Best Merge Games in 2025 (And Ones to Avoid)
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 β or, well, at least I can’t β 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. Itβs so popular, in fact, that Pedro Pascal made a cameo as a detective in one of the lore videos. So yeah, itβs totally earned its #1 spot.
In this game, you step into the shoes of a granddaughter helping her grandma restoreβwhat else?βa mansion. Along the way, youβll uncover some mysteries and meet quirky characters from the town.
The gameplay is straightforwardβyou merge items to create the tools and objects you need to fix up the house. At first, itβs 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), youβll burn through energy quicker. At first, itβs 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 youβve got more patience than me, youβll 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 β you fuse items and get the tools you need to clear out the area. In this case, itβs a town. Each tap on the crates that produce these items will cost you one energy. As the things you need get more complicated, youβll spend more energy.
One thing I did notice was different about Merge Cartoon β and might put you off as well β is how quickly the production items are spent. And when that happens youβll need to wait a fairly long time for them to recharge.
But if youβre patient β unlike me β and want a game you can play occasionally, over several days, this shouldnβt bother you.
3. Merge Survival

If you want more of a storyline and merges that feel purposeful, I recommend playing Merge Survival. Itβs beautifully designed and also quite sad.
The story is set in a dystopian future where weβve destroyed our planet. In order to survive, you have to create various items that will help you in the harsh conditions. As you progress, youβll meet more people who will become your villagers and you can send them out to find things if you canβt 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 (donβt worry, only good ones). As you play, you earn tree tokens, and for every 250 tokens, a tree gets planted in real life. Thatβs a pretty great incentive to keep merging!
The gameplay is both fun and nature-focused. Youβll 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). Itβs a bit like Merge Survival, but with an environmental twist.
The graphics are lovely, the storyline keeps you hooked, and youβll appreciate the generous energy systemβno 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 wonβt always make sense, but it is pretty enjoyable and there are many things you can make. Itβs 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 itβs 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, youβre not really merging a family (although you may get one if you play long enough). Instead, youβre fixing up a house. Unfortunately, there arenβt any design options, so you canβt choose what your house looks like. But there is plenty of story, if thatβs 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 wonβt 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.
Itβs 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 donβt really care about the story. But give it a go if itβs something you enjoy.
8. Gossip Harbor

Gossip Harbor is all about gossip. Well, that and restoring a restaurant. Youβre 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 youβre nosy, youβll like all the bickering, developing romances and intrigue that happens here.
Most of the time, youβre 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, youβre merging to clear the beach and restore your inn. Thereβs a big storyline aspect as well, but the game doesnβt give you design options. I enjoyed it, but it definitely isnβt my top choice.
10. Merge Inn

For a while, this was probably my favorite merge game. Itβs fairly simple and a typical merge game β you’re making items that are needed for restoring an inn or serving customers. Thereβs not too much story in it, but itβs 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. Itβs a satisfying process, which is what makes these games interesting. Thereβs usually an overarching aspect to them as well β designing a town/restaurant/mansion, solving a mystery, survival, etc.
Most of these games have several production items, which youβre meant to tap to get different items. Each tap spends one energy. As the game progresses, youβll 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), youβll get to move the overarching plot forward.
Types of Merge Games
Now, there are three types of merge games (to my knowledge).
βAlchemyβ games
This is probably the oldest type of merge game, because I remember downloading various versions of βPocket Alchemyβ 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 donβt require any energy and you can play them endlessly as long as you donβt 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, youβre 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, letβs be honest β merge games arenβt really the highest form of entertainment you can get. Theyβre simple, mindless and youβll probably deinstall whatever merge game you installed after a few hours of gameplay.
However, this doesnβt mean you shouldnβt look out for yourself.
Make sure that the game you downloaded isnβt 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, Iβve compiled a short list of merge games to avoid at all costs.
1. Merge Memory: Town Decor

This one used to be decent β and it still might be, if youβre okay with a giant ad taking up half your screen. The gameplay itself isnβt 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, youβre hit with pop-ups and redirected to your browser. Even after closing everything, that persistent half-screen ad sticks around.
Honestly, itβs more frustrating than fun. Iβd skip this one.
2. Aliceβs Dream

This is another game that has a problem with non-stop popups for packs. Thereβs also way too much storyline and dialogue, and tutorials that seem never-ending. I wouldnβt recommend it.
3. Merge Villa
Merge Villa doesnβt have quite as many ads and packs to sift through, but itβs not very satisfying either. The art is unappealing, and the merging offers no satisfaction or variety. Itβs a skip.

Hi. Thanks for the ranking.
I have a question you may know its answer.
Is there any good merge game with a team/squad/crew… whatever option, so I can play with my girlfriend (each with our own mobile/account) like other games, competing, events, sending energy or items?
Regards.
Hey, thanks for commenting! Unfortunately, I don’t know of any mobile merge games that can do all of this. If I find any in the future, I’ll let you know (and add them to the list). If you just want a game to play with your girlfriend (that’s also very chill and on mobile), where you can trade items and compete in events together, I recommend Hey Day. It’s a farm game, but I played it with my wife and we both enjoyed having an option to work together while having our separate farms/accounts.
I agree with most of your list, but why would you put Gossip Harbor on it. Yes, you say that energy runs out quickly. But not that most of the times it runs out while preparing single order. The mini games are almost impossible to finish without paying for extra energy and once you pay for energy, the prices go way up to a point that it can be close to $30,- for a lousy package. Also once you start paying the game gives less gems and energy drinks for free. You can play for 3 minutes and then must wait 3 hours to replenish your energy to the max of 100. Also the rewards you get for completing a dish are way lower then what you spend on it. It’s very normal to spend over 300 energy on a single dish ( which can take more then a day) and get a little more the 100 gold coins. This is clearly a rigged money grabbing game.
Hey, Cliff! Thanks for your input! I agree with all of your thoughts, which is why Gossip Harbor is ranked so low. I am not its biggest fan, but I know some people like the story aspect of it (the developing relationships, romance, etc.), which is why it’s still on the list — just in case. Do you have any other favorites that you think I should replace it with? I’m interested to hear your thoughts!
Hey, thank you for responding. My favorites are on your list already. Merge Mansion and Longleaf Valley. I have been told that Gossip Harbor is a rip-off of County Story. I haven’t checked it out yet, but I might give it a try in the near future after I’ve tried Merge Survival.
Have a good one.
I got sucked into Merge Gardens,…and it has pop up balloons asking you to buy extras every few minutes. I like merge games, but now I am trying GardenScapes. I wish there was a company that let you just buy the game, for a reasonable cost, up front, and then play without stress of being asked constantly to buy more, more more!!!
I want to play merge games without logging onto FaceBook how can I do this?
Hey, I played all of these without logging into Facebook π Just download the game you like (from Play store or App store) and start playing. None of these games asked me to log in, so you shouldn’t have trouble either. Let me know if you have any issues and I’ll do my best to help!
You should try out the Hello Kitty Merge games!
Thanks for the rec! I’ll try it out π