Secret Reef Merge

Secret Reef Merge is a drop-and-merge puzzle with sea creatures standing in for the usual fruit. You release animals into the play area one at a time, and when a matching pair comes together the two merge into a new creature further up the chain. Every merge adds points, and new animals join the collection as you reach them. The developer also refers to it as Sea Merge Drop.

This one is split into stages. There are 10 levels, each with a target to reach before you move on, and the game ends if the water fills up with animals. Chains, where one merge leads straight into another, are how the developer says you push your score higher. The input is a single click or tap per animal, which makes placement the decision that counts.

Click anywhere on the screen on a computer, or tap it on a phone, to place the next sea animal. When matching animals are paired they merge and evolve, earning points. Aim your placements so one merge sets up the next. Reach the target for the level to carry on to the next of the ten, and keep the space from filling completely.

The developer points to chains as the route to bigger scores, so put each animal where its match is already waiting instead of into open water. With one tap per move, where you place it is the only choice you make each turn. Watch how full the ocean is getting, because a full one ends the run.

A drop-and-merge puzzle with a sea animal theme, in a landscape frame. It has 10 levels, each with a target, and the instructions list click on desktop and tap on mobile. The developer pitches it as suited to quick sessions.

Dream Pet Merge drops pets as bubbles and adds a button that clears the smallest ones, while Merge Cakes : Falling Sweets has stage missions, cake orders and a ranking board.