Hello Kitty Friends Match offers match-three with the addition of the world-famous mascot

• Hello Kitty Friends Match brings the Sanrio mascots to match-three
• This new take on the genre may not stand out mechanically, but it’s as cosy as you get
• Enjoy thousands of levels, collect mascots and restore light to Dreamland

There’s very little on this earth that doesn’t have some kind of Sanrio branding. Be it cakes, school supplies, clothes, video games and other merch. With that being said, it’s almost shocking we’ve never seen Hello Kitty jump into the super-popular match-three genre before. But all that’s changed with the release of Hello Kitty Friends Match!

You may recall Catherine covering this in our regular feature, Ahead of the Game. But now, Sanrio fans and newcomers alike can jump into Hello Kitty Friends Match. Seeing Hello Kitty restoring the dreary and drab Dreamland with the power of Starlight, and a little bit of puzzle solving along the way.

In terms of mechanics, there isn’t too much that makes Hello Kitty Friends Match stand out. But that’s not really necessary, considering you have the inimitable force of the Sanrio mascots behind this match-three puzzler, as you collect them and play through thousands of levels.

Friends forever

With Hello Kitty Friends Match, you might be forgiven for feeling this is almost saccharine sweet. But at the same time, with aspects such as an album to immortalise ‘cherished memories’ and the ability to exchange hearts with your teammates, it seems Sanrio and developer Line Games are leaning heavily into that aspect.

And while it may be off-putting for those unused to the Sanrio brand, for those who are fans of Hello Kitty and her friends, this sort of cosy take on such a well-trodden genre as match-three is sure to be welcome.

But if you crave something that’ll test your IQ a bit more, why not check out some of the other great puzzlers available on mobile? We’ve ranked our top 25 best puzzle games on iOS and Android, including both casual brain teasers and hardcore brain busters suitable for players of all skill levels.