Should I ship a Match 3?

Can AI deliver it?

AI-buildability for this niche is high: the lowest rating among its tags.

Match 3

effort 2 / 10 · high · grid matching rules and cascades

How the rubric works →

What it takes

Effort

2 / 10 · static 2D art, simple logic

Systems

Match 3

Price point

$4.99 typical · top 25% priced $11.99 or above

Why players buy here

The top 25% priced at $11.99 or above; the middle game at $4.99.

The top 10 games average 90% positive over 8,110 reviews.

What kills games here

3 in 10 developers made under $50. 9 in 10 of the 199 games released 1 to 2 years ago have fewer than 100 reviews. 281 games are announced against 181 developers who shipped in the last year.

All pairs with Match 3

1. Match 3 + Interactive Fiction Fair $4.8k 12 devs
2. Time Management + Match 3 Fair $748 12 devs
3. Shooter + Match 3 Fair $719 15 devs
4. Tower Defense + Match 3 Fair $599 9 devs
5. PvP + Match 3 Long shot $505 21 devs
6. Combat + Match 3 Long shot $359 13 devs
7. Match 3 + Visual Novel Poor odds $4.8k 24 devs
8. Dating Sim + Match 3 Poor odds $4.8k 17 devs
9. Deckbuilding + Match 3 Poor odds $3.8k 21 devs
10. RPG + Match 3 Poor odds $1.7k 34 devs
11. Turn-Based Combat + Match 3 Poor odds $1.2k 18 devs
12. Turn-Based Tactics + Match 3 Poor odds $1.2k 18 devs
13. Cooking + Match 3 Poor odds $809 11 devs
14. Roguelike + Match 3 Poor odds $807 35 devs
15. Roguelite + Match 3 Poor odds $807 34 devs
16. Choices Matter + Match 3 Poor odds $807 26 devs
17. Adventure + Match 3 Poor odds $779 42 devs
18. Procedural Generation + Match 3 Poor odds $748 14 devs
19. Local Multiplayer + Match 3 Poor odds $599 14 devs
20. Character Customization + Match 3 Poor odds $449 9 devs
21. Action + Match 3 Poor odds $359 41 devs
22. Multiple Endings + Match 3 Poor odds $359 10 devs
23. Exploration + Match 3 Poor odds $359 9 devs
24. Simulation + Match 3 Poor odds $356 41 devs
25. Turn-Based Strategy + Match 3 Poor odds $178 21 devs
26. Resource Management + Match 3 Dead $44k 6 devs
27. Building + Match 3 Dead $12k 6 devs
28. JRPG + Match 3 Dead $5.9k 5 devs
29. Management + Match 3 Dead $1.2k 10 devs
30. City Builder + Match 3 Dead $1.2k 3 devs
31. Match 3 + Sokoban Dead $899 6 devs
32. Platformer + Match 3 Dead $809 8 devs
33. Physics + Match 3 Dead $449 37 devs
34. Grid-Based Movement + Match 3 Dead $449 22 devs
35. Match 3 + Idler Dead $449 9 devs
36. Score Attack + Match 3 Dead $359 58 devs
37. Hidden Object + Match 3 Dead $359 35 devs
38. Match 3 + Puzzle Dead $299 212 devs
39. Crafting + Match 3 Dead $298 5 devs
40. Arcade + Match 3 Dead $269 87 devs
41. Logic + Match 3 Dead $239 60 devs
42. PvE + Match 3 Dead $239 16 devs
43. Match 3 + Word Game Dead $210 10 devs
44. Match 3 + Tabletop Dead $208 26 devs
45. Match 3 + Incremental Dead $180 52 devs
46. Match 3 + Point & Click Dead $179 48 devs
47. Strategy + Match 3 Dead $178 121 devs
48. Puzzle Platformer + Match 3 Dead $178 22 devs
49. Board Game + Match 3 Dead $150 36 devs
50. Card Game + Match 3 Dead $150 35 devs