Nothing in this garden wants to remain organized. Ice slowly covers flower beds, moles dig up the gardens, and a gnome's name is Willy and he needs 700+ levels of support. Garden Tales is a web-based match-three puzzle game that you play in your browser. In order to win the current level, you will need to find a sequence of three or more items, flowers, fruits, etc., to swap. When you have found a suitable combination you need to make it before the move limit for the level expires. Also, depending upon how well you performed during the level, you may get between 1 and 3 stars which will allow you access to different parts of the "map".
Key Controls
- Use MOUSE and LEFT-CLICK
How It Works
In Garden Tales you will find yourself working through levels based upon the use of match-three combinations. As you begin each level, you will receive a specific task that will guide you throughout that particular level. These tasks include gathering certain types of objects, removing ice, Dirt and other obstacles from the playing area and using a shovel to find hidden treasure. All of these tasks must be completed prior to running out of moves available. Once you have made a successful swap but did not form a valid combination, your previous action will revert. However, when you successfully create a chain of four or more items, either horizontally or vertically, you will leave behind a special item: one with glow surrounding it will remove itself from the screen by destroying all items in the row or column where it resides; larger combinations create a "bomb".
When you are finished completing each level, you will enter a portion of the game called the "map." On the map you can purchase items and power-ups that will assist you in completing future levels. Additionally, on occasion, a mole will appear and destroy any progress you had made. There is also a daily challenge. Upon completion of the daily challenge, you will receive additional stars that will provide you with increased rewards.
- Read the objective provided at the beginning of each level.
- Drag & drop the object above another object to create a line of three or more of the same type.
- Create a line of four or more to create a glow-surrounded item or a bomb.
- Use the special item where possible to remove as much of the ice, Dirt, etc. as possible.
- Complete the objective given at the start of each level prior to exceeding the move limit.
- Collect as many stars as possible and unlock the next gate or chest on the map.
- Purchase power-ups using Coins when a level requires repeated attempts.
What Sets This Game Apart
- Over 700 levels of gameplay. The length of time it takes to complete all of the levels is substantial enough to require that stars matter.
- Three stars maximum per level. Stars are the commodity required to unlock gates and treasure chests on the map, not points.
- Tasks beyond simply earning points. Ice, Dirt, puddles, stones, weeds and debris can all be included as Objectives in addition to points.
- Pests. The garden will push back against the player by damaging their beds with pest infestation.
- Willy. A named gardener appears to oversee every aspect of the map.
- A survivor of Flash. Although originally created by Softgames and launched in 2019, Azerion republished Garden Tales in HTML5 format in September 2021.
To Get Started
- Make matches at the lowest point on the grid first. Since Garden Tales replenishes items from the top down, making a lower-level match creates new opportunities for additional pieces and potential cascading sequences.
- Wait until a ringed item is able to align with ice before firing it. The removal of all items in a row aligned with ice provides significant progress towards completing the objective; however, firing an individual item at an isolated obstacle is typically wasteful.
- Calculate how many moves are left in relation to your objective prior to making your first swap. If you are going to run out of moves faster than your basket count then utilize special abilities immediately.
Moving Forward
The quickest method to unlock gates in Garden Tales is via participation in the daily challenge since additional stars earned via completion of the daily challenge apply to unlocking gates in addition to those awarded for completing regular levels and utilizing no retries. Using special items in combination results in greater overall value than firing them individually: swapping a ringed item into a bomb removes more than twice as many items as would be removed by firing each individually, and some of the most difficult levels feature Objectives centered around maximizing utilization of special items.
Due to limited availability of Coins utilized to acquire power-ups, power-ups should be purchased when attempting to unlock gates on the map rather than purchasing for easy levels that could be cleared with a single retry. Any cascading sequence initiated is an opportunity to eliminate potential additional moves; therefore, creating opportunities for cascading sequences represents better alternatives than relying solely on matching opportunities.
Mistakes That Are Costly to Make
- Making matches for any reason other than creating an opportunity for a cascading sequence. Swapping two pieces at the top of the grid wastes one move for two pieces and eliminates potential cascading opportunities.
- Firing special items too early. Ringed items used on an empty row provide no benefit toward achieving the objective.
- Attempting to maximize points on objective-based levels. The move counter has no regard for points accumulated; likewise, accumulating points does not result in a completed basket count.
- Purchasing power-ups for easy levels. Coins acquired early will not be sufficient to provide necessary assistance at the gate blocking further progress.
Commonly Asked Questions
What is Garden Tales?
Garden Tales is a match-3 puzzle game developed by Softgames and published in HTML5 format by Azerion. The player completes various Objectives across more than 700 levels by making match-three combinations while assisting Willy, a garden gnome who is tasked with clearing ice and Dirt from his garden bed and eliminating moles.
How do I play Garden Tales?
You play Garden Tales by clicking and dragging an item into an adjacent item to form a line containing three or more items. You must complete your objective(s), including collecting fruit baskets or clearing ice, prior to exhausting all available moves. You can earn up to 3 stars based upon your performance during each level.
How many levels does Garden Tales contain?
Garden Tales contains over 700 levels. Each level contributes to your progress through a garden-themed "map" where unlocked gates lead to additional areas that contain additional challenges and treasures.
Is Garden Tales the same as Garden Tales 3?
No. While both titles share similarities they are distinct titles. Garden Tales was originally released by Softgames in 2019 and features over 700 levels; whereas, Garden Tales 3 is a title released in 2022 featuring approximately 3000 levels.
What is the functionality provided by Stars in Garden Tales?
Stars earned in Garden Tales serve as tokens allowing access to additional sections of the "map" via opened gates and treasure chests. Up to three stars may be earned for each level with bonus stars being awarded for completion of the daily challenge.
Will Garden Tales save my progress?
Yes. Your game state in Garden Tales is saved automatically upon exiting/leaving your browser session resulting in no loss of stars or previously unlocked content once returning to the game.
Similar Matching Games
If you liked the idea of playing in a garden environment but not necessarily with timed limits, move counters, consider Mergest Kingdom, which combines traditional matching mechanics with elements of building and managing your own kingdom without failure mechanisms inherent to levels. Alternatively, Home Design: Decorate House maintains a timed mechanism similar to Garden Tales but replaces stars with furniture accumulation. Lastly, Tropical Merge combines merge-style gameplay with tropical environments where you build an island and complete quests. More in Matching Games.
As Final
This is a match-3 game that clearly states what it offers, over 700 levels. If none of those features appeal to you, timer; story; things to do between levels besides exploring the map, skip Garden Tales after playing until reaching the first gate.