Here's a different take on the simple Match 3 puzzle game (made ultra popular recently by Candy Crush Saga): Using art and animation from Mojaro's KnightScape game, Puzzle Knights merges a puzzler with a basic, rock-paper-scissors combat system in an attempt to keep you playing (which requires a connection to servers, so you can only play it while online).
Sadly, the match-three isn't very inspired. The developers tried to make it interesting by limiting the number of gem swaps you can make, but you can't make multiple moves at a time, so it's a plodding affair.
But you play the game in the guise of a knight, playing to build your stamina by way of preparing for battle. Once you've bolstered your stats, your knight can duel other players. Prior to battle you determine your battle plan, choosing from attack, block and counter-attack. The fight, then, occurs by matching your plan against that of your opponent. You simply watch as the two knights swing at each other with swords.
You earn gold and experience points when you win, a token amount of gold when you lose. Gold can be used to purchase items that will assist you in the matching game or during battles, including weapons, armour and new characters.
Inevitably, you can simply purchase gold with real money to upgrade your knight more quickly. But there's little reason to want to. In an attempt to create a genre mashup, Puzzle Knights – like KnightScape before it – struggles to make either game type worth playing.
Developer: Mojaro; Platform: iOS