Underwater Blast

Underwater Blast sets its board on the sea floor. The pieces are a mix of seashells, gems and odd-looking ocean creatures, and you swap them into matches to clear each board and build combos.

The levels bring obstacles with them, and three are named: seaweed traps, drifting bubbles and hidden treasures. The developer does not explain how each behaves, so the first level that features one is where you find out. Power-ups and special boosters are part of the game too, and the developer links them to large chain reactions and high scores. It is pitched as relaxing as well as engaging.

The frame is a slim portrait one, 350 by 600, much taller than it is wide. The only control note the developer gives is to click or tap to play.

Click or tap to play. Swap shells, gems and sea creatures to form matches, which clears them from the board. Build combos for higher scores. Watch for the obstacles each level adds, such as seaweed traps, drifting bubbles and hidden treasures, and use power-ups and boosters to set off chain reactions when a board needs clearing.

The developer ties the big chain reactions to power-ups and boosters, so those are the tools for high scores. New obstacles appear level by level, and none is explained in advance, so when one shows up for the first time, take a moment to watch how it behaves before committing your boosters.

An undersea swap match-3 in a narrow portrait frame (350 by 600). Pieces include seashells, gems and sea creatures; named obstacles are seaweed traps, drifting bubbles and hidden treasures. Click or tap to play.

Sea Match is the other ocean pick, matching fish against a time limit, and Pirates the match 3 also has treasure to dig up between its gem swaps.