How to play Gnome Match

The board is an 8 by 8 grid of six kinds of tiles: gnomes, acorns, mushrooms, leaves, tulips and raindrops. Swap two tiles that are next to each other to line up three or more of the same kind in a row or column. Matched tiles disappear, the tiles above fall down, and new ones drop in from the top.

To swap, drag a tile toward its neighbor, or tap one tile and then the tile beside it.
Swaps that don’t make a match bounce back and don’t cost you a move.
On a keyboard, use the arrow keys to move, press Space to pick up a tile, then press an arrow key to swap it in that direction.

Two ways to play

30 moves: plan each swap and score as much as you can before your moves run out. 90 seconds: race the clock and make as many matches as you can. Your best score is saved separately for each mode.

Scoring and golden tiles

Each tile you clear is worth 10 points.
Chains multiply. When falling tiles make a new match by themselves, that wave scores double, the next one triple, and so on.
Four in a row earns a 40-point bonus and turns one tile into a golden tile. Five in a row earns 100 bonus points and a golden tile.
When a golden tile is matched, it clears its entire row and column. If that blast hits another golden tile, it goes off too.

Tips for big scores

Work near the bottom. Matches low on the board make more tiles fall, which means more chances for free chain reactions.
Set up fours. Golden tiles are worth far more than an extra plain match. Look for two tiles of a kind with a gap, plus a third you can slide in.
Stuck? Wait a few seconds and a possible move will glow. If no moves are left at all, the board shuffles itself.

Frequently asked questions

Is Gnome Match free?

Yes. Gnome Match is free to play in your browser, with no download or sign-up.

What’s a good score in Gnome Match?

In 30-move mode, 900 points earns the Tile Tender rank, 1,800 Master Matcher, and 3,000 or more makes you the Grand Gnome of the Garden.

Can I pause the game?

Yes. Press the Pause button below the board, or press P. The game also pauses by itself if you switch tabs.