzzle Game Fans

If you're into casual free-to-play puzzlers on mobile, Triple Match comes highly recommended.

8.1 Graphics: 8 Gameplay: 8.3 Controls: 8