That means it takes an exceptional match-three puzzler to stand out, and we think BirdsIsle might be just such a puzzler.
On the face of it BirdsIsle is just an avian take on Toon Rush or similar. It sees you sliding your finger across the screen to bring lines of fruits and other objects together to make them vanish, so that other items can take their place.
Longer lines do more than just vanish - they take other objects on the board with them, either in targeted strikes or controlled explosions.
Each stage has a target that you have to reach, by clearing a certain number of this or that object, and you only have a certain number of moves to do it in. This approach focuses your tactical faculties, and makes for some extremely satisfying near miss victories.
Finishing stages earns you gold, and this is where the BirdsIslei's all important metagame dimension comes in.
Basically, you spend the gold you earn on buying new birds, and improving their conditions in your aviary. You also get to design, build, and decorate this aviary, giving you something to work towards and tinker with as you play.
It's all about maintaining a happy, healthy community of exotic birds in the tropical paradise where the game is set, while at the same time learning some enlightening factoids about their natural habitat.
BirdsIsle's story element really sets it apart from other similar mobile puzzlers. It has all of the color, character, and addictive charm you expect from a high quality match-three game, plus a whole extra gameplay dimension.
Pick it up for free right now on the App Store.
