Hey there! Great question!
CARAMULT is a turn-based Match-3 Roguelike deckbuilder inspired by Balatro—it’s not a fast-paced or mindless arcade match-3 game (like Candy Crush or Bejeweled).
Here is how the core loop and mechanics work:
1. Limited Moves, Maximum Strategy (The "Passes")
- In each round (called a Stand / Blind), you are given a limited number of moves (usually 4 to 5 passes, depending on your deck and vouchers; some Boss Judges like The Clock cap it at 4).
- The goal isn't just to match gems randomly—you need to reach the Target Score before running out of moves, exactly like beating Blinds in Balatro.
2. Scoring Formula: Chips × Mult
- Every match awards Chips (base value from the pattern type, poster levels, and gem materials) and Multiplier / Mult (from combos, Red Seals, and your equipped Masks).
- Final Score = Chips × Mult. Making a simple 3-match with high Mult or triggering multi-wave cascades can yield thousands or millions of points in a single move.
3. Roguelike Deckbuilding (Masks, Cards & Upgrades)
- Your Bag is your Deck: You can customize your gem bag over the run by adding or removing colors, forging materials like Glass (x2 Mult) or Steel (+50 Chips), and applying Seals.
- Masks (Jokers): You can equip passive Masks from the Shop that create crazy synergies (e.g., bonus mult for color streaks, breaking crystals, or detonating lasers).
- Posters (Planets): Level up patterns (Trios, Rows, Crosses, 5-in-a-row) in the shop to permanently scale their base Chips and Mult.
- Action Cards (Tarots/Spectrals): Consumable cards you can play to manipulate the board, paint gems, or transmute materials.
4. Fever Mode & Remaining Moves
- If you beat the score target early with moves to spare, you enter Fever Mode, where each additional move pushes your score higher to unlock bonus cash rewards and items before visiting the Shop!