{{short description|2020 video game}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{infobox video game | title = Royal Match | image = Royal Match app icon.png | caption = App icon | developer = Dream Games | publisher = Dream Games | engine = Unity | platforms = Android, iOS | released = July 2020 (early access)<ref name="tc"/><br>February 25, 2021 (full release)<ref name="gl"/><ref name="orr">{{Cite web |last=Orr |first=Aaron |date=2022-01-19 |title=Royal Match sees Dream Games raise $255 million |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/royal-match-sees-dream-games-raise-255-million/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Pocket Gamer |language=en}}</ref> | genre = Puzzle | director = | producer = | designer = | artist = | composer = }}
'''''Royal Match''''' is a casual free-to-play tile-matching video game launched in 2021. It was developed and published by Dream Games. In it, players follow the fictional King Robert as he restores and refurbishes his castle. The game runs on the Unity game engine and is available for iOS through the App Store and Android via Google Play, the Amazon Appstore, and the Galaxy Store. Since 2023, ''Royal Match'' has been amongst the top ten largest mobile games by monthly revenue globally.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Long |first=Neil |date=2024-01-03 |title=The top grossing mobile games of 2023 |url=https://mobilegamer.biz/the-top-grossing-mobile-games-of-2023/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Mobilegamer.biz |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Long |first=Neil |date=2025-01-06 |title=The top grossing mobile games of 2024 |url=https://mobilegamer.biz/the-top-grossing-mobile-games-of-2024/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Mobilegamer.biz |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Sensor Tower Top 10 Worldwide Mobile Games - October 2024 |url=https://sensortower.com/blog/top-worldwide-mobile-games-by-revenue-and-downloads-october-2024 |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=sensortower.com |language=en-US}}</ref> There are about 55 million monthly active users.<ref name="ft">{{Cite web |last=Bradshaw |first=Tim |date=2023-12-23 |title=Puzzle game ‘Royal Match’ dethrones ‘Candy Crush’ from top of app store |url=https://www.ft.com/content/1bb1ed54-821e-49bf-b12d-353b98fa9912 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240221193203/https://www.ft.com/content/1bb1ed54-821e-49bf-b12d-353b98fa9912 |archive-date=February 21, 2024 |access-date=21 February 2024 |website=Financial Times |publisher=The Financial Times Ltd.}}</ref>
A sequel, ''Royal Kingdom'', starring King Robert's younger brother King Richard,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dreamgames.com/games/royal-kingdom|title=Royal Kingdom|date=November 7, 2024|publisher=Dream Games}}</ref> was fully released on November 21, 2024; it had already surpassed $20 million in revenue since its soft launch in April 2023.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/royal-kingdom-surpasses-20m-in-soft-launch-revenue-with-november-21st-global-release-date-set/|website=PocketGamer.biz|title=Royal Kingdom surpasses $20m in soft launch revenue with November 21st global release date set|last=Astle|first=Aaron|date=November 11, 2024}}</ref>
==Gameplay== [[File:Royal Match Level 1300 Bonus Level.png|thumb|Level 1300, a bonus level|150px]] The game follows King Robert as he fixes his castle. It is a match-3 tile game, meaning that the player must usually complete levels by matching three (or more) of the same type of object in a line, similar to other games such as ''Homescapes'', ''Candy Crush Saga'', and the ''Bejeweled'' series.<ref name="ft"/><ref name="oc"/> Other items that the player has to clear may be placed, such as Vases and Royal Eggs. Players must complete a level in a certain number of moves. If they fail, they lose one of their five lives, which are regenerated over time. Players that are having difficulty can use Boosters to help them. The two types are pre-game Boosters, which are randomly placed before the start of the level (these include Rockets, TNT, and Light Balls), and in-game Boosters, which are placed during the level (these include the Royal Hammer, Arrows, Cannons, and the Jester's Hat).<ref name="oc">{{Cite web |date=2023-08-19 |title=Royal Match Review [Match-3 Mobile Puzzle Game] • Old Cynic |url=https://oldcynic.com/royal-match-review-mobile-puzzle-game |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Old Cynic |language=en-GB}}</ref> There are over 12,400 levels as of November 2025, with new ones being added every two weeks.<ref name="gr">{{Cite web |last=Bhattacharjee |first=Soham |date=2024-02-13 |title=Royal Match Levels: How Many Are There? Can You Beat & Finish The Game? |url=https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/965308-royal-match-how-many-levels-can-you-beat-finish-complete |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=GameRevolution |language=en-US |archive-date=February 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220043446/https://www.gamerevolution.com/guides/965308-royal-match-how-many-levels-can-you-beat-finish-complete |url-status=live }}</ref>
