“Home, sweet home!” This is a sentiment often echoing throughout our lives, whether it’s the soft glow of lights through our windows on a winter’s night or the warmth of family gatherings. Playrix taps into this universal emotion with its 2017 release, Homescapes. As the follow-up to the immensely successful Gardenscapes, this game beautifully intertwines match-3 puzzle mechanics with a heartwarming home renovation storyline. Players are tasked with helping the game’s protagonist, Austin the butler, restore his family’s mansion to its former glory. From dusty old rooms to a family history steeped in memories, there’s a palpable charm to every corner of this game.

Engaging Gameplay: Match-3 mechanics are fused seamlessly with home renovation tasks, keeping players invested.

Rich Storyline: The narrative pulls you in, making renovations feel personal and rewarding.

Vibrant Graphics: A treat for the eyes, the game boasts intricately designed interiors and lively character animations.

While the puzzles start off easy, Homescapes can become challenging as players progress. Some levels may feel overly difficult, leading to frustration and potential boredom.

Homescapes follows the costless-to-play model but includes in-app purchases for power-ups and extra lives.

Homescapes offers daily rewards to players, but these rewards tend to be limited.

Diving into Homescapes, it’s immediately clear that this isn’t just another match-3 game. The experience is built on two pillars: the puzzles and the home renovation, both of which are vital to the game's appeal.

The puzzles themselves are challenging and varied, with different objectives and obstacles introduced as you progress. This ensures that, for the most part, players don’t feel like they’re just grinding through level after level. However, this is where the difficulty spikes come into play. Occasionally, a level feels almost insurmountable without power-ups or additional moves. While this does motivate some players to strategize and optimize their gameplay, others might feel coerced into making in-app purchases for a smoother experience.

The home renovation aspect is truly the soul of the game. There’s an unmistakable joy in watching a dilapidated room come back to life with every piece of furniture you add or wall you repaint. The choices made during renovations also give players a sense of ownership and connection to the mansion. The unfolding story between Austin, his parents, and the various characters introduced keeps the renovations engaging. You’re not just completing tasks for the sake of progression; there’s a genuine desire to see what unfolds next.

However, as with any game that relies heavily on a consistent formula, there’s a risk of it becoming repetitive. After a certain point, the renovations, although beautiful, can feel like they’re treading familiar ground. Some players might feel a sense of déjà vu as they move from one room to another, solving similar puzzles and picking out eerily familiar decor.