Play Columns (japan) (np) Online

I first played Columns on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1990, a version of the Sega arcade game that came out around the same time. It was one of those early puzzle games that felt right at home on the SNES, sitting next to titles like Dr. Mario and Tetris. Sega handled the publishing, and it was interesting to see one of their arcade hits appear on a Nintendo console during that era.

You control the descent of multi-colored jewels that fall down the screen in vertical groups of three. Your main objective is to rotate these falling columns and position them so that three or more jewels of the same color align horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, which then makes them disappear. The signature mechanics involve creating chain reactions; when jewels vanish, the ones above fall down, potentially creating new matches. Another key element is the Flash Jewels system, where clearing certain patterns can trigger these special jewels to appear, clearing entire rows or columns when matched. The game starts at a relaxed pace but steadily increases in speed, demanding quicker decisions as the playfield fills. It feels satisfying to set up a cascade of matches that clears the screen just when it seems hopeless.