Puyo Puyo

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Puyo Puyo is a color-m matching puzzle game series created by Compile. The first game came out in 1991 and uses cute round creatures called Puyo that fall from the top of the screen. Players rotate and drop Puyos to make four or more of the same color touch each other. When this happens, those Puyos pop and disappear. Puyos can connect horizontally or vertically, but not diagonally.

The goal in many games is to beat your opponent by filling a column on their side with Puyos. When you pop chains, you can send Garbage Puyo (Ojama Puyo) to your opponent to clutter their board and disrupt their play. Chains can trigger more pops in a chain reaction, making the game more exciting and strategic.

Puyo Puyo started as a spin-off of Compile’s Madō Monogatari RPG series. Sega acquired the rights to Puyo Puyo in 1998, and since 2001 Sonic Team has developed many titles in the series, while Compile continued to publish some games. The franchise has sold over 10 million copies.

There are many modes beyond single-player, including endless high-score runs, mission challenges, and two-player battles. The series has spawned numerous spin-offs and crossovers, such as Puyo Puyo Fever and Puyo Puyo Tetris, which blends Puyo Puyo with Tetris. Puyo Puyo Champions focuses on competitive play.

Over the years, Puyo Puyo has appeared on many consoles and in arcades, with various anniversary releases and special editions. In 2024, Apple Arcade released Puyo Puyo Puzzle Pop, an exclusive title developed by h.a.n.d.

The game has a strong esports presence. Japan approved Puyo Puyo as an esports title in 2018, and Sega launched the Puyo Puyo GLOBAL RANKING SERIES in 2024 to spread competitive play outside Japan. The series has also kept its link to the Madō Monogatari characters and world, which helped define its charm and story elements.