Bejeweled 3

If you're a puzzle game enthusiast, then you probably know the burning addiction that's easily ignited by one of PopCap's Bejeweled games. The original Bejeweled remains one of the best-known Match-3 puzzle games of all time thanks to its compelling mix of shiny jewels, beautiful music, and a basic premise that's easy to learn but impossible to put down. The Bejeweled series has since climbed up to a third installment (well, more than that if you count the sequels that don't bear an actual number), and if you have a Nintendo DS, you can enjoy Bejeweled 3 while you're on the go.

Bejeweled 3 continues the series' tradition of wickedly addictive puzzle simplicity. The game is also bundled with several mini-games and varying game modes. If you're in search of a Match-3 game for your Nintendo DS, Bejeweled 3 is golden (and encrusted with gems).

Developer/Publisher: PopCap Games
Genre: Match-3 Puzzle
ESRB Rating: E
Compatible With: Nintendo 3DS, Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DSi XL, Nintendo DS Lite, Original Style Nintendo DS

Bejeweled 3 is a Match-3 puzzle game, and is therefore quite easy to learn. When you start up a new game, your playfield is filled to the brim with gems. Using your stylus, you swap the jewels until you get three of a kind. They disappear, and more gems slide from the top of the screen to fill the gap. Once you've made enough matches to fill the meter on the left side of your screen, you move on to the next stage. The object is to make as many matches as possible until there are no more moves to make. When the game is done, you are judged according to your score.

It's simple stuff, but if you want to score big points, you need to think beyond three-gem matches. You earn bonuses for scoring combos, as well as four-gem matches (and beyond). Bejeweled 3, like most Match-3 games, is easy to play--seemingly mindless, at times--but it runs very deep for players who are looking for a high score.

Bejeweled 3 also has some alternative gameplay modes for anyone who wants them, including Quests (wherein you play minigames to recover lost treasures), Lightning (for time-based puzzle-solving), and Zen (an endless mode that lets you play for as long as you like, with calming music in the background).

It can be as intense or as easy-going as you want it to be -- The nice thing about Bejeweled 3 is that its gameplay works on multiple levels. The main game is quite easy-going, as you're not on a timer. However, the "Lightning" and "Quest" game modes are available for anyone who wants a more fast-paced challenge.

It has a nice soundtrack -- Like its predecessors, Bejeweled 3 has some very pretty background music, particularly for the game's "Zen" mode, and its "Butterflies" minigame.

It's fun -- Not exactly a complex descriptor, but there you go. Bejeweled 3 is a fun game, and it'll probably stay inside your Nintendo DS for a decent amount of time.

Some of the Quests can be repetitive or frustrating -- The Quests in Bejeweled 3 are intriguing--you solve puzzles to restore ancient treasures--but they can be a heck of a challenge, thanks in part to time limits that offer nothing in the way of wiggle room. The option to add more time would have been nice. What's more, when you finish a Quest mission, you're usually expected to play that particular board again, but with a higher goal.

You can probably find the game for a cheaper price than the Nintendo DS version -- Bejeweled 3 is a multi-platform release. The PC version can be downloaded for a relatively cheap price, but if you want the portable Nintendo DS version, you'll be shelling out a number that's closer to standard retail price for a Nintendo DS game.

Nintendo DS puzzle games, especially Bejeweled games, are as common as pyrite. But if you're looking for a quality installment of the definitive Match-3 puzzle game, Bejeweled 3 is a sparkling choice.

Disclosure: A review copy was provided by the publisher. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.