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Puzzles game

Xmas Explorer

Xmas Explorer is a holiday-themed matching puzzle game where players connect adjacent seasonal items to merge them into higher-tier pieces. By linking matching items across horizontal, vertical, or diagonal paths, you continually evolve your board. The ultimate challenge is discovering every new holiday object until you unlock the supreme Xmas item.

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PuzzlesXmas Explorer

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Open source

Official listing

Game description

Press any item to start. Now move the ‘mouse or finger tip’ on identical adjacent Xmas items (horizontally, vertically or diagonally). Select at least 3 items. Release mouse button to make the match. This will merge the selected items and create a new item. Keep matching and merging to explore new Xmas Items. To win the game, find the supreme Xmas Item. You can eliminate an item, one you find a new item in board. Below the board, you can find the info about eliminating item.

From the game listing

Instructions and controls

Use mouse or touchscreen to play this game

Game videoWatch before you playOpen the official gameplay walkthrough for Xmas Explorer

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Game walkthroughHow to play Xmas ExplorerRules, controls, strategy, tips and answers

About Xmas Explorer

Xmas Explorer is a holiday-themed matching puzzle game where players connect adjacent seasonal items to merge them into higher-tier pieces. By linking matching items across horizontal, vertical, or diagonal paths, you continually evolve your board. The ultimate challenge is discovering every new holiday object until you unlock the supreme Xmas item.

In Xmas Explorer, players start with a grid filled with festive pieces that can be connected in continuous chains. By pressing an item and dragging across adjacent identical pieces, you link three or more matching objects in horizontal, vertical, or diagonal directions. Releasing the hold combines the selected chain into a single upgraded holiday item.

As higher-tier objects emerge, the board dynamic changes and presents new merging opportunities. When a new item is discovered on the board, elimination options become available, supported by information displayed below the main board. Managing the board space while steadily merging upward allows players to reach the supreme Xmas item.

Your goal

The main objective in Xmas Explorer is to continuously match and merge identical holiday items to discover the supreme Xmas item. Players must create chains of at least three matching pieces, evolve higher-tier items, and utilize board information to clear necessary pieces until reaching the ultimate victory condition.

How to play Xmas Explorer

1. Press on any starting item on the board using your mouse or touchscreen.

2. Drag your cursor or fingertip across adjacent identical holiday items in horizontal, vertical, or diagonal directions.

3. Ensure your connected path includes a minimum of three identical items before letting go.

4. Release your mouse button or finger to merge the selected pieces into a newly created item.

5. Check the information below the board regarding item elimination when new items appear, and continue merging until you find the supreme Xmas item.

Controls and device support

Left Mouse Button (Click and Drag): Select a starting item and drag across adjacent identical items

Release Left Mouse Button: Complete the connection to merge the selected matching items

Touch and Drag: Touch an item and slide across adjacent identical items on the touchscreen

Release Touch: Lift your fingertip to trigger the merge for the connected chain

  • Controls: Mouse or touch
  • Device support: Desktop + mobile
  • Game frame: 800 x 480

Rules to keep in mind

  • Every valid match must consist of at least three identical adjacent items.
  • Connections are permitted horizontally, vertically, or diagonally across adjacent tiles.
  • Merging selected pieces produces a single new item at the resolution of the match.
  • The game is won when the player successfully uncovers the supreme Xmas item.

What makes the challenge interesting

Success in Xmas Explorer relies on recognizing efficient linking paths across the board. Because matches can be formed horizontally, vertically, and diagonally, scanning for multi-directional chains provides greater flexibility than standard orthogonal matching. Creating longer chains helps manage board clutter while combining lower-tier pieces into advanced items.

Tracking the elimination details below the board is another core tactical element. As newly discovered items enter play, keeping an eye on elimination opportunities allows players to clear space and maintain fluid merging progression toward the supreme item.

Tips for Xmas Explorer

  • Always check diagonal adjacencies before making a move, as diagonal connections can rescue paths that appear blocked horizontally or vertically.
  • Pay attention to the information area below the board to identify when and how item elimination becomes accessible after discovering new items.
  • Aim to connect larger clusters when available to clear low-tier pieces rapidly and create space for higher-level combinations.

Stages and progression

Progression in Xmas Explorer revolves around an item evolution ladder. Matching basic items merges them into brand new holiday pieces. This discovery process continues tier by tier, unlocking new board states until players reveal the ultimate supreme Xmas item to win.

The skills behind the game

As part of the puzzle genre, Xmas Explorer blends chain-linking match mechanics with progressive item synthesis. Unlike traditional grid puzzles that simply clear matched tiles, merge puzzles reward players with advanced pieces that require sustained forward planning and board space management.

Who will enjoy this game

Players looking for a match 3 puzzle game or a festive merge puzzle game will find intuitive mechanics in Xmas Explorer. The title provides an accessible online puzzle game experience centered around drawing multi-directional paths across seasonal pieces to craft rare items.

Games with a similar feel

Candy Crush Saga: Like Candy Crush Saga, Xmas Explorer challenges players to identify matching sets of items on a colorful grid. However, while Candy Crush focuses on swapping adjacent pieces to clear objectives, Xmas Explorer requires dragging across continuous chains to merge pieces into upgraded items.

Bejeweled: Similar to Bejeweled, Xmas Explorer centers on grouping identical icons across a puzzle board. The key difference is that Xmas Explorer incorporates freeform diagonal linking and merge-evolution mechanics culminating in a single supreme item rather than standard line-clearing score chases.

Frequently asked questions

How many items do I need to connect to make a match in Xmas Explorer? You need to select at least three identical adjacent items in a continuous horizontal, vertical, or diagonal line to complete a match.

What is the ultimate goal to win Xmas Explorer? The game is won when you keep matching and merging evolving holiday items until you discover the supreme Xmas item on your board.

Can I play Xmas Explorer on both mobile and desktop browsers? Yes, Xmas Explorer supports mouse drag controls on desktop web browsers as well as touchscreen finger swipe controls on mobile devices.

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