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Gem Match (originally called Match-3) is unlocked when the player reaches level 9.

Players can 'pay to play' Gem Match from level 7 onward, where they can choose to pay with crystals (which will need to be bought with real money) to unlock the Picture early, rather than waiting until they reach level 9 and unlocking it for free through normal game play.

Gem Match was introduced as part of the Christmas Update (December 2013). It was the fourth mini-game added to the Secret Society: Hidden Mystery game.

Since October 2019, Special Gem Match has been included with every Timed Challenge Event. The rewards are different, but game play is the same as regular Gem Match.

How to Play[]

Gem Match is a match-3 style jewel game. Lining up 3 or more of the same coloured gems removes them from the board. As gems are removed from the board, the gems above them fall to fill the space created and new gems are added from the top of the board.

Gem Match annotated

1: a square with one yellow border (the object of the game is to remove these squares); 2: a square with a double yellow border (two matches must be made on these squares before they are removed fully); 3: a stone covering a square with yellow border; 4: a locked gem; 5: a vertical striped gem; 6: a horizontal striped gem; 7: a bomb gem; 8: a multicoloured gem

Gems may be swapped with any neighbouring gem, but only if the swap creates either a horizontal or vertical line of 3 or more gems of the same colour.

The object of the game is to remove all the squares with yellow borders. This is done by matching 3 or more gems of the same colour, when one of the gems is on a square with a yellow border.

The progress bar at the bottom of the game board shows what percentage of the squares with yellow borders have been removed. When the progress bar is filled, no squares with yellow borders remain, and the game is won.

The only way to lose Gem Match is to run out of time. If no matches are available on the board at any given point in the game, all the gems on the board will reshuffle into new positions.

Square Types[]

There are four main types of squares on a Gem Match game board. As you progress through the Gem Match game and advance it to higher levels, these types of square are gradually introduced.

Squares with yellow borders[]

Number 1 in the game board above shows an orange gem on a square with a yellow border. The object of the game is to remove these yellow borders by creating matches where 1 gem is on the square with the yellow border. All other matches made in the game do not count towards the game's progress (but can be useful in setting up matches on the squares with yellow borders).

Squares with double yellow borders[]

In addition to squares with a yellow border, squares with 2 yellow borders (such as the one shown in number 2 in the Gem Match board shown above) must also be removed from the game board. The second yellow border is at an angle to the first, so looks like a diamond over the square. Completing one match on a square of this type will remove the diamond. The square then looks like a regular square with a yellow border. Creating a second match on the square is necessary to completely remove the border.

Stones[]

On later levels some squares will start with a stone covering them, such as in number 3 on the Gem Match picture above. No gem can enter a square with a stone on it, and no gem can travel through a square with a stone on it to fill space created below it by a match. If you have a string of stones across the middle of the entire board, you must remove at least one stone before gems can travel to the bottom half of the board to replace any you might remove by making matches.

Stones are removed from the board by making a match adjacent to them.

Locked Gems[]

On later levels some gems may start the game with a lock symbol on them such as number 4 in the Gem Match picture above. Gems with locks on them cannot be moved (swapped with adjacent gems). They also cannot fall to fill space below them like other gems. Until the lock is removed they will remain in the one position.

To remove a lock, make a match including the locked gem. You may have to maneuver same coloured gems towards the lock gems to do this since the locked gem cannot move. Once a match is made with a locked gem, the lock will disappear with the other gems in the match, but the gem itself will remain.

Pay attention to the square the locked gem is on. In some levels these gems are not on squares with yellow borders. Although it might be convenient to unlock the gem to help maneuver gems to squares with yellow borders it is not neccessary to unlock these gems to win the game. Some levels can be completed without ever unlocking gems that are not on squares with yellow borders.

Gem Types[]

Regular Gems[]

There are 6 different coloured gems in Gem Match: Orange squares, Yellow diamonds, Blue triangles, Turquoise ovals, Green circles, and Purple pentagons. Matching 3 or more of any of these gem types in either horizontal or vertical lines will remove them from the game.

