Hex Stack

Merge matching colours, clear at ten

Offline

Practice on your own, no connection needed.

Mode

Progress is saved only in this browser. Clearing site data removes it. The timer pauses while you are away.

How to play

Hex Stack gameplay screenshot
  • Drag one of the three stacks below onto an empty cell of the board (or tap the stack, then tap an empty cell). Each stack is a pile of hexagon tiles; the same-colour tiles at the very top form its top layer.
  • Once placed, it merges with every neighbouring stack whose top colour matches: the stack with the largest top layer collects the others' top layers (on a tie, the stack you just placed collects them). Colours uncovered after a stack gives its top layer away keep merging with their neighbours.
  • When a stack's top layer reaches 10 tiles of one colour, the whole layer clears and scores. After all three stacks are placed, three new ones are dealt.
  • Levels: clear the level's target number of tiles to move on to a new board. Later levels bring more colours and rock cells where nothing can be placed. The run ends when no empty cell is left and the hammer is used up; you can retry the level. Relaxed endless has no levels; colours are added gradually as you clear tiles.
  • Each level gives you two tools, once each: the hammer (knocks one stack off the board) and Redeal (replaces the stacks below that are not placed yet), plus 3 hints. Progress is saved in this browser so you can continue later.

Playing guide

These options and rules describe the current JoyPip version. Choose a mode above before starting; rules are also available during play.

Step-by-step examples

Select a step to see what changes. These are partial examples, not full starting positions.

Practice options

Mode
Levels · Relaxed endless

Detailed rules and controls

Merging
  • Only the same-colour tiles at the top of each stack (the top layer) count; the colours below stay put for now.
  • The collecting stack is the one in the group with the largest top layer; on a tie, the stack just placed (or being resolved) wins, then the order up, upper right, lower right, down, lower left, upper left.
  • A top layer of 10 or more tiles clears in one go, extra tiles included. Colours uncovered after giving away a layer or after a clear merge in the same way.
  • When merging stops, no two neighbouring stacks have the same top colour.
Score
  • Each cleared tile scores 10 points. When one placement clears several layers in a row, the 2nd earns an extra 50, the 3rd an extra 100, and so on.
  • Levels: clearing a level adds level × 100 points; your score and the level you reached are saved on this device when the run ends.
  • Relaxed endless: every 100 cleared tiles give back one hammer and one Redeal (at most 1 of each in stock); your best score is kept on this device.
Controls
  • Drag: on touch screens the stack floats above your finger and the highlighted empty cell shows where it will land; let go to place it. Dropping it elsewhere sends it back.
  • Tap: tap a stack below, then an empty cell to place it; tap the stack again to cancel. While dragging or selecting, the neighbouring stacks it will merge with light up.
  • Hammer: tap Hammer, then a stack on the board to knock it off (those tiles don't score); tap Hammer again to cancel.
  • Hint (H): tries every placement and looks two moves ahead, then lights up the best stack and empty cell and selects that stack; tap the glowing cell to place it. On a full board it shows which stack to hammer, and when any placement would fill the board it suggests a redeal first.
  • Hint uses: 3 per level in Levels (restored when you retry the level); Relaxed endless starts with 3 and refills them every 100 cleared tiles. Asking again for the hint you just got costs nothing.
  • Keyboard: 1, 2, 3 pick a stack, arrow keys move the cursor, Enter or Space places it, H shows a hint, Esc cancels.
  • Every colour also has its own symbol (circle, square, triangle, diamond, star, cross, ring, heart); the number on the top face is the size of the top layer.

Frequently asked questions

Which stack do matching tiles move onto?

When a neighbouring stack has 7 reds on top, place a stack with 3 reds on top beside it: the reds move onto the 7, reach 10 and clear at once; if blue is uncovered and a neighbour also shows blue, it merges next. When empty cells run low, place stacks that merge first, and save the hammer for the messiest stack once the board is full.

Do I need a download or a linked email?

Play directly in your browser without a download. Linking email is an optional way to recover your account. Before clearing browser data, consider whether you need to keep your account or local records.

Do matches earn or spend coins?

Earn coins by checking in and spend them on cosmetics. Matches never cost or award coins.

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