Mergelings
A cozy merge puzzle where every tile counts. Match 3, chain combos, and grow your magical floating island civilisation — from a tiny berry bush to a Celestial Castle.
How to Play
Simple rules, deep strategy. Plan every placement to build the biggest combos.
Place a piece
Tap any empty cell to drop your current piece. The next piece is shown on the right.
Match 3 to merge
When 3+ pieces of the same type touch (up/down/left/right), they merge into the next tier and earn points.
Chain your merges
The merged piece lands where you placed your last piece — plan ahead for a chain combo!
Use your pouch
Bank your current piece for later, then tap again to swap it back. Great for holding rare pieces.
Shadow Puffs roam!
Shadow Puffs drift to an adjacent cell every turn. Surround one with no empty neighbors and it becomes an Ancient Ruin — merge 3 Ruins for a Spirit Shrine!
Fairy Crystal is a wildcard
A Fairy Crystal finds the highest-tier neighbour that completes a group of 3+. If no match exists, it turns into a Rock.
Forest Golem clears pieces
Tap any occupied cell while holding a Golem to remove it. Use it on Shadow Puffs to convert them into Ancient Ruins for free!
Match 4+ for double points
Connecting 4 or more pieces of the same type in one move doubles the points for the merged piece.
Game over
The game ends when every cell is filled and nothing can be placed. Fill the island slowly — plan every move!
The Pieces
Two chains, one goal: ascend to the Celestial Castle.
About Mergelings
The cozy merge puzzle game that rewards patient planning.
Mergelings is a single-player merge puzzle game for iOS and Android by independent studio Nine Tail Fox Rising. You play on a 6×6 island board, placing pieces one at a time and matching 3 or more of the same type to merge them into the next tier — Berry Bush, Young Oak, Tree Grove, Woodland Hut, Cozy Cottage, Windmill House, Moon Tower, Sky Fortress, and finally the Celestial Castle worth 2,000,000 points.
Where Mergelings stands apart from classic merge games like Triple Town, Merge Dragons, or 2048 is the chain placement mechanic — your merged piece lands exactly where you placed your last piece, so every move can become a planned combo. The Shadow Chain adds gentle threat: Shadow Puffs drift across the board each turn, but surround one and it becomes an Ancient Ruin you can merge for big points.
Free to download. No ads in core gameplay. Designed for relaxed five-minute sessions or hours-long high-score runs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers about Mergelings and Nine Tail Fox Rising.
What is Mergelings?
Mergelings is a cozy merge puzzle game by Nine Tail Fox Rising. You place pieces on a 6×6 board and match 3 or more of the same type to merge them into the next tier — growing a magical floating island civilisation from a tiny Berry Bush all the way to a Celestial Castle.
Is Mergelings free to play?
Yes. Mergelings is free to download on iOS and Android. The core gameplay contains no advertising and any in-app purchases are optional.
What platforms is Mergelings available on?
Mergelings is available on the Apple App Store for iPhone and iPad, and on Google Play for Android devices.
How do you play Mergelings?
Tap any empty cell to place your current piece. When 3 or more pieces of the same type touch (up, down, left, or right), they merge into the next tier and you earn points. The merged piece lands where you placed your last piece, so you can plan chain combos. Matching 4 or more pieces in one move doubles the points.
What is the goal of Mergelings?
Grow a magical floating island civilisation before the board fills up. Ascend the Island Chain from Berry Bush, Young Oak, Tree Grove, Woodland Hut, Cozy Cottage, Windmill House, Moon Tower and Sky Fortress to the final Celestial Castle worth 2,000,000 points.
What are Shadow Puffs?
Shadow Puffs are roaming pieces that drift to an adjacent cell after every turn. Surround one with no empty neighbors and it becomes an Ancient Ruin. Merge 3 Ancient Ruins to get a Spirit Shrine, then a Sky Temple.
Is Mergelings similar to 2048 or Triple Town?
Mergelings shares DNA with merge puzzles like Triple Town and Merge Dragons, and tile-stacking games like 2048. The twist is the 6×6 grid, the chain placement mechanic that lets merged pieces land where you choose, and the Shadow Chain with roaming Shadow Puffs that adds light strategic threat to an otherwise cozy experience.
Who made Mergelings?
Mergelings is developed by Nine Tail Fox Rising, an independent game studio focused on cozy puzzle worlds. Mergelings is the studio's debut title.
Start growing your island
Free to play. No ads in core gameplay. Lose yourself in a few peaceful minutes — or a few hours.