Threes is a really simple and yet addictive puzzle game which is available on various platforms from Flash-based browser versions to Android and iOS mobiles. This game is played on a 4×4 board. The goal of this puzzle is to reach the highest number possible by swiping in the four directions: up, down, left and right. Similarly to 2048, numbers combine when same valued tiles hit each other; in this game the numbers are the multiples of 3, with the exception of the first two numbers: 1 and 2. Out of the two games Threes was the first one; 2048 was inspired heavily by it, and uses the same gameplay mechanics.
Each swipe moves all numbered tiles on the board as far as possible to the given direction, and if two equally numbered tiles end up in the same direction, they combine into the one tier higher number. At the same time a new, low numbered block (either 1 or 2) will appear in a random empty spot on the board.
Take it slow!
The first advice we can give to you: take the game slow, there is no rush or time limit to compete against! Try to plan your moves ahead, learn how the swipes change the board, and try to anticipate the game’s next randomly placed tile. With some practice you can predict fairly well where the next one will appear and maybe even plan ahead for multiple possible situations. Unlike 2048, in Threes you can preview the results of a swipe by not letting go of the screen. Use this trick to your advantage when planning ahead!
Corners are the key
A fairly simple strategy recommended to beginners is that they pick a corner, and try to stack high numbers in that corner, and direct the growing tiles to that direction whenever possible. A very important part of this strategy is that keep the bottom row filled with numbers so that left/right swipes do not move your highest number sitting in the corner. Try to stack the highest numbers in the bottom row, if possible in an order from lowest to highest. Also make sure that no low numbers get stuck in the bottom, as they may prevent the combining of higher ones if they stay there with no way of combining them with other low numbers.
Multiple stacks of numbers – important!
Whenever you come into a situation where you are able to combine multiple numbers with a single swipe, do it! Keep the board as healthy as possible by not letting too many random numbers scattered across it!
Keep in mind that two 1’s combine into a 2, two 2’s combine into a 3, and after that, multiples of 3 are coming.
Division of Low and High numbers
If you are unable to pursue the Corner strategy for any reason (or don’t want to, for that matter), try to mentally divide the board between the Low and the High half (left and right side). Push the incoming low numbers into the Low half and as you combine them, push them into the High half, similarly to the corners strategy. Start the High half on the side where your currently highest numbered tiles are residing.
Leave a Reply