A Mimicry of Life

Gaming Terms to Know

Locked Tile

A tile that cannot be moved or matched until freed — usually by clearing adjacent tiles or breaking a lock. The primary obstacle in advanced puzzle levels.

Tile Match

A core mechanic where you swap, rotate, or slide adjacent tiles to create matching groups. Groups of 3+ clear from the board, triggering cascading combos.

Cascade

A chain reaction where clearing one set of tiles causes new tiles to fall into matching positions, creating automatic combos without additional moves.

Power-up

A collectible item that grants a temporary special effect — clearing a row, shuffling the board, or adding extra time. Strategic power-up use separates casual from expert play.