Three in a Row: Colored Blocks
Three in a Row: Colored Blocks - Play Online
If you've ever played Bejeweled or Candy Crush, you already know this game. Swap colorful gems on a grid, match three or more of the same color, and clear your collection goals. It's the classic match-3 formula wrapped in a cave mining theme—no surprises, just familiar puzzle-matching that you can play in short bursts when you need to zone out for a few minutes.
Key Features
- Hundreds of Levels: Each stage throws a different grid shape at you—from irregular clusters to full octagons.
- Power-Up Gems: Create striped boosters by matching four in a row to clear entire lines.
- Browser-Friendly: Runs smoothly in any modern browser without taxing your system.
- Trophy Progression: Earn trophies as you complete levels and unlock new cave-themed stages.
How to Play Three in a Row: Colored Blocks
Getting started takes about five seconds. Mastering the later levels with their weird grid shapes? That's another story.
Swapping and Matching Gems
You drag any gem to swap it with an adjacent one—horizontally or vertically only. The swap only works if it creates a line of three or more matching colors. Click and drag on desktop, or use your finger on mobile. The controls are responsive enough that I never felt like the game missed my input.
Hitting Your Collection Goals
Each level gives you specific targets—collect 100 green gems, 100 red gems, 100 yellow gems, whatever the board demands. You're racing against a limited number of moves (shown by the trophy counter at the top). Run out of moves before hitting your goals, and you fail the level. The grid shapes change constantly, so you can't just memorize patterns.
Using Boosters to Clear Tough Spots
When you match four gems in a row, you create a striped power-up that clears an entire line when activated. There's also a blue swap button that likely uses premium currency to force a swap, but I didn't need it in the early levels. Save your boosters for when the board gets cluttered and you're stuck with no obvious matches.
Who is Three in a Row: Colored Blocks for?
Perfect for casual players who want something brainless but satisfying. If you're 35+ and liked playing Bejeweled on your lunch break in 2008, this is that exact same vibe. Kids can play it safely—there's no violence, no timer stress, just colorful shapes and gentle puzzle logic. It's not for anyone looking for innovation or challenge, though. The difficulty curve is gentle, and the mechanics are photocopied from dozens of other match-3 games.
The Gameplay Vibe
It's super meditative. You can listen to a podcast or music while playing because the game doesn't demand intense focus until the later levels. The visuals are clean but totally generic—vector art gems that look like they came from a 2015 asset pack, set against a slightly blurry cave background. The sparkle effects when you make a match are satisfying enough, but the art style feels like it was assembled rather than designed. There's no music or sound mentioned in my playthrough, which is honestly a relief because most match-3 games have ear-worm soundtracks that drive you insane.
Technical Check: Saves & Performance
The game saves your progress automatically using browser cache, so you can close the tab and come back later without losing your trophy count or level progress. Just don't clear your browsing data, or you'll start over. Performance-wise, this runs on basically anything—old laptops, budget phones, tablets. The graphics are simple 2D vectors, so there's no lag or stuttering even on weaker hardware. It loaded instantly for me with no splash screens or long waits.
Quick Verdict: Pros & Cons
A functional match-3 game that does nothing new but also doesn't mess up the formula. Play it if you want mindless gem-swapping without surprises.
- ✅ Pro: Instant action with no tutorials or forced onboarding—just start matching.
- ✅ Pro: The changing grid shapes keep it from feeling totally robotic.
- ❌ Con: Zero originality. You've played this exact game a hundred times under different names.
Controls
Responsive and simple. I had no issues with delayed inputs or awkward drag detection.
- Desktop: Click and drag gems with your mouse to swap adjacent pieces.
- Mobile: Tap and drag with your finger—works smoothly on touchscreens.
Release Date & Developer
Developed by safarov-en and released on June 30, 2025. It's a straightforward browser game aimed at web portals and casual gaming sites.
