Your first glance may suggest that Cascade is yet another generic gem-swapping puzzle game, but take another look and you’ll see that there’s more under the hood. This game is free to play, supported by in-app purchases which can be ignored if you so choose. There’s always some trepidation about playing a free game, but this is certainly among those that provide a surprisingly high level of quality and entertainment while asking nothing in return.

Spin, match and win

Matching gems and a slot game mechanic are combined in this game, creating a refreshing mixed-up pace. The slogan of Cascade is Spin, Match and Win, which in fairness sums up the game very well! The core essence of the game is a combination of slot gaming and match-3 swapping, so you get a slightly different feel from the usual gem swapping games and there’s something a little different to do between rounds. Visually, the game is smart and crisp, with very well drawn art on the symbols and backgrounds. There’s also a cute character to follow, Jasper the Mole, who leads you on an adventure and acts as the tutorial-giver. Overall this makes the game very accessible and helps to focus on a casual feel. When you want a game with that slightly addictive touch, but dialed back and easy to drop into, this is pretty perfect.

A matching puzzle that lets you play unhindered!

A big selling point which has made Cascade popular and lifted it somewhat out of the crowd of very similar swapping games, is that it won’t annoy you all the time. You are not constantly bombarded with requests to buy more in-game currency and unlike certain other games in this genre, you do not have to invite all your friends just to progress at a reasonable rate. In fact, there are 400 levels for you and Jasper to discover, with more promised in the future. Gameplay starts with the slot round which randomizes the gems you’ll start with, then you move on to the cascading match-3 gameplay. There are the usual special gems to mix things up a bit, such as Shifters and Hammers, Wilds and Burst Gems. All in all, the gameplay is not revolutionary, but it is refreshing for this genre. The visuals help to keep you entertained, with some lovely hand-drawn work, which in turn is supported by a friendly and upbeat soundtrack. Naturally, you can also use the standard social connections, so you can enjoy knocking a friend off that top position on the scoreboard.

Swap ‘til you drop!

Cascade is certainly a typical game of its kind, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. If you like swapping gems, you’ll know what you’re getting and will pick up the ropes within one or two games. The addition of the slot round does make things more interesting and the overall friendliness and accessibility of this game gives it some major plusses over the big names in mobile gaming.