ShuMatch3 game (devlog)

Demos and projects
1

Hi everyone!
I’m starting a devlog for my simple game project.
We are currently at version 0.0.14, and there’s still a lot of work ahead to add all the bonuses players expect from a match-3 game. However, the core gameplay mechanics are already in place and ready to be tested.

On mobile devices, you can double-tap the screen to toggle full-screen mode.

For now, the game design and balance are still missing, :grin: but I should be able to make this addictive little game actually interesting over the summer 2026.

Match3 Game

A 3D match-3 puzzle game where you swap diamonds to create matches of 3 or more identical gems.

How to Play

Objective: Match 3 or more diamonds of the same color by swapping their positions. When a match is made, the diamonds disappear and new ones fall in from above.

Rules:

  • Click on a diamond to select it
  • Click on an adjacent diamond to swap them
  • Matches of 3 or more identical diamonds are cleared and award points
  • Chain reactions award bonus points

Controls

Action Control
Select Diamond Left Click
Pan Camera Right Mouse Button + Drag
Rotate View Middle Mouse Button + Drag
Zoom In/Out Mouse Wheel
Move Camera WASD or Arrow Keys
Rotate Camera Q / E Keys
Reset Camera Space
Zoom Page Up / Page Down

Features

  • 3D isometric graphics
  • Multiple diamond colors to match
  • Score tracking
  • Audio effects and music
  • Adjustable graphics and audio settings

:rocket: Early access:

3 Likes
2

For some reason, I find the audio effects super satisfying :slight_smile: Nice job!

2 Likes
3

Changelog 0.0.15:

  • Adjusted audio: Diamond and water splash sounds are now more subtle. :grin:
  • Engine update: Upgraded core to BabylonJS 9.5.1.
4

What’s new in 0.1.1:

  • Moves limitation.
  • Apples
  • Specular parameter (in Graphics settings)
  • Shuffle
2 Likes
5

What’s new in 0.2.3:

  • gyro control (for mobile devices)
  • helicopter as bonus
  • bug (I’m stuck on you) :beetle:

:grin:

2 Likes
6

Congratulations on the progress. These sounds are very satisfying.

1 Like
7

Looking great!

8

What’s new in version 0.3.5:

  • Diamonds can now break apart into 12 pieces.
  • Updated helicopter attack sounds and explosion special effects
  • Ability to advance to other levels
  • Auto-save feature when closing the browser
2 Likes
9

What’s new in 0.3.11:

  • Toggleable features: Sky, ground, sun, moon, fog, and ocean.
    You can also now toggle diamond shards and diamond “pop-out” effects on matches.

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  • Shake to shuffle: Diamonds now shuffle when you shake your phone (requires gyroscope to be enabled).

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  • Vibing helicopters: Added smooth bobbing and multi-axis tilting for a more “chilled” floating effect.

1 Like
10

I found it really nice! Love the art direction

1 Like
11

What’s new in 0.5.4:

I had to come up with a unique name, so let’s go with Shu Match 3. I’ve been experimenting with building an Android app—since the PWA and browser versions are already live, it felt time to aim higher. I also added power-ups (buffs) and implemented almost all the interaction logic between the bonuses and other game objects.

Bonus objects:

All bonuses single-activate demo:

Environment objects:

12

What’s new in 0.7.14:

Platforms

  • Android: autosave resume, navigation Back, victory dialog

Languages

  • French, German, Spanish, Ukrainian; Belarusian
  • Updated comic strike/apple captions

World & UI

  • 3D TV displays for Moves, Score, and Total (poke ↔ corner HUD)
  • Low-moves warning on displays (bounce + VHS)
  • Mission-complete camera fly; dialog keyboard confirm

Gameplay & balance

  • Smoother gem drag: rubber pull, spring settle, roll tilt
  • Gentler campaign tuning; smarter spawn by score/moves
  • Flamethrower-twosided (renamed bonus), scenery: palm, pier, houses, grass
  • Spatial SFX; five-in-a-row “Match!” + sound
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Juice

  • Apple match comic popovers; Havok physics comic captions on strikes
13

22 days since day one of ShuMatch3 development, and it’s already on Google Play.
Honestly, I don’t remember ever releasing a game this quickly.
This is true MVP model: if the gameplay works, it’s ready.
The work continues, though - my next goal is to add stunning visuals and decorations to every level.

Sometimes it’s truly better to start with something small. It’s a huge contrast to what I’m doing with Gardener Shu - I’ve been developing it for over two years now, and it’s still not in a working state. Lesson learned: start small, for example, with a match-3! :slight_smile:

PWA installed on Android is ok, but doesn’t work offline.
But Android app works offline:

2 Likes
14

Congrats on the release! I hope the game is a success for you!

1 Like
15

What’s new in 0.9.3:

Rainbow ball + gem swap preview: glow particles match the gem color while you drag.

Bonus swap previews: rainbow absorb, helicopter carry, and flamethrower cross-merge show live motion before you release.

Rainbow combos: varied diamond clear order and fracture/flyout mix based on graphics settings.

1 Like
16

What’s new in 0.12.1:

A lot has changed between versions 0.9.3 and 0.12.1, but I’d like to take a closer look at how the game works under the hood and the algorithms it uses to retain players.
The game’s behavior changes depending on the player’s skill, ensuring that both weak and strong players are equally engaged.

2 Likes
17

What’s new in 0.14.8:

  • flame on the low moves counter
  • storm in the clouds
  • live objects when touched