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I'm making a game with elements of a match-3 puzzler (such as Columns, Bejeweled or Tetris Attack). I don't know where to begin creating an efficient algorithm for matching and clearing.

My assumptions:

  • Blocks of a like color can be matched horizontally, vertically, or diagonally in sets of at least 3.
  • Blocks are held within a grid. They do not move horizontally.
  • However, blocks do move vertically due to gravity.
  • This is an action game, therefore we have to check up on the grid each frame.
  • Due to the design of my game, however, we only need to check for matches if at least one block was falling in the previous frame.

Where do I go from here?

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1 Answer 1

up vote 3 down vote accepted

When a block moves, add it to a list that needs checking.

When you check a block remove it from the list.

First, decide if lines of 4+ count and if not, which set of 3 takes precedence in a row of 4.

Have your algorithm check in 4 directions instead of 8. (Horizontal, Vertical, and 2 diagonal)

Assuming you first check horizontally and allow matches of 4:

  • Look at the block to the left. If it matches increase the # of matched blocks from 1 to 2.

  • Keep looking left until you find a block that does not match or the edge of your playing area.

  • Then, look to the right and continue adding in the same manner until you find an unmatched block.

  • If the number of matched blocks from both directions is greater than 3, then mark the blocks for deletion/exploding.

  • Repeat for the other 3 directions.

  • Delete all of the blocks marked for deletion.

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Beautiful! Thanks! How do programmers come up with these sorts of things? –  JesseTG Aug 20 '12 at 23:50

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