How to Play High Tide

A bioluminescent merge puzzle. Combine matching tiles to push back a rising tide.

SMASH BIG. STAY DRY. STOP THE HIGH TIDE.

The basics

  • Swipe up, down, left, or right to slide every tile on the board.
  • Two tiles with the same number merge into one tile of double the value.
  • Each merge scores points and pushes the tide down.
  • A new tile spawns after every move.

The tide

  • The tide rises on a countdown. When it reaches zero, the water climbs one row.
  • Tiles submerged under water for 3 moves are washed away.
  • If the water reaches the top row, or you run out of moves, the game ends.
  • Merging drops the tide. Big merges drop it further.

Erosion

The sea reclaims stranded giants.

A tile of 128 or higher left with no matching partner — and no tile worth at least a quarter of its value — will crack over three stuck swipes, then the tide halves it on the fourth. Build toward it, or watch the ocean wear it down.

Gems

Prism — the board-clearer

A rare gem. Tap it to smash every number with 2+ tiles on the board — all of them, all at once, for a burst of score.

Teleport — the repositioner

Tap the Teleport tile, then tap any cell on the board to swap places with it. A free move — no tide tick, no combo reset.

Moonstone — the finisher

Ultra-rare. Odds grow the longer you survive with a flooded column. Once per run — triggers MOONFALL: drains the tide fully and grants 10 grace moves.

HUD tools

Seawall — survive the tide

Slam back the rising tide by 3 bands. You start with 1 charge; hit a 128 or 256 tile to earn more (max 3).

⚡ Strike Charge — the panic button

Merges fill your Strike meter. When full, tap SMASH to cascade every possible merge on the board in one dopamine-soaked finale.

Daily Tide — compete globally

Everyone gets the same board for 24 hours. Tap to compete — you get one chance. The board pulses purple while a daily tide is in-play.

Strategy tips

  • Anchor your biggest tile in a corner and build toward it.
  • Chain merges in a single swipe — they score more and push the tide harder.
  • Save Strike Charge for when the tide is one row from the top.
  • Use Teleport to break up locked columns before they drown.
  • Prism Gems are rare — let clutter build so the shatter clears a big group.
Start playing →