:: STEADY MATCHING :: TASTY JAM :: Read Review »Rovio Entertainment has released a new match-3 game called Jolly Jam - where you'll play as Prince Jam as you try to save Princess Honey and the Jelly Kingdom from the evil boss.
The game is delightfully adorable with its cute characters and bright graphics. It offers hundreds of levels, epic combo attacks, and an adventure across the Jelly Kingdom from Lemonade Lake to the Chocolate Mountains. It also features a new mechanic to match-3 games that lets you draw a box around matching jellies to complete levels.
You can download Jolly Jam for free on the App Store.
:: TASTY JAM
:: BLOCKS ON BLOCKS :: PATH BASED MATCH-3 :: Read Review »Boom and Zap have returned to their magical matching adventure in Rescue Quest. They will once again explore ruins, fight monsters, and rescue spritelings by matching colorful games. Specifically, the new update adds 20 new levels in the Kadabra Ruins and an awesome tile-clearing Cannon.
You can download Rescue Quest for free on the App Store.
:: RPG-BASED MATCH-3 :: Read Review »Alexander Trowers has announced that tomorrow, January 22, Super Glyph Quest is getting a big update. The RPG/match-3 puzzler will be getting new quests to finally finish the war in the Frozen North.
You'll be saving Rhiabelle from herself while fighting new monsters and meeting Dave, the King of the Goblins, and Thomas, the Troll King. The update will also add a bunch of new gear and some special guests from Monument Valley, Hatoful Boyfriend, and Skullkickers. You can check out the angry, lovesick pigeon and other new additions in the preview video below.
Super Glyph Quest is available for $2.99 on the App Store.
:: STEADY POPPINGSquirrel Girl is coming to Marvel Puzzle Quest. The match-3 puzzle game from D3PA has you assembling a crack team of super heroes from the Marvel Universe, including Captain America, Spider-Man, and Hulk.
While Squirrel Girl's power to control squirrels may not seem to be on par with unbeatable strength or spidey senses, she's got the chops to take down Dr. Doom. In Marvel Puzzle Quest. She's also the first character to have color strengths in Yellow, Green, and Purple gems, giving her a unique power set. You can win win her in the Oscorp: Heroic story event, which ends on January 21.
You can download Marvel Puzzle Quest for free on the App Store today to catch Squirrel Girl.
:: STEADY POPPING :: Read Review »Gumi, Inc. has launched Bust-A-Move Islands, a new match-3 puzzle adventure in pretty much the same vein as the rest of the series. The app sports some exceedingly cute dragons called Bub and Bob, who adventure across fantasy islands popping bubbles and trying to find a cure for the evil warlock’s spell. Bust-A-Move Islands has over 200 puzzles to keep you popping like mad.
You can also play against your friends on Facebook and challenge them to see who is the best popper. To aid you in your bubbly quest you'll get special bubbles including the Super Bubble, Bubble Plus, and Bomb Bubble Boosts. Just watch out for dangers like Snake Bubble, Skull Bubble, Rocks, and Blocks. There's so many bubbles I can't handle it!
You can bubble download Bust-A-Move Islands for free on the App Store.
10tons has released their newest action puzzler, Sparkle Epic, which is their first free-to-play title in the Sparkle series. The game offers you over 100 challenging levels with power-ups and new orbs such as boulders and bombs.
“Sparkle Epic is a great casual action puzzle game. We have succeeded in making the game fun and challenging for all players. We expect a strong launch, as the Sparkle franchise has a wide appeal and a solid existing fanbase.” says Tero Alatalo, CEO of 10tons, in a press release.
You can download Sparkle Epic for free on the App Store now.
:: SIMPLE POPPING
:: PATH BASED MATCH-3D3 has revealed that the Guardians of the Galaxy are set to arrive in the next Marvel Puzzle Quest episode, titled "Meet Rocket & Groot." In addition to this, both Rocket and Groot will appear in their own Versus Tournament starting on November 28, two days after the new episode arrives.
The episode will be run twice, with Thor: Goddess of Thunder available to win in the first run and Gamora in the second run, which will start on December 1.
Marvel Puzzle Quest is available to download for free now, with the episode bringing Rocket and Groot set to arrive on November 26.
:: NEW TRICKSWith the original Puzzle Quest, developer Infinite Interactive showed that a genre as deep as RPGs could be married with one as seemingly shallow as match-3 puzzle games creating a match (3) made in heaven. With their point now proven, thanks to the continued success of that series, their new game, Gems of War, feels like another victory lap. We slay dark messiahs of might and matching yet again in this edition of It Came From Canada!
In the world of Krystara, all players need to start battling against hordes of monsters is a map to explore and some directions from their stern adviser. Gems of War’s centrepiece is, without a doubt, its numerous puzzle-driven enemy encounters. Players and their opponents share the same grid of gems and take turns matching with different gems causing different effects. Matching skull gems launches a basic attack while matching four of any gem gives another turn. And combo chains provide extra magical energy. From there though, benefits will vary. Most gems represent different elements like fire and water. Matching those gems charges up the special attacks of whatever team members specializes in those elements. Players might activate a solar-powered axe attack or defense-buffing howl driven by green energy.
Managing parties to better adapt to the random nature of the puzzle board is a key component of Gems of War’s non-combat gameplay. Aside from messing around with the look of their main character, players can tweak their elemental affinity as well as equip them with new weapons built to use new elements. Players can also recruit monsters from victorious battles and create a four-person squad. Elemental diversity opens up strategic opportunities along with the ability to limit enemy options. A fair but steep difficulty curve, especially for those who choose to tackle the bonus challenges, will encourage players to constantly customize their party until it is as strong as it can be.
Right now, the biggest barrier between players and the puzzle action is Gems of War’s curiously long and frequent load times. Hopefully that’s something they can fix before the official release. In any case, expect the game to fully launch everywhere soon.
