Pattern matching games

February 15, 2022 11:45 AM

I've been seeing a lot of phone game apps (on android) where you match tiles to make them go away. And while they're exactly the kind of brainless time wasters I'd like right now, they all look so ugly and cheap. I really like pretty looking games. (Needn't necessarily be tile matching, but scratch the same itch. )
posted by Omnomnom to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (13 answers total)

Twenty and Just Get 10. I play them on ios but I'm assuming they're similar on android. They are not artistic or super gorgeous, but they're not ugly like a lot of the matching games are.
posted by 2 cats in the yard at 11:54 AM on February 15, 2022

I enjoyed the aesthetics of Art Puzzle enough to pay to remove the ads.

I assume you've heard of the often recommended I Love Hue and I Love Hue Too, but if not, they are also very pleasing.
posted by carolr at 12:04 PM on February 15, 2022 [2 favorites]

If you are a NYT subscriber, their game 'Tiles' is exactly what you want.
posted by BuddhaInABucket at 12:12 PM on February 15, 2022 [4 favorites]

Infinity Loop (link goes to a web version) is available for Apple and Android. It scratched that particular itch long enough some years ago that paying for the ad-free version was well worth it.
posted by pendrift at 12:27 PM on February 15, 2022

I'm fond of High Rise for match three experiences. For something with a little more challenge, but not crazy brain twisting I like the escape games from Nicolet, which I play on my browser, but I think you can download to a phone.
posted by brookeb at 12:45 PM on February 15, 2022

I've been playing a lot of Shapes Mania - Vasarely Inspired over the past few days. I find the colors so relaxing.
posted by chaiyai at 1:25 PM on February 15, 2022 [1 favorite]

Topsoil!
posted by spamandkimchi at 1:46 PM on February 15, 2022

2048.
posted by penguin pie at 2:30 PM on February 15, 2022

NYT Tiles
posted by Ideefixe at 3:12 PM on February 15, 2022 [1 favorite]

Free Mah Jong
posted by lois1950 at 5:07 PM on February 15, 2022

Seconding 2048, quite addictive. I've made it to 4096 a few times, never got to 8192 yet. There's always hope. (:->)
posted by forthright at 6:57 PM on February 15, 2022

These tiles don't remove, but they make nice patterns - Aurora Bound and sequel Aurora Hex.
posted by Athanassiel at 8:43 PM on February 16, 2022

Seconding I Love Hue Too. It’s my favorite phone game at the moment, and pleasing on so many levels, pun intended. I found it under the category of Visually Stunning Games.
posted by JLovebomb at 2:36 AM on February 19, 2022