Puzzle guide
Fruit Link Game Tips: Score and Timer Numbers We Measured
Key takeaways
- Every cleared fruit scored 10 points in our test: chains of 3, 4 and 5 fruits gave 30, 40 and 50.
- The time bar on level 1 emptied about 67 seconds after we tapped the level, so the target of 1,500 points means about 23 points per second.
- Chains can run on the diagonal: three apples linked across a diagonal and a vertical step cleared for 30 points.
- On the boards we scanned, the longest available chain was usually four or five fruits, so look for those first.
In a fruit link game you score by swiping chains of matching fruits: every cleared fruit is worth 10 points, and the time bar is gone in about a minute. We played level 1 of Orchard Link in a real browser, read the score before and after each swipe and read the time bar at seven moments. This is what the numbers say, and what they mean for the way you swipe.
How a fruit link game works
Orchard Link puts fruit on a seven by seven board; level 1 uses five kinds. You press the mouse button on a fruit, drag across three or more matching fruits that touch each other and let go. A white line joins the fruits you pick, the chain clears, the fruits above fall down and new ones fill the top. The top of the screen shows the level, the target score and your score, and an orange bar below it is the timer.
How many points a swipe is worth
We read the score before and after each swipe on level 1. Every cleared fruit added 10 points.
| Fruits in the chain | Points we read | Per fruit |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 30 | 10 |
| 4 | 40 | 10 |
| 5 | 50 | 10 |
We saw no bonus for longer chains, but we only tested chains up to five fruits. One swipe we aimed at four fruits scored 30, so only three registered; we left it out of the table.
The time bar
We tapped level 1 and read the length of the orange bar at seven moments. It shrank in a straight line, about 6 pixels per second, from 394 pixels at 3 seconds to 105 pixels at 50 seconds.
Continue the line and the bar is empty about 67 seconds after you tap the level. The first second or two is loading, so a level gives you about a minute of play.
What it means for your swipes
Level 1 asks for 1,500 points. At 10 points a fruit that is 150 fruits, or about 22 points every second of the 67. The longer your chains, the fewer swipes you need:
| Chain length | Swipes needed | Seconds per swipe |
|---|---|---|
| 3 fruits | 50 | 1.3 |
| 4 fruits | 38 | 1.8 |
| 5 fruits | 30 | 2.2 |
This is arithmetic from the readings above (1,500 points over about 67 seconds), not a measured human run. It shows the trade-off: a longer chain gives you more time to find the next one.
Diagonals and long routes
Chains do not have to run in a straight line. In our test three apples linked across a diagonal step and a vertical step and cleared for 30 points, so fruits that touch only at a corner count as neighbors. We also scanned the level 1 boards after each swipe: the longest chain on the board was usually four or five fruits and fell to three as the board emptied.
5 tips that follow from the numbers
- Look for the longest chain first. Four or five fruits are usually there at the start of a level.
- Use the diagonal. It joins groups that look separate in a straight line.
- Look again after every swipe. The fruits above drop and the chains change.
- Do not hunt for a perfect chain late. With about 15 seconds left on the bar, take the three-fruit chains you can see.
- Plan for about 22 points a second. That is the pace level 1 asks for.
Where to go next
Try the numbers yourself in Orchard Link. If you prefer a different fruit game, Ninja Fruit Slice is on the site too.
Frequently asked questions
How many points is each fruit worth in a fruit link game?
In Orchard Link every cleared fruit scored 10 points. Chains of 3, 4 and 5 fruits gave 30, 40 and 50 points in our test.
How long is the timer on level 1?
The orange time bar emptied about 67 seconds after we tapped level 1. We read the bar at seven moments and the readings fell in a straight line of about 6 pixels per second.
Can you link fruits diagonally?
Yes. Fruits that touch at a corner link, and a chain can mix diagonal and straight steps. Three apples linked this way cleared for 30 points.
What is the target score on level 1?
1,500 points. At 10 points a fruit that is 150 fruits, or 50 chains of three, inside a bit more than a minute.
How long is the longest chain you can usually find?
On the level 1 boards we scanned after each swipe, the longest chain was usually four or five fruits. It fell to three as the board emptied.
Do you need to play fast or find long chains?
Both help, but the arithmetic favors long chains: five fruits in one swipe score 50, three score 30, so fewer swipes reach the target.