Merge games are a favorite pastime of mine. There’s something about making combos into improbable objects that scratches a specific itch in my brain. These are not the kind of games you can play all the time — or, well, at least I can’t — but I download them once in a while when I feel like it and need something to kill boredom.
Because of that, I tried them all, some even multiple times. And let me tell you, no other genre of mobile games is so littered with ads or endless waiting for more energy. Except maybe hidden object games (but more on that here, if you’re curious!).
But there are some gems out there, and I’ve rounded them up here, to save us all some time. So, if you’re like me, and you like a bit of mindless fun from time to time, check out the best merge games available (at least in my opinion).
Quick Overview of Best Merge Games
1. Merge Mansion
Merge Mansion is probably the most famous merge game out there. It’s so popular, in fact, that Pedro Pascal made a cameo as a detective in one of the lore videos. So yeah, it’s totally earned its #1 spot.
In this game, you step into the shoes of a granddaughter helping her grandma restore—what else?—a mansion. Along the way, you’ll uncover some mysteries and meet quirky characters from the town.
The gameplay is straightforward—you merge items to create the tools and objects you need to fix up the house. At first, it’s all about gloves and basic tools, but as you progress, the tasks get more complex. Once you complete a task, you get to redecorate or clear out the area.
Now, as the merging gets trickier (and it definitely will), you’ll burn through energy quicker. At first, it’s easy to top off your energy since you level up fast, but it gets tougher as you go. I found it a little annoying, but if you’ve got more patience than me, you’ll probably be fine.
2. Merge Cartoon: Renovate Town
Merge Cartoon is a fun and simple merge game without too many bells and whistles. You get a cute, cartoony aesthetic and some relaxing background music. And you get a task of merging items in order to renovate and redesign this town.
The gameplay is pretty much the same as in any other merge game — you fuse items and get the tools you need to clear out the area. In this case, it’s a town. Each tap on the crates that produce these items will cost you one energy. As the things you need get more complicated, you’ll spend more energy.
One thing I did notice was different about Merge Cartoon — and might put you off as well — is how quickly the production items are spent. And when that happens you’ll need to wait a fairly long time for them to recharge.
But if you’re patient — unlike me — and want a game you can play occasionally, over several days, this shouldn’t bother you.
3. Merge Survival
If you want more of a storyline and merges that feel purposeful, I recommend playing Merge Survival. It’s beautifully designed and also quite sad.
The story is set in a dystopian future where we’ve destroyed our planet. In order to survive, you have to create various items that will help you in the harsh conditions. As you progress, you’ll meet more people who will become your villagers and you can send them out to find things if you can’t make them. It’s like a blend of Frostpunk and a standard merge game, but with lower stakes.
This game is the perfect blend of purposeful gameplay where merging makes sense. You only need one or two items per task and your board will stay clear most of the time. And each loading screen will offer tips on how to be more mindful and help save our planet in real life (like recycling, water usage, etc.).
4. Longleaf Valley: Merge Garden
This is another game that puts an eco-friendly spin on merging, and it comes with real-world benefits (don’t worry, only good ones). As you play, you earn tree tokens, and for every 250 tokens, a tree gets planted in real life. That’s a pretty great incentive to keep merging!
The gameplay is both fun and nature-focused. You’ll help your character clean up and restore a nature park, tackling tasks like crafting items to solve specific problems (for example, making rope to rescue someone from the lake). It’s a bit like Merge Survival, but with an environmental twist.
The graphics are lovely, the storyline keeps you hooked, and you’ll appreciate the generous energy system—no need to stress about running out mid-game!
5. Merge Restaurant: Makeover
If you like cooking games, this one might be fun for you. In order to progress, you need to merge different foods to create meals for your customers. Once you collect enough money, you can use it to update the design of your restaurant.
Your creations won’t always make sense, but it is pretty enjoyable and there are many things you can make. It’s fortunate that Merge Restaurant gives you more energy than most, and options of endless energy for a certain amount of time. I will say that it’s pretty salesy. Like, when you open the game, it offers you at least three packs, and you can see on the home screen above that it’s full of offers. But it’s not too bad overall.
There are plenty of events and it’s overall a fun game. One big perk is that it will save your progress even when you uninstall. For example, I played it probably two or three years ago but when I downloaded it again just a few days ago, I was able to pick up right where I left off.
6. Merge Family
To clarify, you’re not really merging a family (although you may get one if you play long enough). Instead, you’re fixing up a house. Unfortunately, there aren’t any design options, so you can’t choose what your house looks like. But there is plenty of story, if that’s what you like.
One big plus of Merge Family is that you can skip the tutorial, which is not offered by many. Usually these merge games won’t leave you alone until they go through their spiel, but this one gives you a chance to opt out.
7. Travel Town
This is another game that saves your progress even after years of not playing. The main point of the game is to merge items to sell and then get to progress the story, which is told to you through text messages.
It’s a typical merge game, with the added bonus of having a power boost that allows you to increase the level of basic items you get.
