Casual Game Review: EverMerge

Game Type: Merge

General Play Loop: Merging items & Resource Management — There are gnomes who build items (houses, stage coaches, coral reefs) and cut down obstacles. The gnomes’ work is limited by the amount of energy (lightning bolts) you have available. There are resources to collect after you’ve merged certain levels together. (Five level three apple trees gives you apples, for example.)

Title of Game: EverMerge (Version 1.8)

Developer: Big Fish and Neskin

General Review:

This is currently my favorite of the merge type games. I’ve tried the Dragons and the Magic, and this is the one I keep coming back to.

The general theming is “fairy tale” related. But the fairy tales all have a more modern twist. Sleeping Beauty grips her coffee mug and talks about narcolepsy awareness. Puss in Boots is a con-artist. Peter Pan has a moon related theme. And the Little Mermaid has swim goggles and a scuba suit.

Just recently, they added a new section called “Mystic Isle” which is an animal breeding and collecting part of the game. It’s still in beta with new features and balancing occurring.

The energy limitation means that I don’t play for too long — generally about half-an-hour at the most — but the game is also fairly generous when you are working on goals and challenges and there’s a daily scratch off card that shows up for about two hours. This card appears three or four times a day, but can take you to maximum energy or above if you get the top level, but allows you to complete at least one or two more tasks before it runs out. And a limited number of times a day, you can watch an ad to earn more lightning bolts. There are also special days where there are “fairies” who can refill your time resources for you.

Build time is another limiting factor. When your gnomes are working on a structure, there is a set amount of time from fifteen seconds all the way up to twenty-four hours. And when your gnomes are busy doing one task, they cannot do a second. No multi-tasking here! These can be sped up with “rubies.” These purple gems are earned in game, but also available for cash. Rubies can be saved up to buy high-level items without having to merge up to get them, fulfill orders, or, expand your islands. On special days, speeding up your gnomes can be done with coins. This is generally available once or twice a month.

One of the more unique features is the orders you create for the main characters. Cupcakes, Mushroom Pizza, and gelatin are just a few of the orders that come through from the characters. Completing the orders gains you magic wands that open new areas and coins that help you buy supplies, treasure chests, or on occasion speed up work. These orders are made from the ingredients you harvest such as corn, wheat, apples, etc. The farming happens through merging saplings and small stalks up through three levels. Then, you get to harvest three or four times from the created bed before it needs to be cleared out to make room for the next farm bed.

There is no needed social media aspect to this. I don’t visit anyone else’s islands or have to send gifts, instead three times a day you get a free treasure chest from the game itself. While there are freebies if you follow the Facebook page for the game, there’s no need to link your account over, except if you want to back up your progress. I’m comfortable with losing progress in a game, so I have not bothered with that. And I have not had any trouble with the game. I haven’t run up against challenges that can only be answered by poking at your friends until they block you.

Speaking of challenges. There are daily/weekly/weekend challenges that run with different goals. But none of these challenges reward you with special “challenge only” items. If you win part of the rewards, you’ll get typical items that you need for the regular game-play. If you don’t win a reward, you will not be harmed in any way.

There are seasonal challenges which run for around sixty to ninety days. They open up new areas with special flowers which are themed to the seasons. For example, during the summer, there was a tropical theme. Now, in the winter, there are red and green flowers poking up from the snow. There is no penalty for not pursuing these either. During the seasonal challenge, you also get a free seasonal chest.

Are there micropayments: Yes, for “rubies” which are used to speed up wait times. (Note: You can earn rubies in the game on a regular basis.)

Are there ads? Only for “Rubies” And they are not very intrusive. You get pitched when you open the game, but generally after that you only get an ad if you try to “buy” something that you don’t have enough rubies for or you want to speed up a build.

Rating: 5 Frogs out of 5