Tile Match

Tile Match is a free puzzle game that runs in your browser. You clear a layered pile of square tiles, each marked with one of up to 18 symbols, by picking free tiles into a 7-slot tray. When three tiles of the same symbol are in the tray, they vanish. Clear every tile to win. If the tray fills with seven tiles and no triple is made, you lose.

The game has unlimited numbered levels, and each level is the same for every player. You can play with a mouse, touch, or keyboard. There is no sound. Your progress is stored in your browser on this device, so there is no account to create.

How to play tile match online

1. Choose a level from the Level select. You start at level 1, and winning a level unlocks the next one.
2. Look for bright tiles. Bright tiles are free. Dark tiles are covered and cannot be picked.
3. Tap or click a bright tile to move it into the tray.
4. Watch the tray. Equal symbols always sit together. When three of one symbol are in the tray, they are removed.
5. Keep picking until the board is empty. If the tray reaches seven tiles with no triple, you lose.
6. After a loss, press Undo (n) if you have undos left, or press New game to restart the level.
7. Press Hint when you are stuck. It highlights a free tile for 3 seconds and names its symbol.
8. Press Shuffle (n) when the board is stuck. It re-deals the symbols of the tiles still on the board, not the tray.

On a keyboard, Tab moves between free tiles, and the Arrow keys jump to the nearest free tile in that direction. Enter or Space picks the focused tile. H is Hint, U or Ctrl/Cmd+Z is Undo, S is Shuffle, N restarts the level, and F toggles fullscreen. Esc closes a dialog or leaves fullscreen. The stats show Level, Time, and Tiles left.

What are the tile match rules?

You win Tile Match by clearing every tile from the board and the tray. You pick free tiles one at a time into a tray with seven slots. As soon as three tiles of one symbol are in the tray, they are removed. You lose if the tray holds seven tiles and no triple has been made.

A new tile goes right after the last tile with the same symbol. If there is no match, it goes at the right end. Equal symbols therefore always sit together, which makes triples easy to spot.

Which tiles are free in tile match?

A tile is free when no tile still on the board on a higher layer overlaps it. Two tiles overlap when they are less than a full tile apart on both axes. Tiles that only touch at an edge do not overlap. Tiles on the same layer never block each other, so there is no left or right blocking.

Upper layers can be offset by half a tile, so one tile on top can cover parts of two, or even four, tiles below it. For example, if a tile sits half over two neighbours in a row, both stay covered until it is taken, while a third tile further along that row is already free.

Tile match strategy: how do you keep the tray from filling up?

Favour a tile that matches two tiles already in the tray. It completes a triple at once and frees up slots. A tile that matches only one tray tile is a sound second choice. A tile with no match takes a slot that stays occupied until another copy appears.

Watch the tray count. When it holds five or six tiles, pick only tiles that complete a triple. A tile that completes a triple in the seventh slot is safe, because the triple clears first. Also, removing a tile can uncover tiles beneath it, so picks that open up symbols you already hold are useful.

How do Undo, Shuffle and Hint work?

Undo puts the last picked tile back on the board. If that pick completed a triple, the other two tiles return to the tray. Each level gives you 3 undos.

Shuffle re-deals the symbols of tiles still on the board, and each level gives you 2. It also clears the undo history. Hint highlights a free tile. It first looks for one that completes a triple with two tray tiles, then one that matches a single tray tile, then the symbol with the most free copies. It is a suggestion, not a guaranteed route.

Why is every tile match level winnable?

The generator first picks a random order in which the tiles can be taken one by one. It then deals the symbols in groups of up to three triples along that order, or up to two on levels 1 to 3. Following that order never needs more than six tray slots.

Each level is generated from a seed based on its number, so every player sees the same level. Only Shuffle changes the deal.

Frequently asked questions

Is Tile Match free, and do I need to sign up?

Yes, it is a free browser game. You do not need to sign up. Your progress is saved on this device only, and nothing is sent anywhere.

Can I play Tile Match on a phone?

Yes. Tap a bright tile to pick it. The board shrinks to fit the screen, and tiles are at least 36 px wide on phones from 320 px wide.

Is my game saved if I close the page?

Yes. The game in progress is saved after every move, including the tiles, the tray, the undo history, the counts left and the time so far. Reloading the page restores it.

Do the levels change each time I play?

No. Each level is the same for everyone and on every visit. Only Shuffle changes the symbols on the board.

How do I unlock the next level?

Win the current level. Winning level n unlocks level n+1. You can replay any unlocked level from the Level select, which also shows your best time for each one.

What happens when I lose?

You lose when the tray holds seven tiles and no triple has been made. You can press Undo if you have undos left, or press New game to restart the level.

Is there sound?

No. Tile Match has no sound.

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