GAME INSTRUCTIONS
What is the objective of the game?
The game Mergis is a merge-style puzzle where players combine blocks with the same number to transform them into the next consecutive digit. The core mechanics involve taking incoming blocks and stacking them across four available columns. When two matching blocks touch, they merge automatically. The primary objective is to reach the number 10 to clear the block from the board and achieve the highest score possible before running out of spatial capacity.Recommended age and educational level
Mergis is recommended for ages 7-8 and up (Elementary School through Middle/High School, as well as Adults). The reasoning behind this age rating is that it requires prior knowledge of basic numbers, mental math, and spatial organization. It serves multiple user groups:- Students directly: To independently sharpen basic math fluency and logical planning.
- Teachers and parents: As a supplemental STEM/math resource to reinforce critical thinking.
- Adults and seniors: Excellent for keeping the brain active, enhancing cognitive reserve, and practicing mental agility.
How to play: single-player or multiplayer
The game is strictly single-player, designed for individual skill-building and high-score chasing. However, it can easily be adapted into a collaborative group activity, where players work together to analyze the board, discuss the placement of the next two visible blocks, and decide on the best tactical move as a team.What do you learn from this game? Learning outcomes and skills
Mergis balances educational elements with core cognitive skill development:- Math curriculum: Enhances number sense, sequential thinking, and mental addition.
- Resource management & strategy: Teaches players how to manage limited screen space by organizing columns from highest to lowest value.
- Executive functioning: Promotes decision-making through special mechanics, such as the rainbow wild block that upgrades values and the block deletion tool to clear unwanted top pieces.
- Working memory and planning: Exercises foresight by showing the next two upcoming blocks and allowing players to swap their order.
Tips to get the most out of this game
A key strategy is to keep higher-numbered blocks at the bottom of the stacks so smaller numbers don't get trapped underneath. As an unplugged activity, teachers can draw four columns on a whiteboard or paper. Students can use physical numbered cards to simulate the board, tracking their moves on a tally sheet to calculate success rates, accuracy percentages, and probability of future card draws.Video