Travel Town is not my favorite, simply because merging gets difficult quickly and I don’t really care about the story. But give it a go if it’s something you enjoy.
8. Gossip Harbor
Gossip Harbor is all about gossip. Well, that and restoring a restaurant. You’re following a newly divorced mother whose restaurant failed because there was a case of food poisoning and the main suspect (for now) is her ex-husband. So, if you’re nosy, you’ll like all the bickering, developing romances and intrigue that happens here.
Most of the time, you’re merging to unlock the conversations with different people, but sometimes you also get to redesign the restaurant. It will offer you three design options to choose from.
I will note that the energy spends very easily and that Gossip Harbor makes many attempts to get you to buy something with real money.
9. Seaside Escape
In Seaside escape, you’re merging to clear the beach and restore your inn. There’s a big storyline aspect as well, but the game doesn’t give you design options. I enjoyed it, but it definitely isn’t my top choice.
10. Merge Inn
For a while, this was probably my favorite merge game. It’s fairly simple and a typical merge game — you’re making items that are needed for restoring an inn or serving customers. There’s not too much story in it, but it’s enjoyable if all you want to do is merge and not worry about anything else.
Merge Games: What They Are + Examples
Merge games are typically games that involve fusing two or more items in order to get something new. It’s a satisfying process, which is what makes these games interesting. There’s usually an overarching aspect to them as well — designing a town/restaurant/mansion, solving a mystery, survival, etc.
Most of these games have several production items, which you’re meant to tap to get different items. Each tap spends one energy. As the game progresses, you’ll need more and more energy to get what you need.
Once you complete the set task (either create a tool or earn enough coins/stars), you’ll get to move the overarching plot forward.
Types of Merge Games
Now, there are three types of merge games (to my knowledge).
“Alchemy” games
This is probably the oldest type of merge game, because I remember downloading various versions of “Pocket Alchemy” when I first got my smartphone. In these games, you fuse different elements to get another one. For example, merge water and fire to get steam. These usually don’t require any energy and you can play them endlessly as long as you don’t run out of will and good pairing ideas.
Board Merge Games
This is my favorite type of merge game (and the one this article is about). As mentioned above, you’re meant to merge two items to get something else. You do this on a contained, board-like interface and it requires in-game energy.
Open Space Merge Games
These are my least favorite, probably because I tried a few and the interface just felt really clunky and the merging process unsatisfying. But anyway, for these types of games, you usually merge animals or plants to get a higher level of animal/plant. There is no contained box, but the process does usually require energy.
Things to Look Out for in Merge Games
Look, let’s be honest — merge games aren’t really the highest form of entertainment you can get. They’re simple, mindless and you’ll probably deinstall whatever merge game you installed after a few hours of gameplay.
However, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t look out for yourself.
Make sure that the game you downloaded isn’t filled with ads. This will make it nearly unplayable and extremely tiring. Some of them offer you to watch ads to get free energy, which is great, as long as it’s not at every turn.
You should also make sure that the game you choose isn’t too much of a money grab. All of them will offer some money-spending opportunities, but you shouldn’t get pop ups at every turn.
Is there a merge game without energy?
Merge games without energy are rare these days, but they do exist. For example, you could try Scrap Clicker 2, where you’re meant to merge to get scrap materials (barrels). The problem is, it’s a bit boring at the start, which turns a lot of people off. Later on, it gets a bit more interesting.
There’s also Midas Merge, but it’s an open space merge game (like I mentioned above), so that might not work for you. But it doesn’t require any energy and a lot of people love it.
You can also try Dinner Out, which is a Netflix game. Although it has energy, it also doesn’t have any microtransactions nor ads, so that might work for you instead.
Merge Games to Avoid
I tested and played probably dozens of merge games. Some just for fun, when I was bored, and some specifically for the purpose of this article. And I have to say that while some of them are truly fun and worth your time, and some are only mildly ad watching simulators, some are truly a waste of time.
And in order to save you from the dire trenches of downloading a game only to be slammed with like a hundred ads, I’ve compiled a short list of merge games to avoid at all costs.
1. Merge Memory: Town Decor
This one used to be decent — and it still might be, if you’re okay with a giant ad taking up half your screen. The gameplay itself isn’t terrible, and the art is pretty standard, but the constant ads make it hard to enjoy anything about Merge Memory.
Right after you open the app, you’re hit with pop-ups and redirected to your browser. Even after closing everything, that persistent half-screen ad sticks around.
Honestly, it’s more frustrating than fun. I’d skip this one.
2. Alice’s Dream
This is another game that has a problem with non-stop popups for packs. There’s also way too much storyline and dialogue, and tutorials that seem never-ending. I wouldn’t recommend it.
3. Merge Villa
Merge Villa doesn’t have quite as many ads and packs to sift through, but it’s not very satisfying either. The art is unappealing, and the merging offers no satisfaction or variety. It’s a skip.
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