--- key: mechanic/puzzle--family-matching type: mechanic id: puzzle--family-matching lang: en title: Matches and field clearing summary: The player forms valid groups and chooses the order in which they clear. updatedAt: '2026-10-22' status: active url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/puzzle--family-matching/' jsonUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/api/v1/knowledge/en/mechanic/puzzle--family-matching.json markdownUrl: >- https://gamemechanics.pro/content/knowledge/en/mechanic/puzzle--family-matching.md aliases: - Matching and clearing tags: - Puzzles - Mechanics catalog sourceIds: - source-39db1f94006d0202 sources: - id: source-39db1f94006d0202 title: Bejeweled® 3 url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/78000/' verifiedAt: null relations: [] placements: - catalogId: puzzle id: family-matching title: Puzzles url: 'https://gamemechanics.pro/en/mechanics/puzzle/#family-matching' categoryIds: - section-1 supersededBy: [] attributes: preview: updatedAt: '2026-10-22' title: Matching and clearing description: The player forms valid groups and chooses the order in which they clear. image: src: images/mechanics/adventure-bejeweled3-00.webp width: 1440 height: 900 game: Bejeweled® 3 sourceUrl: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/78000/' originalUrl: >- https://shared.akamai.steamstatic.com/store_item_assets/steam/apps/78000/ss_b2eb4ba6d54f1d7fbff69d7050c6d4eda34767fd.1920x1080.jpg?t=1725652822 credit: 'PopCap Games, Inc. / Electronic Arts' rights: >- Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0. caption: Gems are swapped to form a match alt: Gems are swapped to form a match markers: - x: 54 'y': 49 label: Adjacent gems available to swap tips: - Show valid matches and the order in which groups clear. examples: - title: Bejeweled® 3 url: 'https://store.steampowered.com/app/78000/' endsAt: null provenance: >- Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review. license: CC-BY-4.0 codeLicense: MIT attribution: gamemechanics.pro contributors catalogKey: catalog/puzzle --- # Matches and field clearing id: puzzle--family-matching type: mechanic key: mechanic/puzzle--family-matching lang: en status: active url: https://gamemechanics.pro/en/knowledge/mechanic/puzzle--family-matching/ The player forms valid groups and chooses the order in which they clear. ## At a glance ![Gems are swapped to form a match](https://gamemechanics.pro/images/mechanics/adventure-bejeweled3-00.webp) [Bejeweled® 3](https://store.steampowered.com/app/78000/) · Game imagery © its respective rights holders. Publisher-distributed Steam screenshot; all rights reserved. Excluded from MIT and CC BY 4.0. 1. Adjacent gems available to swap - Show valid matches and the order in which groups clear. - [Bejeweled® 3](https://store.steampowered.com/app/78000/) ## How it works Create valid groups and choose the order in which they are deleted. ## Variants ### Variants and applications - Matching pairs. Definition: Find two elements that coincide or complement each other. Conditional example: Connect a key with a suitable well. - Paired disclosure from memory. Definition: Reveal hidden elements and remember positions for later matching. Conditional example: Find pairs of symbols under cards. Terms: memory; concentration. - Collecting a line of matches. Definition: Rearrange elements for a row of a given length. Conditional example: Change adjacent stones and collect a three. Terms: match-3; three in a row. - Deleting a linked group. Definition: Select identical elements that touch; deletion rearranges the field. Conditional example: Remove a group to connect two others. Terms: SameGame; collapse. - Targeted addition to the group. Definition: Launch an element into a cluster and achieve a coincidence or collapse. Conditional example: Hit a colored cluster with a ball. Terms: bubble shooter. - Carrying out a chain of matches. Definition: Carry out a continuous route along compatible elements. Conditional example: Connect adjacent runes of the same type. - Merging identical objects. Definition: Combine compatible elements into an object of the next level. Conditional example: Merge two identical tiles into one. Terms: merge; 2048; Threes. - Clearing a filled line. Definition: Place shapes so that completely filled rows or columns disappear. Conditional example: Close a gap in the bottom row. Terms: line clear; Tetris. - Removing available pairs. Definition: Remove matching elements only when access conditions are met. Conditional example: Disassemble a multi-layer tile layout. Terms: mahjong solitaire; Mahjong solitaire. - Rearrangement of cards by rank. Definition: Build sequences according to the rules of suit, rank and access to hole cards. Conditional example: Release a card under a long column. Terms: solitaire; solitaire ## Context and limits A wide catalog of mechanics for digital puzzles, paper logic problems and physical puzzles. Each position contains an action or rule and a conditional example of application. ## Connected materials ## Sources and provenance Original editorial design catalog consolidated from project discussions on 2026-10-20. Complete discussion item lists and contextual limitations are preserved; linked primary sources support specific techniques, not the entire classification. English translation was prepared with machine assistance and editorial review. - [Bejeweled® 3](https://store.steampowered.com/app/78000/) (id: source-39db1f94006d0202) CC-BY-4.0 · gamemechanics.pro contributors