You Must Build A Boat is 10000000 plus a whole lot more

Each week, we send out early codes of selected games to members of our App Army and ask for their feedback. One top pick this week was EightyEight Games's innovative match-3 puzzler You Must Build A Boat, sequel to 10000000.

Let's see what our App Army had to say...

Clint: My first impressions after playing the tutorial are very favourable indeed. I like the art style - nice and simple, yet it gets the message across. The gameplay is the usual match-3 fare, except in this one you move rows instead of individual items.

Each round you have a character that runs along above whilst you match the tiles below. When they hit obstacles, you have to match the relevant items to get past. Swords and shields for battles, keys for chests and hearts for health.

Ethan: Oh boy, another match-3 game. While You Must Build A Boat uses that concept in an interesting way, I still see it as another repetitive, match-3 game.

The 8-bit graphics are polished, and the controls are smooth, but I just can't get past the whole matching concept.

Clint: There are quests and tasks you can choose to accept before heading out on a run as well, small objectives to try and complete which adds another layer to the gameplay and gives you something to aim for during each run. Not sure at this point where the boat building comes in... the only boat I've seen is the one I keep waking up on after every run. Edward: The simple concept of matching three or more tiles is usually one I find boring. I tend not to give a game a chance if this is all it offers. However, this is a game that I'm finding hard to put down.

You can upgrade your abilities with gold you have earned while on a run by killing enemies and unlocking chests. This means that each time you can defeat a few more enemies and get a little further; a concept that has me sat up for hours at night while saying to myself, 'Just one more time!'

The minimalistic graphics take nothing away from the enjoyment of the game. The controls are simple, and the gameplay is intuitive so won't take you long to learn.

It differs from 10000000 by allowing you to take an adventure through different terrains and meet different characters, each with something new to offer. If you're looking for match-3 game with a twist, I recommend this.

Clint: I'm really trying to like this. Been playing a few hours now, but it's just not clicking with me. I think I may have match-3 burnout to be honest.

Since the dawn of Puzzle Quest I have sunk far too many hours into these games, and maybe it's just too much at this point. There are some nice little features wrapped around the core game like upgrades, quests, and missions, but it's not enough. I'm all matched out!

George P: Anyone familiar with 10000000 will immediately recognise the 8-bit graphics and intriguing twist on the match-3 genre that's offered here. The main new feature in YMBAB is the quest system.

Completing quests will allow you grow stronger, expand your boat, and find new dungeons. The game has a great visual style and very catchy soundtrack. However, despite it mixing up the genre, YMBAB is yet another entry in the vast array of match-3 puzzlers.

Although I've enjoyed my time with the game, the repetitive nature leaves me burned out after just a few runs. I would, however, recommend this game to anyone with an affinity for the genre, as it tackles it a lot better than most others.

Alyce: When 10000000 came out, I wasn't exactly sure what to think about it. But then I gave it a try and absolutely loved it. The way the difficulty raised as time went on. The different creatures and items that I was able to use to help myself or hurt them. The way that it mixed up genres...

That being said, though, I have much stronger feelings for YMBAB. Yes, the gameplay is just as addictive as the original, but this sequel adds much more content. From the growing parts of the ship to the traps that have to be finished to prevent different afflictions from occurring. It keeps me playing, wondering just what will come next!

Brad R: Despite personally never getting into match-3 puzzlers, YMBAB clicked with me from the start. The quirky graphics are really a great visual representation for the game as a whole: odd and silly... and I mean that in the best possible way.

I love the passengers I've picked up, the unexpected monster friendships, and the constant, rewarding expansion. YMBAB might technically be a match-3 game, but trust me when I say that it's much, much more. The bar of excellence has been raised!

Luke R: I've always had a negative association with match-3 puzzlers like Candy Crush. Going into YMBAB though, the mechanic clicked with me almost instantly. The combat and looting is frantic. Whenever I score a combo, the visual feedback gives me an adrenaline rush!

Kudos to the developers for making it so that every time you "lose" a game, it tells you that you've just won! Quirky, but actually makes me want to click that restart button. I'm really enjoying YMBAB!

Newmanator: I love You Must Build a Boat. It is like 10000000's cooler younger brother.

The controls are responsive, the music and sound are both spot on, and it's packed with content. I am over five hours in and I still don't have everything unlocked.

I love how quests interact with each dungeon. Sometimes they have a cosmetic effect, darkening half of the dungeon. Other times they affect gameplay, like making chests more difficult to open or giving enemies more health. This system keeps each run fresh and stops it from becoming repetitive.

I too find this game really hard to put down. It's one of those games that makes you say, 'Okay, just one more run,' and there you are, still playing, 30 minutes later.

You Must Build a Boat has a great sense of humour, a sense of style, loads of depth, and no IAPs. Do yourself a favour and pick up this game. It's worth both your time and money.

Sjoerd: I can't get enough of YMBAB's amazing art style and epic 8-bit soundtrack that's earwormed its way inside my head. From the addictive gameplay to the way you receive your rewards and the funny dialogue... it suits me to a tee.

The tutorial teaches you everything you need to know, and it's definitely not too long or boring. There's a huge world to explore, and even more quests to complete. It's really cool to see your boat improve. It's safe to say that this game is guaranteed to provide hours and hours of fun.

Sadly there's no pause button, which can be quite annoying sometimes. Also, it feels like the boat would suit a landscape-oriented view rather than a portrait one.

You Must Build A Boat is a must-play game that leaves other match-3 games like Candy Crush and Bejeweled in the dust.

Conor: This game is the antithesis to Candy Crush. I really like how it tells you when you make a match and I enjoy just how fast paced it is, as puzzle games are usually a fair bit slower. Love the strategic elements too. The App Army have spoken! If you'd like to sign up, please have a gander at our App Army application article.

Did you pick up You Must Build A Boat? What do you think of it? Let us know in the comments below!