Halloween Match 3

This version puts far more obstruction on the grid than the plain versions of its family. Some squares stay locked until a match happens against them; others carry solid blocks that need several hits before they break apart.

Planning therefore starts with opening space rather than with whatever is easiest to see. The groups available on sight are usually sitting in areas that are already clear, and clearing clear ground achieves nothing towards the stage condition. Players who get through the hard stages pass up several easy opportunities to go and break something awkward in a corner.

The night theme darkens the grid, though the icons are outlined brightly enough to remain distinct. If your eyes start swimming on a small screen, tilting away from a reflection helps more than staring harder — a small thing nobody thinks about during a long session with this sort of game.