Jewel of the Lost Viking Review

Achieve Your Goals

Strategically uncover the mysteries of Norse culture in Jewel of the Lost Viking by ENP Games. This addictive match-three puzzler flips traditional jewel-matching on its head via an array of diverse challenges. Powerful tools, magical abilities, and physics-altering effects add brain-twisting dynamics to every level.

Match Three Or More

The mechanics of this puzzle game are simple. Drag jewels one tile at a time to match others of the same color. You must match at least three of a kind or your jewels won’t move. Luckily, there will always be a possible match somewhere on the grid. If you feel stuck, jewels that can be matched will enlarge and move to grab your attention. You may only make a certain number of moves per level. However, watching ads between levels grants additional moves.

Jewel of the Lost Viking becomes especially interesting when you match more than three jewels. Larger combinations fuse to create special tiles with magical powers. White lines across jewels indicate which direction they will slash other tiles when matched. Use these strategically, as they slash either horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. Some even turn into eagles, which look like Angry Birds wearing Viking helmets. When matched with like colors, eagles will soar above the grid and randomly target other tiles of the same color.

Destroy Everything

Jewels are not the only tools at your disposal in Jewel of the Lost Viking. Below the grid you’ll find a list of additional items and abilities you may use at any time. Fortunately, special tools and abilities don’t deplete your total moves. However, they are limited and hard to come by. Tap on the axe and hurl it at tiles by tapping the grid. If you aim for bombs, their explosion radius increases when struck. All those years of training, pillaging, and plundering have honed your keen sense of precision; you’ll never miss. Bombs can also be detonated automatically by activating bomb reagents. Magical items like runes and Viking ghosts decimate your grid of jewels when you channel their power.

Every time you complete a level you earn a certain number of stars depending on your score. Use them to unlock additional powers and items from the chest that appears between levels. Chests also contain gold, which can also be used to purchase abilities. Each time you open the chest, the numbers of stars needed to do so again increases. Don’t feel like taking the time to rack up all those stars? Watching ads replenishes your inventory as well. Alternatively, you may purchase items and gold from the store and even cut out ads entirely via a paid upgrade.

Up Is Down

Despite the pure satisfaction of destruction, Jewel of the Lost Viking isn’t all about blowing things up. A good Viking has a sharp wit to guide that steady arm. As you progress through the levels, the grid itself presents unique challenges. Some tiles block your moves and must be destroyed by matching jewels beside them. Some grids contain pink tiles below the jewels, which will spread to other tiles when you match colors. Turn the entire grid pink to win. Ancient tablets and monoliths must be unearthed by clearing tiles above them. Goals for the current level are listed above the grid.

The Gods work in even more mysterious ways. Tiles don’t always fall toward the bottom of the screen. Arrows will flash across the grid before your first move to indicate which way the tiles will shift. Had Newton been a Viking, perhaps he could have better prepared players for altered gravity. Another gravity-defier is the dreaded bear, who climbs up one space after each turn. Match these bears —which look like gummy bears with prison tattoos—with tiles of the same color to stop them. Eliminate them before they escape the grid or risk spending your remaining turns waiting for new bears to appear.

Surprisingly Addicting

While Jewel of the Lost Viking looks generic on the surface, it’s astonishingly unique. Once you’re hooked on the dynamic gameplay, you might just find yourself striving to complete all 500 levels. New challenges are introduced at a comfortable pace, so the game never stales. While the ads can be annoying, they’re a small price to pay for so much fun in the free version. Download Jewel of the Lost Viking now and discover your inner Viking.