Gem-M4tch: Classic Arcade

A retro-inspired match-3 puzzle game. Swap adjacent gems to craate matches of three or more, earn points, and beat your high score before time or moves run out.

How to Play

• Click or tap a gem to select it, then click/tap an adjacent gem to swap.
• Swaps are permanent, even if they do not create a match.
• Making a match (3+ identical gems in a row or column) clears those gems and adds to your score.
• Clearing gems gives a small time bonus (+1 second per gem plus extra per match).
• The game ends when you run out of moves (40) or time runs out (60 seconds).
• Press the Space key to shuffle the board if no moves are available.

Features

• 8x8 game board with 6 gem types (ruby, sapphire, emerald, topaz, amethyst, citrine).
• Smooth swap and gravity animations with overshoot/elastic easing.
• Screen shake and particle effects when matches are cleared.
• Progressive scoring: base points plus bonus for larger matches.
• Pause functionality (button or Escape key) with an on-screen overlay.

Controls

• Mouse / Touch: Tap to select and swap gems.
• New Game: Resets the board, score, moves, and timer.
• Pause / Resume: Freezes the game (also triggered by the Escape key).
• Shuffle: Rearranges the board when no valid matches are available (automatically triggers when stuck).
• Sound Toggle: Turns sound effects on or off.

Technical Details

• Single HTML/CSS/JS file – no external dependencies.
• Uses HTML5 canvas for rendering.
• Animation frames via requestAnimationFrame.
• Audio synthesis for retro beeps.