FlipGrid: What, Why, and How

Mar 25, 2025

From an idea in January to a fully playable and addictive game – I’m excited to announce the beta launch of my latest side project: FlipGrid.

Think Bejewelled / Candy Crush combined with a Rubik’s Cube. This match-3 puzzle game with a twist is now available as a webapp (PWA), with Apple and Android app releases planned for the near future.

You can play the beta version of FlipGrid online today, completely free.

What is FlipGrid?

FlipGrid reimagines the classic match-3 puzzle genre with an new flipping mechanic. Unlike traditional match-3 games where you simply swap adjacent tiles, FlipGrid lets you select and flip entire rows or columns, completely transforming your game board with each move and allowing you to manipulate the board in new ways.

Key Features:

  • Revolutionary Flip Mechanics: Not just adjacent matches… select any two tiles in a row or column to flip everything between them, creating chain reactions and strategic opportunities.
  • Dual-Sided Play: Every tile has both a white and black side. Your goal is to flip all cells from white to black (or vice versa) to level up.
  • Escalating Rewards: Match 3, 4, or 5 tiles for increasingly powerful effects:
    • 3-matches: Basic points and tile flips
    • 4-matches: Flip an entire row or column
    • 5-matches: Flip both a row AND column for maximum impact
  • Strategic Depth: The further apart your selected tiles, the higher your score multiplier, encouraging thoughtful play rather than quick matches.
  • 3D Graphics: Rendered gems and smooth animations create an immersive puzzle experience.
  • Progressive Difficulty: As you level up, unlock new gem colors with higher point values, increasing both the challenge and scoring potential.

Why Create FlipGrid?

Like my previous side projects (such as Huntee and the Tripleopolis), FlipGrid began as a way to explore new technologies while creating something fun and engaging.

In January, I sketched out an idea for a match-3 game that would flip the traditional mechanics on their head (pun intended). I wanted to create something that felt familiar but offered a fresh twist on the genre.

Beyond the creative challenge, these side projects serve as my playground for keeping up with advancements in web technology. In my client work, I rarely get the opportunity to experiment freely with cutting-edge tools, so personal projects like FlipGrid fill that gap.

How It’s Built

FlipGrid is built entirely with web technologies – no game engines, templates, or pre-made assets. Everything from the game logic to the animations is custom-built.

The project gave me the perfect opportunity to dive deeper into >Three.js, a powerful JavaScript library that creates and displays 3D computer graphics in a web browser using WebGL. For those unfamiliar, Three.js makes it possible to render complex 3D scenes and animations directly in the browser without requiring users to install additional plugins.

Some of the technical highlights include:

  • Three.js for 3D rendering: Creating responsive, performant 3D objects that look great on any device
  • Custom physics and animation: Building realistic gem movements and flipping effects
  • Progressive Web App architecture: Ensuring the game works offline and can be installed on home screens
  • Adaptive difficulty system: Balancing challenge progression to keep players engaged

What’s Next?

FlipGrid is currently available as a Progressive Web App (PWA), which means you can play it directly in your browser and even install it on your home screen for offline play.

In the coming months, I’ll be using Cordova to port FlipGrid to native apps for both Android and iOS, making it available through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

I’m also planning to:

  • Add more power-ups and special abilities
  • Implement daily challenges
  • Create a global leaderboard system
  • Expand the visual themes and sound design

Try It Out

Ready to flip your expectations of what a match-3 game can be? Play the FlipGrid beta.

I’d love to hear your feedback during this beta phase. What features would you like to see? How does the difficulty curve feel? Let me know your thoughts…

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