Vertical Striped Gems[]

Matching 4 gems of the same colour in a horizontal line will create a vertical striped gem (number 5 in the picture above).  The primary colour and shape of the vertical striped gem will be the same colour and shape as the gems matched to create it. Making a match that includes a vertical striped gem will trigger it to remove all the gems in the column it is in. Any squares with a single yellow border in the column will be removed, any squares with a double yellow border in the column will have one yellow border removed, any squares with stones in the column will have the stones removed, and any gems with locks in the column will have the locks removed.  If another special gem (striped, bomb, multicolour) is in that column, it will also be triggered as it is removed from the board.

Horizontal Striped Gems[]

Matching 4 gems of the same colour in a vertical line will create a horizontal striped gems (number 6 in the picture above). The primary colour and shape of the horizontal striped gem will be the same colour and shape as the gems matched to create it. Making a match that includes a horizontal striped gem will trigger it to remove all the gems in the row it is in. Any squares with a single yellow border in the row will be removed, any squares with a double yellow border in the row will have one yellow border removed, any squares with stones in the row will have the stones removed, and any gems with locks in the row will have the locks removed. If another special gem (striped, bomb, multicolour) is in that row, it will also be triggered as it is removed from the board.

Bomb Gems[]

Matching 5 gems in either a 'T' or 'L' shape will create a bomb gem of that colour (number 7 in picture above). Making a match that includes a bomb gem will trigger it to explode, removing all adjacent gems from the board. The bomb will survive the explosion and fall into the space created by the removed gems, and explode a second time removing itself and all adjacent gems. Any squares with a single yellow border adjacent to either explosion will be removed, any squares with a double yellow border adjacent to either explosion will have one yellow border removed, any squares with stones adjacent to either explosion will have the stones removed, and any gems with locks adjacent to either explosion will have the locks removed. If another special gem (striped, bomb or multicolour) is adjacent to either explosion it will also be triggered as it is removed from the board.

Multicoloured Gems[]

Matching 5 or more gems of the same colour in either a horizontal or vertical line will create a multicoloured gem (number 8 in the picture above). Swapping the multicoloured gem with any other gem will remove all gems of the same colour from the board. If the coloured gem is on a square with a single yellow border, the border will be removed. If the coloured gem is on a square with a double yellow border, one of the yellow borders will be removed. If the coloured gem is adjacent to a square covered with a stone, the stone will be removed. If the coloured gem is a gem with a lock, the lock will be removed. If the coloured gem is adjacent to another special gem (striped or bomb gems), it may also be triggered as it is removed from the board.

Special Moves[]

The special gems created by matches (striped gems, bomb gems, multicoloured gems) can be swapped with each other regardless of their colour. To swap two special gems, they do not have to be the same colour as each other. Doing this can create a number of special moves that will remove a large number of gems from the board.

Swapping Vertical and Horizontal Striped Gems[]

Gem-SP-vertical-horizontal

Swapping a striped gem of any colour with another striped gem of any colour will remove both a row and a column from the board

Swapping a striped gem (of any colour) with another striped gem (also of any colour) will trigger them both and remove both a column and a row of gems from the board from the point you swap them. It will remove the line on which the moved striped gem lands after swapping up or down, and it will remove the column on which the moved striped gem lands after swapping left or right.

This will remove yellow borders, stones, locks, and trigger other special gems in both the row and column in the same way as when you use a striped gem normally.

Swapping Two Bombs[]

Swapping two bombs of any colour will trigger a much bigger explosion than triggering a bomb by itself. This will remove yellow borders, stones, locks, and trigger other special gems adjacent to the explosion in the same way as when you use a bomb normally.

Swapping a Bomb with a Striped Gem[]

Gem-SP-bomb-stripe-trigger-vertical

Swapping a striped gem of any colour with a bomb of any colour will trigger a 'Super striped gem' reaction, removing 3 rows and 3 columns of gems from the board. The super striped gem has triggered a regular vertical striped gem in the third column from the left in the photo above

Swapping a bomb with a striped gem will trigger a super striped gem reaction. This will remove 3 rows and 3 columns of gems from the board from the point of the swap. This will remove yellow borders, stones, locks, and trigger other special gems in both the rows and columns removed in the same way as when you use a striped gem normally.

Swapping a Striped Gem with a Multicoloured Gem[]

Swapping a vertical striped gem with a multicoloured gem will turn all gems on the board that are the same colour as the vertical striped gems into vertical striped gems. Swapping a horizontal striped gem with a multicoloured gem will turn all gems on the board that are the same colour as the horizontal striped gems into horizontal striped gems.

