Homescapes

Homescapes is a casual game from Playrix that combines match-three puzzles with home renovation and a continuing story. You help Austin, the family butler, restore and redecorate his parents’ large house. You play puzzle levels to earn stars, and you spend those stars on renovation tasks, choosing between different design options for each room. As rooms are completed, the story moves forward and introduces new characters, family secrets and humorous situations. Many players enjoy it for the mix of puzzles and light storytelling.

How the puzzles work
Levels are played on a grid of coloured pieces. You swap neighbouring pieces to make matches of three or more, and larger or specially shaped matches create power-ups such as rockets and bombs. Each level has goals, such as collecting certain items, breaking boxes or clearing a number of tiles in a limited number of moves. As you progress, new obstacles and boosters appear, and the layouts become more demanding. Completing a level earns a star, which is the currency for story tasks.

Renovation and storyline
After you complete enough levels, you unlock tasks such as repairing a wall, replacing furniture or choosing a new style. You often have a few design choices and can change your mind later, which makes the decorating part feel creative rather than fixed. The story is presented through short scenes and is aimed at a general audience. It is more about family life and gentle comedy than dramatic conflict.

Tips for better progress
Pay attention to level goals before you move. Create power-ups when you can, but use them where they help you reach the goal. Combine two power-ups when possible, because combinations are far stronger than single ones. Do not waste boosters on easy levels. If you are stuck, try a different starting move because the same layout can lead to different results. Check the events screen to see rewards that match your play style.

Lives, coins and purchases
The game is free to download. You use lives to play, and they refill with time. Coins and extra items can be bought with real money, and the game occasionally offers bundles. It can be played offline in many cases, while events and social features need an internet connection. If you play on a family device, enable purchase protection, and decide on a spending limit if you intend to buy anything.

Who it suits
Homescapes suits players who like puzzles with a purpose and enjoy decorating. It is suitable for most ages, but younger children should be supervised because of the in-game offers. People who prefer pure puzzle gameplay without story or decoration may find the narrative distracting, and those who dislike lives systems may feel limited.

Compared with Gardenscapes
Homescapes is a sibling of Gardenscapes, with the same butler and similar puzzle rules, but the focus is on the house instead of the garden. If you enjoy one, the other is a natural next step.

Our take
Homescapes is a colourful, friendly puzzle-and-design game. Play in short sessions and use the official store link on this page for installation.