Test Royal Match: How does it measure up to the competition?

Let's discover Royal Match, which I recently tested. A breath of fresh air in some respects, Royal Match doesn't overdo it and is directly inspired by what gamers looking for reflection on mobile phones are looking for, without any headaches or ads. Are you up to the task of re-furnishing the royal castle?

A classic, non-intrusive match-3 for a pocket-sized experience

In Royal match, simplicity meets the colourful world of match-3. Similar to a Archero in the purity of its interface with a single home screen as the only starting point for the game, Royal Match is easy to pick up.

Moreover, its gameplay is also clear, and match-3 fans are already familiar with this formula: you have to solve levels to earn stars and unlock new decoration elements that are usually used to renovate or furnish a room or a place.

Having played many match-3s, I can't help but compare it to the classics, and where a try-harder might not have enough to enjoy on Royal Match, the low level of player input outside of the levels to be solved gives the game a welcome restfulness. Say goodbye to intrusive ads and one-click pack sales that pollute your visual space. The game is also positively noted for the absence of pop-ups and other untimely discounted purchases. Royal Match doesn't bother with these things.

Particularly satisfying combo gameplay

Moreover, as far as gameplay is concerned, even if the title is far from reinventing anything, some known elements such as the rockets which alternate between vertical and horizontal at each turn are here static or vary slightly from the standards. I also enjoyed using and abusing the boosts combinations on the game grid.

Indeed, each combination offers unique effects: a propeller combined with a TNT will make it cross the grid to place it in the location that will hit the most objective points; while a colour-destroying facet ball (destroys all objects of a single type) combined with a rocket will make rockets appear in all directions on the grid to clear the board with explosives.

This versatility of boosts offers a deeper strategic feel than other titles in the genre.

Resplendent graphics for a successful royal theme

However, it's really the graphics that make Royal Match shine. On the main screen you are presented with the room to be furnished, with the furniture you have already unlocked. The set colours are shimmering and the whole scene is enhanced with sublime lighting effects with sunbursts highlighting some dust particles in suspension.

On the grid, the icons remain fairly simple although their depth of shading almost gives the impression that they are coming off the screen at times. The visual effects of explosions or matches are not amazing but fit well with the theme.

Discovering music and temporary fashions

In keeping with the artistic theme, the music is still a bit too comical for my taste, so I prefer to play it without sound. However, the soundtrack varies over time and is less repetitive than other titles. As for the story, it remains more or less non-existent. It must be said that Royal Match has the merit of being content with what it knows how to do without trying to add layers of complexity where players don't need them.

The additional interest of the game that I discovered at my test of Royal Match are the temporary challenges and game modes. From one day to the next, you can discover a challenge that will push you to complete 15 levels faster than 4 other random players. In addition, after joining a team or creating your own, you can cross a team challenge to beat your opponents by accumulating maximum points, all together. Moreover, in your single player levels, you will also discover variations of the match-3 puzzle such as levels (although rare) where you have to save the king and where the constraint is not the number of moves but a timer to finish the level before his lordship dies.

The weak point of the current system that limits the place of this test Royal Match in my heart is obviously the limited game mechanics. Indeed, your games will be limited to the number of hearts you have, as is often the case. When you run out of hearts, you can use 900 coins to refill your stock or ask your team for help.

So what can we conclude from this test ? Royal Match is a very good match-3 to take with you everywhere. It shakes off the flaws of many other titles in the genre that only try to make you buy more and more bonuses and other packs while enhancing the player experience with beautiful light effects, temporary challenges and modes as well as versatile boosts for more strategic games. If you've had your fill of the biggest licences in the genre, Royal Match brings a breath of fresh air without overdoing it.

This test Royal Match is made in partnership with Huawei, which offers rewards to players who install their mobile games via the App Gallery. Huawei also has a Game Center that centralises its offers and benefits for gamers.

Positive points

• Pleasant pocket game
• No pressure to buy
• Well thought-out boost combinations
• Sophisticated graphics
• A generous bonus package

Negative points

• A poor soundtrack
• Repetitive levels at the start of the game
• Sessions limited by the number of hearts