Tidydeck: Sort Puzzle

Tidydeck: Sort Puzzle is a digital puzzle game developed by a small independent studio, released in 2023 for mobile platforms. The game presents a single-screen sorting challenge where players organize a cluttered deck of illustrated cards into a clean, ordered state. The core objective is to clear the playing field by grouping identical cards together in designated slots. The game features a minimalist visual style with a muted color palette, focusing on clear iconography and a tidy user interface. Each level presents a randomized set of cards, typically ranging from 36 to 72 cards, arranged in a grid or a stacked pile. The game includes a progression system with over 200 levels, each introducing new card types and layout configurations. No narrative or character elements are present; the experience is purely mechanical and logic-based.

Gameplay mechanics are based on a single rule: cards can only be moved to a slot if they match the card already present in that slot. The playing field contains a central grid of face-up cards and a set of empty slots, usually seven, at the bottom of the screen. Players must drag cards from the grid into these slots. A slot can hold a maximum of three identical cards. Once a slot contains three matching cards, the stack is automatically cleared, freeing the slot for new cards. The game ends when all cards are cleared from the grid, or when all slots are filled with non-matching cards, resulting in a loss. A limited number of undo actions, typically three per level, are provided. An optional hint system highlights a valid move.

Operation controls are exclusively touch-based. Players tap and hold a card on the grid, then drag it to a target slot. Releasing the card places it in the slot if the move is valid. An invalid move causes the card to snap back to its original position. Tapping an undo button reverses the last move. Tapping the hint button briefly highlights one card and its matching slot. No keyboard or controller support is provided.

Tactical techniques focus on slot management and foresight. Players should prioritize moving cards that appear frequently on the grid to avoid blocking slots with rare cards. A common technique is to leave one slot empty as a buffer to temporarily hold a card while rearranging others. Players should avoid filling a slot with two identical cards if the third copy is not visible on the grid, as this wastes a slot. Scanning the entire grid before making a move is essential to identify potential deadlocks. Using the undo function to test a move without commitment is a valid strategy. The hint system should be reserved for late-game situations where no obvious move is visible.