While there is a level-based campaign, the ''Royal Match'' also offers Tournament, Challenge, and Quest modes, which are not required to progress. The game has an alliance system, Teams, in which level progression is determined as a team, and members must collaborate to obtain rewards. The game can also be played offline.<ref name="oc"/>
==Development and release== ''Royal Match'' was first made available only in Canada, Turkey, and the U.K. in a limited test for iOS and Android in July 2020.<ref name="dcof"/> During the test, it received 1 million downloads and 200,000 daily average players.<ref name="tc">{{Cite web |last=Lunden |first=Ingrid |date=2021-03-01 |title=Istanbul's Dream Games snaps up $50M and launches its first game, the puzzle-based Royal Match |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/28/istanbuls-dream-games-snaps-up-50m-and-launches-its-first-game-the-puzzle-based-royal-match/ |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206054104/https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/28/istanbuls-dream-games-snaps-up-50m-and-launches-its-first-game-the-puzzle-based-royal-match/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Royal Match'' was soft-launched in February<ref name="gl"/> or March 2021.<ref name="orr"/> In mid-2021, it reached the top 20 highest-grossing mobile games in the U.S., U.K., and Germany, reaching over 6 million users.<ref name="bb">{{Cite web |last=Ersoy |first=Ercan |date=2021-06-30 |title=‘Royal Match’ Game Developer Soars Five-Fold in 4 Months to $1 Billion Value |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-30/new-turkish-unicorn-emerges-as-gaming-startups-gain-more-backers |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Bloomberg |language=en |archive-date=July 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706173152/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-06-30/new-turkish-unicorn-emerges-as-gaming-startups-gain-more-backers |url-status=live }}</ref> By August 2021, it had 16 million downloads, making it the most popular in the U.S. at 28%. The U.K. and Germany followed at 7.7 and 7%, respectively. Despite its free-to-play approach, it gained $102 million in revenue from its first six months of operation. The U.S. accounted for $67 million of the total.<ref name="gl">{{Cite web |date=2021-09-02 |title=Total revenue exceeded US$100 million in half a year after its launch. How did "Royal Match" succeed? |url=http://www.gamelook.com.cn/2021/09/453199 |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=GameLook |language=zh |archive-date=February 20, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240220043447/http://www.gamelook.com.cn/2021/09/453199 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Dream Games, the developer and publisher, received $57.5 million in funding for the game in March 2021, making it the largest Series A for a Turkish startup company ever. Funding was led by Index Ventures, with Balderton Capital and Makers Fund also contributing.<ref name="tc"/><ref name="dcof"/> Then, a Series B round in June 2021 and a Series C round in January 2022 raised $155 million and $255 million, respectively.<ref name="orr"/><ref name="jordan">{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Jon |date=2021-06-30 |title=Dream Games valued at $1 billion after closing $155 million funding round |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/dream-games-valued-at-1-billion-after-closing-155-million-funding-round/ |access-date=2024-09-21 |website=Pocket Gamer |language=en}}</ref> It aired its first TV commercial in January 2023, created by British advertising agency House 337.<ref name="pg">{{Cite web |last=Rees |first=Lewis |last2=Writer |first2=Staff |date=2023-01-09 |title=Royal Match aims at 186 million fresh impressions via its first TV commercial |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/80569/royal-match-aims-at-186-million-fresh-downloads-through-its-first-tv-commercial/ |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Pocket Gamer |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206054104/https://www.pocketgamer.biz/news/80569/royal-match-aims-at-186-million-fresh-downloads-through-its-first-tv-commercial/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="lbb">{{Cite web |title=Dream Games Appoints House 337 to Push Royal Match to the Number One Spot for Casual Mobile Gaming |url=https://lbbonline.com/news/dream-games-appoints-house-337-to-push-royal-match-to-the-number-one-spot-for-casual-mobile-gaming |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Little Black Book |language=en |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206054105/https://lbbonline.com/news/dream-games-appoints-house-337-to-push-royal-match-to-the-number-one-spot-for-casual-mobile-gaming |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Royal Match'' additionally collaborated with Simon Cowell to release ads featuring him.<ref name="mx">{{Cite web |last=Summerville |first=Iapri |date=2023-07-11 |title=Simon Cowell Agrees To Seven Figure Advertisement Deal With Royal Match - |url=https://games.mxdwn.com/news/simon-cowell-agrees-to-seven-figure-advertisement-deal-with-royal-match/ |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=mxdwn |language=en-US}}</ref> Other celebrities that have done ads for the app include Amanda Holden, Rylan Clark, Olly Murs, Stacey Solomon, Dermot O'Leary and Tess Daly.