How to play
Merge Stars is a relaxed sliding puzzle played on a four by four board. The game begins with two small pieces, usually new moons. Swipe on the board, use the arrow keys, press W, A, S, or D, or tap the arrow buttons below, and every piece slides as far as it can in that direction. When two pieces of the same stage bump into each other, they combine into the next stage up. A pair of new moons becomes a crescent, two crescents become a half moon, and the chain keeps climbing through the full moon, stars, stardust, comets, planets, and galaxies. Each piece shows a number under its icon, and that number doubles with every stage. Whenever you merge, the value of the new piece is added to your score, so bigger merges are worth a lot more. After every move that changes the board, a fresh piece drops into a random empty cell. Most of the time it is a new moon, and once in a while it is a crescent. The game ends when the board is full and no two neighboring pieces match, which means nothing can move. You can also tap Stop at any time to bank your current score and head to the results. There is no timer, so feel free to take your time and plan ahead. The best runs come from patient play, keeping your largest piece tucked into a corner and building neat rows that feed into it.
Tips for a better score
- Pick one corner for your biggest piece and try to keep it there for the entire game.
- Favor two or three directions and avoid the fourth unless you have no other choice. It keeps your strongest pieces from getting dragged out of place.
- Before each swipe, glance at where the new piece could appear. Leaving gaps next to your big pieces can block future merges.
- Chain merges whenever you can. Lining up several matching pairs in one row can earn points from multiple combos in a single move.
- If the board feels crowded, slow down and look for small merges first to free up space.
FAQ
When does a game of Merge Stars end?
It ends when every cell is filled and no adjacent pieces match, so no move is possible. You can also end the run early with the Stop button and keep the score you have.
How do points work?
Each merge adds the value of the newly created piece to your total. Since values double at every stage, merging high-level pieces boosts your score much faster than small ones.
Is there anything beyond the galaxy?
Yes, there is one more stage after the galaxy: the shooting star. Reaching it takes a long, carefully planned game, so it makes a fun long-term goal.