Threes! | Review

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"Threes" would certainly check every box on a checklist of what makes a fantastic mobile game. It plays quickly after loading, which makes it ideal for quick sessions. The concept of the gameplay is straightforward, but it's difficult to master, which keeps it interesting for a long time. Because "Threes" encourages players to adapt and create their strategies, competing for the top spot on the leaderboard is always an entertaining experience. Touchscreen devices are best suited for its slidable grid of numbers interface. I can't think of a single reason why you shouldn't play Threes if you've ever enjoyed a puzzle game.

After playing one or two games, the idea becomes clear. Numbered tiles are placed in a 4x4 grid; if the grid is filled to the point where it is impossible to make more moves, the game is over. Any multiple of three can slide into its own number, and 1s and 2s can slide together to form 3s. Three plus three equals six, which added to another six makes twelve, and so on. Don't worry if this seems complicated at all when written down. The game begins with an easy-to-follow tutorial that quickly teaches you the basics.

Once you've mastered the fundamentals, discovering small insights that dramatically alter your play style is part of the fun of Threes. In your early games, all you do is try to combine numbers, but when you make a strategic breakthrough that raises your score, it's very satisfying. Important discoveries that make the game more rewarding as you learn more include making number "highways," understanding how the game decides which row to slide the next number into, and figuring out how to manage the board wisely once it's almost full.