<ref name="mb">{{Cite web |last=Louis |first=Yasmeen |date=2023-09-04 |title=Royal Match's celeb-studded ad line-up creates buzz online |url=https://www.marketing-beat.co.uk/2023/09/04/royal-match-celebrities-game/ |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Marketing Beat |language=en-GB |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206054105/https://www.marketing-beat.co.uk/2023/09/04/royal-match-celebrities-game/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Edwin Catmull, co-founder of Pixar and former President of Walt Disney Animation Studios, became a part of Dream Games by December 2023, working as a strategic advisor.<ref name="ft"/> ===Developer=== thumb|right|Dream Games logo '''Dream Games''' is a Turkish video game company headquartered in Istanbul, Turkey. The company was founded in 2019 by Eren Sengul, Hakan Saglam, and three other partners. The company has expanded its presence with an additional office in London. As of 2024, Dream Games was the seventh-biggest mobile game developer in the world in terms of revenue.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Batchelor |first=James |date=2024-12-20 |title=GamesIndustry.biz presents… The Year In Numbers 2024 |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/gamesindustrybiz-presents-the-year-in-numbers-2024 |access-date=2025-03-04 |website=GamesIndustry.biz |language=en}}</ref> The company is the largest video game company in Turkey by revenue, followed by Peak Games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lunden |first=Ingrid |date=2021-03-01 |title=Istanbul's Dream Games snaps up $50M and launches its first game, the puzzle-based Royal Match |url=https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/28/istanbuls-dream-games-snaps-up-50m-and-launches-its-first-game-the-puzzle-based-royal-match/ |access-date=2025-03-06 |website=TechCrunch |language=en-US |archive-date=2025-03-12 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250312013030/https://techcrunch.com/2021/02/28/istanbuls-dream-games-snaps-up-50m-and-launches-its-first-game-the-puzzle-based-royal-match/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chapple |first=Craig |date=2025-03-17 |title=Türkiye's bustling multi-billion dollar games industry in numbers |url=https://www.pocketgamer.biz/trkiyes-bustling-multi-billion-dollar-games-industry-in-numbers/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=www.pocketgamer.biz |language=en}}</ref>
==Reception== Laura Taranto of the blog ''Deconstructor of Fun'' compared ''Royal Match'' to ''Toon Blast'' and ''Homescapes'', saying that the game has "the speed, fluidity, and palette of ''Toon Blast'' ... with the level diversity, power-ups and tap-to-activate from ''Homescapes''". She states that power-ups are more effective than those in games developed by Playrix and King.<ref name="dcof">{{Cite web |last=Taranto |first=Laura |date=2021-03-22 |title=Royal Match - The New King from Turkey? |url=https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/blog/2021/3/21/royal-match-the-new-king-from-turkey |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Deconstructor of Fun |language=en-US |archive-date=July 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240706173153/https://www.deconstructoroffun.com/blog/2021/3/21/royal-match-the-new-king-from-turkey |url-status=live }}</ref>
Erin Brereton of Common Sense Media gave the game 3/5 stars when reviewing the game's suitability for children, saying that the puzzles are entertaining but in-app purchases are prevalent.<ref name="cms">{{Cite web |last=Brereton |first=Erin |title=Royal Match App Review |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/royal-match |access-date=2024-02-06 |website=Common Sense Media |language=en |archive-date=February 6, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240206054104/https://www.commonsensemedia.org/app-reviews/royal-match |url-status=live }}</ref>
Advertising for Royal Match was cited as deceptive by Sherwood News.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Knoblauch |first1=Max |title=Why are mobile game ads so weird and bad? |url=https://sherwood.news/business/mobile-game-ads-industry-fake-misleading/ |website=Sherwood News |date=June 14, 2024}}</ref>
In August 2024 it was reported that Dream Games, the operator of Royal Match, was facing a proposed class action lawsuit that claims the online game constitutes illegal gambling under Washington state law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-08-22 |title=Royal Match Online Game Violates Washington Gambling Law, Class Action Lawsuit Alleges |url=https://www.classaction.org/news/royal-match-online-game-violates-washington-gambling-law-class-action-lawsuit-alleges |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=www.classaction.org |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Edwards |first=Jessy |date=2024-08-19 |title='Addictive' Royal Match game violates gambling laws, class action claims |url=https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/consumer-products/mobile-apps/addictive-royal-match-game-violates-gambling-laws-class-action-claims/ |access-date=2025-02-05 |website=Top Class Actions |language=en}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{official website|https://www.dreamgames.com/games/royal-match}}
{{commons category}}
Category:2021 video games Category:Android (operating system) games Category:Casual games Category:iOS games Category:Tile-matching video games Category:Video games developed in Turkey