Homescapes

Homescapes is a match-3-meets-renovation game where we help Austin the butler restore his childhood home, and, hopefully, convince his parents not to sell it. Like Gardenscapes before it, Homescapes mixes casual puzzles with surprisingly rich storytelling. But this time, instead of garden fountains and gnome statues, we’re picking wallpaper and redoing staircases.

Gameplay splits cleanly into two tracks. There’s the renovation half, where each task, like fixing a couch or adding a new rug, costs stars. And there’s the match-3 side, where we earn those stars by beating increasingly tricky levels. Completing a level gives us one star and a bit of currency, and yes, you’ll need a lot of stars.

The match-3 puzzles are the real challenge. Homescapes dials up the difficulty faster than Gardenscapes did, and there’s no daily spin or bonus lives to help. Obstacles like double chains, carpets, and jelly-covered cherries show up early, and the turn limits often feel just a few moves too short. The new power-ups, like the airplane that targets key tiles or the full-board-clearing Rainbow Ball, help, but you’ll still hit levels that take several retries.

Decorating the mansion is rewarding, even if the furniture choices are a bit limited after a while. It’s fun seeing Austin interact with his parents and friends between tasks. But the novelty wears off once you realize you’re often swapping one bland sofa for another, and completed areas don’t come with any bonus coins or unlockables. You just move to the next property like nothing happened.

Monetization follows the usual free-to-play pattern: boosters, extra moves, and event content gated behind premium currency. It’s not aggressively pay-to-win, but the stingy coin rewards and lack of permanent IAPs can be frustrating. Especially when you burn through five lives failing a level that gives you 50 coins for a win, and asks 900 to continue.

Despite its issues, Homescapes still delivers a polished, comforting experience. The mansion is lovely, Austin is likable, and the puzzles are satisfying when they’re not too punishing. If you’ve finished Gardenscapes or just want a new setting, this is worth a look. Just be ready for some grind.