Christmas Matching

Everything in Christmas Matching is arranged around one number: the seconds left. Lining up three or more identical festive items makes them explode, and the level continues as long as the counter does. Since a plain three does nothing for the clock, the whole game becomes a question of whether you can afford the match you are about to make.

Bigger lines are the answer. Four or more identical items put seconds back on the counter. Four in a row or column leaves a bomb; five leaves a changing item that wipes out every copy of one item across the board and returns extra time for each one destroyed. A single well-placed five can turn a run that was about to end into one that has barely started.

Now and then the board simply hands over extra time, which softens a bad patch. The result is a game that feels tense without being unfair — the countdown is always visible, and there is always a move on the board that would extend it if you can find it.

1. Trade two neighbouring items to line up three or more of the same kind.
2. Hold out for lines of four or five: only those put time back on the clock.
3. Build a bomb with four in a row or column, and a changing item with five.
4. Use the changing item on whichever festive item currently covers the most of the board.

Scan the board for a potential four before taking any three. A three keeps the level ticking down; a four resets how much room you have to think, and the difference compounds over a long run.