The rules of PlayCascade are short, the tactics are not. Every tip here follows from the overflow rule: a corner overflows at 2 marbles, an edge cell at 3, a centre cell at 4. New to the game? Start with the rules explained.

1. Corners overflow fastest

A corner cell needs only two marbles to overflow. That makes it the quickest fuse on the board – for you and for your opponent.

2. Count what is “loaded”

A cell that is exactly one marble short of overflowing is loaded: a single move on it starts a cascade. Keep track of which of your cells and which of your opponent’s cells are loaded before you move.

3. Don’t place next to a loaded enemy cell

If your cell sits next to a loaded enemy cell, your opponent can overflow it next turn and capture your cell – marbles and all. Only place there if your own cell can overflow first.

4. Set up chains

Several loaded cells side by side are a fuse: when one overflows, it pushes the next to its limit. Build rows like that and a single move can recolour large parts of the board.

5. Whoever fires first takes the charge

When two loaded cells face each other, timing decides. If yours overflows first, the enemy cell receives a marble, switches to your colour and reaches its limit – it then keeps overflowing for you.

The AI makes a good sparring partner. Which level to start with is covered in AI opponent compared.

PlayCascade for iPhone. Free, offline, no ads – play a friend or the AI in four levels.