Match Village Review (Nintendo Switch OLED)

Rating: 7
Author: Jim Smale

by Jim Smale · Published March 19, 2024 · Updated March 19, 2024

Match Village Review, is a minimalist puzzle and strategy experience about matching buildings to build villages on colorful islands. Match buildings to create your villages and cities on endless islands worldwide and enjoy the minimalistic and relaxing atmosphere, no resource management or armies, focus only on the building.

Match Village Review Pros:

Nice graphics.
232MB download size.
Puzzle gameplay.
Isometric view.
You can move the camera around and zoom in and out.
Win or lose the game will just roll into another map.
Each map is random.
Different biomes from forests to beaches and snow.
The gameplay is a case of putting 3 identical houses/amenities next to each other so they merge into a newly upgraded building.
When placing buildings etc you may get a positive or negative score number shown before placing.
Simple to learn.
A very good time waster and brain workout.
Touchscreen controls.
When a merge happens you get a few turns as a reward.
Game over is when you run out of turns or space, whatever comes first.
You can undo your last go.
Every piece has a radar to show if it hits/connects with other buildings etc.
As you score points you fill up an icon in the corner.
Photo mode.
Online leaderboards.
A lot of replay value.
Ambient soundtrack.
Every placable piece can be rotated.
Learning how everything works and goes together is great and a real draw if you are into that.

Match Village Review Cons:

No tutorial.
Cannot rebind controls.
Takes a little while to get used to what the game wants of you.
The game doesn’t mix it up a lot.
No help or guidance as to how the scoring and mechanics work.

Match Village:

Official website.

Developer: Rising Moon Games

Publisher: Qubyte Interactive

Store Links –

Nintendo

7/10

Graphics - 7/10
7/10

Sound - 7/10
6/10

Accessibility - 6/10
7/10

Length - 7/10
8/10

Fun Factor - 8/10

7/10

Summary

Match Village is a puzzle game with a unique isometric view. The game stands out with its nice graphics and a manageable download size of 232MB. The gameplay is simple to learn, yet provides a good brain workout.

The game’s mechanics involve placing three identical houses or amenities next to each other, which then merge into a newly upgraded building. Each piece can be rotated and has a radar to show if it connects with other buildings. When a merge happens, you get a few turns as a reward. The game ends when you run out of turns or space, whichever comes first. However, you have the option to undo your last move.

The game features different biomes from forests to beaches and snow, and each map is random. Whether you win or lose, the game will roll onto another map. This, along with the online leaderboards and photo mode, adds a lot of replay value to the game.

The controls are designed for touchscreens, and every placable piece can be rotated. The ambient soundtrack enhances the gaming experience. As you score points, you fill up an icon in the corner, providing a sense of progression.

However, the game does have some drawbacks. There is no tutorial, and the controls cannot be rebound. It takes a little while to get used to what the game wants of you. The game doesn’t mix it up a lot, and there is no help or guidance on how the scoring and mechanics work. Despite these, learning how everything works and goes together is great and a real draw if you are into that. Overall, Match Village is a fun, engaging game and perfect time waster.