Swapping Two Multicoloured Gems[]

Gem Match Double Rainbow 2

Double multicoloured gems in action

Swapping two multicoloured gems will remove every gem from the board. The board will then fill up with new gems. This will remove any squares with single yellow borders, remove one yellow border from any square with double yellow borders, remove all stones from the board and remove all locks from the board.

Using Tools in Gem Match[]

Two tools are available to use in Gem Match - Time Machines and Explorer's Eyes. Using a Time Machine during a Gem Match game will add 45 seconds to the game timer. Using an Explorer's Eye will randomly remove one yellow border from the game board.

Resource Demands and Rewards for Playing[]

The amount of energy required to play Gem Match will increase as the level of the Puzzle is increased. The experience points and coins rewards for each win of the Puzzle will also increase to match the increase in resource demands, as will the pool of potential collection item rewards. The list of potential collection item rewards for Gem Match is made up of 10 Collections:

The pool of rewards available for each successful game of Gem Match contains both Collection Items and Combining Elements:

Level Resource Demands Minimum Rewards Potential Game Item Rewards Pool
Energy Points Special Items Experience Points Coins Combining Elements Collection Items
Novice 16 N/A 54 64 Flat; See Note 2 Rod of Gauss; Cyclical accelerator; Ion nozzle; Plasma block; Power control switch
Trainee 19 N/A 58 68
+
Sharp; Alto Clef
+
Ouija board base; Ouija board letters; Ouija board numbers; Planchette; Black candle
Detective 22 N/A 62 74
+
Bass Clef; Bobbin; Needle Threader; Seam Ripper; Presser Foot
+
Record of investigation No. 1; Record of investigation No. 2; Record of investigation No. 3; Record of investigation No. 4; Record of investigation No. 5
Pro 25 N/A 68 78
+
Treble Clef
+
Leather briefcase; Oak cane; Unusual newspaper; Old-fashioned cap; Smoking pipe
High Explorer 28 N/A 72 82 Same as Pro
+
Bamboo paper; Leather cover; Little lock; Bookmarks; Emblem of the Order
Academician 31 N/A 78 88 Same as Pro
+
First note in the diary; Second note in the diary; Third note in the diary; Fourth note in the diary; Fifth note in the diary
Magister 34 N/A 82 92 Same as Pro
+
Flat mirror; Concave mirror; Convex mirror; Curved mirror; Double mirror
Professor 37 N/A 88 98 Same as Pro
+
Vampire; Zombie; Goblin; Devil; Warlock
Grand Magister 40 N/A 92 102 Same as Pro
+
Aquamarine, Heliodor, Garnets, Taaffeite, Opal Explorer; Beach bag; Beach towel; Sandals; Pareo wrap; Tunic

Potential Rewards Notes[]

  1. In addition to the items listed above, other items may also be in the list of potential rewards for a particular play of the puzzle if there is an active quest involving the puzzle or if the puzzle is used for an event challenge.
  2. New Combining Elements may be temporarily rewarded during Timed Challenge Events that include a Gem Match challenge, such as Magical Summer Event and Autumn Festival Event.

Playing Gem Match to Win a Desktop Award[]

Gem Match is often used during Timed Challenges to give the player an opportunity to win or upgrade a desktop award.  For example, the Halloween's Horror Update (October 2017) included a timed challenge event to win or upgrade the Sphere of Miracles.  See the Awards page for more information about how each of these desktop awards could have been won in the past.  See the Update pages for more details on how the challenges worked.  

Hints and Tips[]

Play from the Top Down[]

Game movement flows from the top downwards, and multiple moves can cascade off one another, allowing a single move at the top of the game square to clear more gems underneath. In general, play moves from the top of the board first and work your way down.

Using the Special Moves[]

Gem Match is a relatively simple game as long as you take advantage of the special moves. Trying to remove all yellow squares from the board using simple matches of 3 gems is very time consuming, particularly at higher game levels. Doing this will require a large number of Time Machine and Explorer's Eye tools for the harder levels. Aim to match as many gems as possible with each move in order to create striped gems, bombs, and multicoloured gems. Avoid the temptation to use striped gems and bombs straight away; instead work to move them closer together so you can swap them with each other for the maximum effect.

