A match-3 jewel puzzle in a lamp-lit treasure vault.
Gem Swap is a match-3 puzzle played on a jeweller's tray of black velvet. Swap two neighbouring stones to line up three or more of the same kind and they shatter into sparks; the stones above drop into the gaps and new ones tumble in from the top, often setting off chain reactions on their own.
Every colour is its own cut — round brilliant rubies, square sapphires, step-cut emeralds, pear citrines, marquise amethysts, triangular aquamarines and lustrous pearls — so you can tell them apart by shape as well as colour. Make longer matches to forge special gems, combine specials for huge blasts, and work through 24 hand-made vault levels, an endless descent, a 90-second blitz and a new daily vault every day.
How to play
- Drag a gem onto a neighbouring gem to swap them, or click one gem and then the other. A swap only counts if it lines up at least three matching gems in a row or column; otherwise the stones slide back and no move is used.
- Matched gems shatter, everything above falls down and new gems drop in. If the falling gems make new matches, that is a cascade: each step of a chain multiplies its points (×2, ×3, ×4...).
- Four in a row makes a line gem that clears its whole row or column when it is matched. An L or T shape makes a bomb that blasts everything around it. Five in a row makes a prism: swap it with any gem to clear every gem of that colour.
- Swap two special gems together for a combo: two line gems clear a cross, a line and a bomb clear three rows and three columns, two bombs make a huge explosion, a prism turns a whole colour into specials, and two prisms clear the entire board.
- In the Vault Journey every level has a goal and a move limit: reach a score, shatter every frost seal, recover golden relics by bringing them down to the bottom row, or collect a number of gems of certain colours. Finish with moves to spare and they become a Vault Rush of bonus blasts.
- If the board ever runs out of possible swaps it shuffles itself automatically, and if you stop for a few seconds the game shows you a hint.
Controls
| Action | Keyboard | Touch | Gamepad |
|---|---|---|---|
| Swap gems | Arrows to move the cursor, Space to pick up a gem, then an arrow to swap | Drag a gem onto a neighbour, or tap two neighbours | D-pad / left stick to move, A to pick up, then a direction |
| Mouse | Drag a gem onto a neighbour, or click two neighbours | — | — |
| Put the gem down | X or Backspace | Tap the gem again | B |
| Hint | H | Wait a few seconds | Y |
| Pause / restart | Esc / R | Pause button | Start / Back |
Every action can be remapped in Settings.
Modes
- Vault Journey
- 24 hand-made levels: hit score targets, shatter frost seals and recover golden relics in limited moves.
- Endless
- Every score target you pass refills your moves. How deep into the vault can you go?
- Blitz 90
- Ninety seconds. Chain cascades and fire specials as fast as you can.
- Daily Vault Daily
- Today's board and goal, the same for everyone. Clear the goal, then bank every move left.
Tips & strategy
- Work from the bottom of the board when you can. Matches low down make everything above fall, which sets up far more cascades than matches near the top.
- Before taking an easy three, look for a four or an L shape nearby. Special gems are worth much more than the points of a single match.
- Save special gems for each other. A line gem next to a bomb is worth more swapped together than fired separately, and a prism next to a line or bomb can clear half the board.
- Relics are heavy: one that hasn't moved for two turns sinks a row by itself, but a vertical line gem in its column drops it straight to the bottom.
- Frost in corners and along edges is the hardest to reach. Aim bombs and line gems at it rather than waiting for plain matches.
- In Blitz, speed beats perfection: take good moves quickly, and keep an eye on the clock in the last ten seconds when every special left on the board fires for bonus points.
- Finishing a level early pays: every move you have left becomes a line gem in the Vault Rush, so efficient play earns the third star.
Achievements
- Straight CutMake a line gem (4 in a row)Locked
- Setting ChargeMake a bomb gem from an L or T shapeLocked
- PrismaticMake a prism (5 in a row)Locked
- Twin SettingsSwap two special gems togetherLocked
- CascadeReach a ×5 cascade chainLocked
- Clean SweepSwap two prisms together and clear the whole boardLocked
- Deeper VaultsClear Vault Journey level 10Locked
- Master JewellerClear all 24 Vault Journey levelsLocked
- FlawlessEarn three stars on any levelLocked
- Fast FingersScore 40,000 in Blitz 90Locked
A short history of the genre
Tile-matching puzzles go back to the early days of home computers, but the swap-two-neighbours formula took shape at the turn of the millennium, when a handful of web and PC puzzle games showed how satisfying a falling cascade of coloured stones could be. The genre exploded on phones a decade later, adding level goals, obstacles, limited moves and power-up gems.
Today match-3 is one of the most played puzzle genres in the world, loved because a single move takes a second to learn but a good chain takes real planning. Gem Swap keeps the modern conventions — specials, combos, goals and daily challenges — and gives them the look of a jeweller's tray under a single warm lamp.
FAQ
Is Gem Swap free?
Yes. Gem Swap is free to play in your browser with no download, sign-up or in-game purchases. The site is supported by unobtrusive ads that never cover the game.
Does it work on phones?
Yes. It is designed for portrait phones first: drag a gem onto its neighbour or tap two gems to swap them. It also plays in landscape, on tablets and on desktop with a mouse, keyboard or gamepad.
How do I make special gems?
Four in a row makes a line gem, an L or T shape makes a bomb, and five in a row makes a prism. Swap two specials together for an even bigger combo.
What happens if there are no moves left?
The board shuffles itself automatically into a new arrangement that always has at least one possible swap, so you are never stuck.
What is the Daily Vault?
A seeded level with its own board layout and goal that is identical for every player on the same day (it changes at midnight UTC). Clear the goal and every move you have left becomes bonus points, then share your result.
Is my Vault Journey progress saved?
Yes. Stars and unlocked levels are saved in your browser on this device. You can export your profile from the Profile page and import it on another device.
Can I play if I'm colour-blind?
Yes. Every gem colour has its own cut and silhouette (round, square, octagon, pear, marquise, triangle and pearl), and the colour-blind settings switch to a palette with stronger contrast.
Updates
- Gem Swap launched with the 24-level Vault Journey, Endless, Blitz 90 and the Daily Vault.
