Orchard Link

Orchard Link is an online fruit puzzle that runs in your browser. A seven by seven board is filled with fruit; you press on one, drag across three or more matching fruits that touch each other and let go to clear the chain. The pieces above fall into the gaps, every cleared fruit adds points, and each level sets a target score and a timer bar that keeps draining. Press Play, open the first level and start linking.

How to play

1. Press Play on the title screen and choose a level on the level map. Level 1 is open; the others start locked.
2. Look for three or more fruits of the same kind that touch each other.
3. Press the mouse button on the first fruit and drag across the others. A white line joins the fruits you have picked.
4. Let go to clear the chain. The fruits above fall down and new ones fill the top.
5. Keep going until your score reaches the target at the top of the screen, before the orange time bar is empty.

Scoring and the timer

Every cleared fruit adds 10 points, so a chain of three is worth 30, four is worth 40 and five is worth 50. Level 1 asks for a target score of 1,500, which is 150 fruits. The time bar empties in about a minute, so every swipe counts: five fruits in one swipe score 50, three fruits score 30. See our fruit link game tips for the numbers we measured.

Game features

• A seven by seven board with five kinds of fruit on the first level
• Chains that run straight, turn corners and cross on the diagonal
• A target score and a draining time bar on every level
• A level map spread over six pages
• A pause button with Menu and Resume, and a music button on the title screen
• No sign-up and no ads inside the game

Controls

• Mouse: press on a fruit, drag across the matching fruits, release
• Yellow button, top right: pause (Menu or Resume)
• Music button on the title screen: sound on or off

Tips

• Scan the whole board before you swipe: the longest chain is usually four or five fruits.
• Use the diagonal: two fruits that only touch at a corner still link.
• Prefer long chains. They clear more fruit per swipe, so you need fewer swipes to reach the target.
• Look at the board again after every swipe: the fruits above drop and the chains change.
• Watch the orange bar, not the board, in the last 15 seconds and take the easy three-fruit chains.

Frequently asked questions

How do you play Orchard Link?

Press on a fruit, drag across three or more matching fruits that touch each other and release. The chain clears and every fruit adds 10 points toward the level’s target score.

Can chains go diagonally?

Yes. In our test, three apples linked across a diagonal and a vertical step cleared for 30 points.

How long is the timer?

The orange time bar emptied about 67 seconds after we tapped level 1, including the first second or two of loading.

Is Orchard Link free?

Yes. It is free to play in your browser on Yes This Game, with no download and no sign-up.

Can I play it on a phone?

The game is made for a computer and a mouse. If it loads on your phone, how well it runs depends on the phone.