Reviewing games for a living might sound like a dream job, but it comes with its fair share of hidden challenges.
What happens when the game you're supposed to be reviewing is so irresistibly addictive that you can’t focus on writing? What if your productivity is dictated by in-game timers and life resets? It’s a real struggle.
Triple Match isn’t the first casual match-three mobile game to put critics in this position, and it certainly won’t be the last—but it’s one of the most compelling offenders yet.
Developed by Boombox Games, a studio known for crafting sleek and engaging casual puzzlers, Triple Match strikes a rare balance between familiarity and innovation. While it follows the classic free-to-play formula you’ve seen countless times, it introduces a gameplay twist that sets it apart from the crowd.
A New Sub-Genre Emerges
It might even mark the birth of a new sub-genre. Since its launch in April 2022, SensorTower reports over 20 million downloads across iOS and Android. Its success has already inspired imitators, including Peak’s Match Factory, released 18 months later.
Let’s start with what you already know. In Triple Match, you progress through timed puzzle levels, using power-ups and boosts to overcome tough stages. Completing levels earns coins, which you can spend on helpful upgrades, extra lives, or even gifts for your teammates.
The game features a subtle multiplayer element that lets you request lives from friends or donate to others—adding a touch of community without being intrusive. As you advance, you’ll work toward long-term goals like building your Kyoto Zen Oasis, expanding a village, unlocking new features, and participating in seasonal tournaments.
So far, it sounds like standard match-three fare. But where Triple Match truly differentiates itself is in the core mechanics.
How to Play


Forget grid-based matching. Instead of sliding tiles into place, Triple Match drops a chaotic pile of colorful objects—pianos, notebooks, umbrellas, letters, clouds, cakes, and more—onto your screen. At the bottom, a seven-slot bar waits to be filled.
Tap any object, and it moves into the bar. When three identical items appear in the bar, they clear automatically. But if the bar fills up—or the timer runs out—you’re out.
At first, it’s simple: just tap matching items. But as levels progress, visual deception kicks in. Is that a red-yellow rocket or a pair of binoculars? An apple or a tomato? With objects rendered in 3D and overlapping at odd angles, a "7" might look like an "I", or a dash—tricking your brain in real time.
You’re forced to make rapid decisions under pressure, balancing speed with precision. What starts as a relaxing tap game evolves into a fast-paced test of visual acuity, focus, and reflexes.
Scattered throughout the chaos are helpful boosts: a lightning bolt clears a matched trio, a clock adds extra time, and bonus items provide strategic advantages. Power-ups let you reshuffle the board, remove items from your bar, freeze the timer, or instantly complete a match of three.
Final Thoughts
The best way to describe Triple Match? “Mahjong meets Fruit Ninja.” It’s vibrant, addictive, and refreshingly original within the match-three space—punishing impulsive taps, poor eyesight, and slow reactions, while rewarding patience, teamwork, and sharp observation.
Seasonal themed events—like Earth Week cleanups or holiday missions to save the reindeer—keep the experience dynamic and engaging year-round.
Available on Google Play and the App Store, with an official site at [ttpp].
A Must-Play for Puzzle Lovers
If you enjoy casual, free-to-play mobile puzzlers, Triple Match comes highly recommended.
8.1
Graphics: 8
Gameplay: 8.3
Controls: 8
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