Tidal Orchard: Chainburst

About Tidal Orchard: Chainburst

The sun is low over the sea, and the orchard on the floating islands is ripe with fruit made of sea glass: frosted, softly lit, and stamped with a spiral, a wave, a fish, a starfish, an anchor or a trio of bubbles. Swap two neighbours to line up three or more of a colour and they pop in a spray of bubbles.

Here a cascade is a relay, and a relay is passed from colour to colour. A chain grows only while the colour changes from one clear to the next: teal, then coral, then sand. Clear the same colour twice in a row and the relay starts again. So the best swap is not always the biggest one, it is the one that hands the relay on.

Every board names a chain target: a relay of a given depth, as many times as it asks, and a score to reach. As your relay runs, the sea behind the orchard stands higher. Three colours is a swell. Four or more is the Tide Relay: a wave sweeps the whole orchard, a gull calls over the glitter and the light under the board flares.

The music is an island groove on marimba and steel pan with the surf breathing underneath. Every board can be won: it is built together with a player that solves it first, and a hint is one press away. Settings offers more moves, or none at all, and a switch for the waves and wildlife. Stars and best scores stay in this browser and nothing is uploaded.

How to play

Drag a piece toward a neighbour, or tap one piece and then the next. Arrow keys and Enter or Space also work.
Line up three or more of a colour to clear them. New fruit drops in after every clear.
A cascade grows only when the colour changes. Take turns between colours to keep the relay alive.
Meet the chain targets of the board, the depth and the number of times, then reach the score.
Press H or the Hint button for a move that works. Press P, Escape or Start to pause.

Controls

Drag a tile, or tap two tiles — swap
Arrow keys or WASD, then Enter or Space — swap
H or Ⓨ — hint
P, Escape or Start — pause

Frequently asked questions

What is a relay?

It is a cascade that is passed from colour to colour. The relay grows only when the colour you clear differs from the one cleared just before it. A repeated colour starts it again at one.

What is the Tide Relay?

A relay of four colours or more in one move. A wave sweeps the orchard, a gull calls, and the sea stays high behind the board until the next move. You can switch the waves off in Settings.

How do I win a board?

Meet the chain targets the panel shows: a cascade of the depth it asks for, as many times as it asks, and the score. Stars come from your score, and there is no hurry.

Does it save my progress?

Your stars, best scores and badges are saved in this browser only, and nothing is uploaded.