If you are a browser-based game enthusiast or rather a facebook game enthusiast, chances are that you would have at least played one or two match-3 games around. As the facts state it, they have always seemed to secure at least a few spots on the top grossing games on facebook and mobile platforms so the chances of being at least not familiar to these games is quite slim if not impossible.

Apparently for these games, they are just that undeniably quick to get a hold of, easy to understand, exhilaratingly fun to play, and simply addictive. And while they set the bar for being the most played games over the net or mobile phones, they have yet to show signs of leaving the lime light. So what is the fuss about? Why do millions play them despite their simple and repetitive game play?

For starters, it’s the great balance of elements. Simple game mechanics utilizing intuitive user interface that is usually accompanied by a popular backing plot (like fairy-tale stories), eye candy game graphics, variation of game play, and the unwavering stream of challenges presented as they progress. These games that were probably been popularized by the “Bejeweled” game series– have gone far from starting out with less than a hundred levels to at least a couple of hundred nowadays, and have been tweaked, re-vamped and refurbished by introducing their own complex and unique challenge mechanics, parcel out their own backing stories, and of course, the introduction of social media integration.

And speaking of which, another key to these games’ success lies to their social aspect. When players ask help or assistance from fellow players in order to progress in the game, not only are they doing relative socialization but they’re also promoting the game itself. This enhances the overall game experience and longevity of the game as people seem to do the marketing of the game themselves by providing a sense of advertisement to the game (most especially in achievement postings).

The single most important aspect that these games share is the simplicity of the game mechanics. Most casual games aren’t very complicated. Anyone could probably just jump right at it and play the game for hours. But that nature of simplicity is also the trick to it as it deceives you to think you could easily beat the game. These games are infamous for letting you start off on a rather quick succession of stages that is seemingly rewarding you with a false sense of accomplishment while breezing through the early parts of the game.

As you progress in these games though, there is always the hint of hindrances and limiting mechanics that are introduced one after the other, making the levels harder to beat and leaving you with only trails of that earlier achievement. So naturally, if you ain’t a quitter, the urge to constantly beat a level emerges– making them undeniably hard to let go, simply put, addicting.

Lastly, the legit challenge to test and enhance your aptitude to solve tile-matching puzzles faster and more efficiently accompanied with the aspect of luck to test both your patience and perseverance. Match-3 games always seem to provide us amusement despite challenge they present every single time. It may be our competitive nature that drives this, or simply the joyful feeling of getting to brag about our progress in the game.