Short answer: Work from the bottom of the board, look for chances to make special sweets before taking a plain match of three, combine two specials whenever they sit next to each other, and save rainbow drops for the colour your level still needs.
Sweet Swap is our free match-3 puzzle. Each level gives you a number of moves and a set of sweets to collect. These tips explain how the special sweets work and how to get through tougher levels with moves to spare. They work for most match-3 games too.
How to make each special sweet
| Match | Special sweet | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 4 in a line | Striped sweet | Clears a whole row or column, following the stripes |
| L or T shape (5 sweets) | Wrapped bomb | Clears the 3 by 3 square around it |
| 5 in a line | Rainbow drop | Swap with any sweet to clear every sweet of that kind |
The special sweet appears where you made the swap, so think about where it will end up. A striped sweet in the middle of the board reaches more sweets than one in a corner.
The best special combinations
- Striped plus striped: clears a full row and a full column in a cross.
- Striped plus bomb: clears three rows and three columns at once.
- Bomb plus bomb: clears a 5 by 5 square.
- Rainbow plus striped or bomb: turns every sweet of that colour into that special and sets them all off. This is the strongest move in the game.
- Rainbow plus rainbow: clears the whole board.
Tips for beating levels
Match low on the board
When sweets near the bottom disappear, everything above falls and new sweets drop in. That often creates extra matches for free, called cascades. Matching at the top only moves a few sweets.
Look before you swap
Before taking an obvious match of three, scan for a four or an L shape nearby. One special sweet usually clears more than three ordinary moves.
Focus on the goal
The level is won by collecting the sweets shown at the top, not by scoring points. A big combo that does not touch your goal colour can be worth less than a small match that does.
Keep specials for the right moment
Specials stay on the board until you use them. Two specials next to each other make a much bigger combo, so if one is close to another, line them up first.
Moves left become points
Every move you have left when you finish a level adds bonus points, and points decide your stars. Finishing early is the easiest way to get three stars.
Stuck? Wait for the hint
If you stop for a few seconds, two sweets wiggle to show a possible move. If there are no moves left at all, the board shuffles itself automatically.
Questions
How do you get a rainbow drop in Sweet Swap?
Line up five sweets of the same kind in a straight row or column.
What does a striped sweet do?
It clears an entire row or column when it pops. The stripes show the direction.
How are stars calculated?
You earn one star for finishing the level. Your score, including bonus points for unused moves, decides whether you earn two or three.