Stock up on Tools[]

You can use both Time Machine and Explorer's Eye tools during a game of Gem Match. These can be invaluable when you first start playing the puzzle. The Time Machines add an additional 45 seconds to the puzzle's timer when used (and can be used at any point during the game, not just when the original time allowed has expired), and the Explorer's Eye tool removes one yellow border from the board (chosen at random).

Having a stockpile of these tools is advised if you struggle with Gem Match. Time Machines can be purchased in the Shop using SSHM game coins and from combining collections (a good way to earn a large number of coins quickly in the game). Explorer's Eyes can be purchased in the Shop using Crystals and are rewarded for combining a number of collections in the game, including some easy-to-gather collections such as the Stargazer's Artifacts collection, one of the collections whose items are given out randomly in thank you gifts. You can use the List of Collections that Award Tools to see which collections award Time Machine and Explorer's Eye tools when combined, as well as the List of Collection Item Locations page, which gives the pictures and puzzle locations where the items for each collection can be won through normal game play.

Use a Time Talisman[]

Use a Time Talisman, which can be made by combining certain collections on the Artifacts tab of the Collections window. The Time Talisman will add one minute to the game timer for every puzzle and picture played during a 24 hour period.

Explorer's Eye Strategies[]

The final gem in a puzzle can often be particularly difficult to get in play, especially when the board is in an unusual layout. Using a single Explorer's Eye at this point can save a great deal of time and effort.

The Explorer's Eye will typically remove, in this order: single yellow borders; if there are no singles on the board, one border on a double-border block; if there are no double-border blocks, it will remove a lock; if there are no locks, it will remove a stone. (Note that it is possible to finish the game without clearing all the stones, as long as you have cleared all the yellow borders.) In other words, the blocks you most need help with are the last ones that the Eye will affect. This is another reason to save your Eyes until the end of a given game.

Cannot Open Gem Match?[]

Some players who downloaded the Secret Society: Hidden Mystery after the 2014 Valentines Update reported difficulties in opening the Gem Match game once it unlocked at level 7. This problem was fixed in the Tavern Update in May 2014. Details of the problem have been moved to the Information Graveyard.

Once you Know the Basics ...[]

There are additional tips and strategies to become efficient at playing Gem Match that can be downloaded as a PDF.

Historical Information[]

Resource Demands and Rewards before v1.41.4100[]

Version v1.40.4005 added new Combining Elements which were temporarily rewarded by Gem Match for the duration of the Fulfilling Dreams Timed Challenge Event. These are not shown in the table below.

Before v1.41.4100 (June 2019)
Level Resource Demands Minimum Resource Rewards Potential Game Item Rewards Pool
Energy Points Special Items Experience Points Coins Combining Elements Collection Items
Novice 30 N/A 100 120 Flat Rod of Gauss; Cyclical accelerator; Ion nozzle; Plasma block; Power control switch
Trainee 36 N/A 110 130
+
Sharp; Alto Clef
+
Ouija board base; Ouija board letters; Ouija board numbers; Planchette; Black candle
Detective 42 N/A 120 140
+
Bass Clef
+
Record of investigation No. 1; Record of investigation No. 2; Record of investigation No. 3; Record of investigation No. 4; Record of investigation No. 5
Pro 48 N/A 130 150
+
Treble Clef
+
Leather briefcase; Oak cane; Unusual newspaper; Old-fashioned cap; Smoking pipe
High Explorer 54 N/A 140 160 Same as Pro
+
Bamboo paper; Leather cover; Little lock; Bookmarks; Emblem of the Order
Academician 60 N/A 150 170 Same as Pro
+
First note in the diary; Second note in the diary; Third note in the diary; Fourth note in the diary; Fifth note in the diary
Magister 66 N/A 160 180 Same as Pro
+
Flat mirror; Concave mirror; Convex mirror; Curved mirror; Double mirror
Professor 72 N/A 170 190 Same as Pro
+
Vampire; Zombie; Goblin; Devil; Warlock
Grand Magister 78 N/A 180 200 Same as Pro
+
Aquamarine, Heliodor, Garnets, Taaffeite, Opal Explorer; Beach bag; Beach towel; Sandals; Pareo wrap; Tunic

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