Preview
What is Critter Link?
Critter Link is a tile-linking puzzle game in your browser where you tap two matching character tiles and join them with a line of at most two turns before the clock runs out. Its 30 boards grow from 24 to 96 tiles across 10 chapters, each bringing 12 new characters, and on most boards from board 3 the remaining tiles slide down, up, sideways or toward the middle after every link. Rounds last 1:35 to 5:30 and a free reshuffle starts whenever no pair can link, so it suits players with quick eyes more than long planners.
Key facts
- Genre
- Puzzle
- Players
- 1 (single player)
- Boards
- 30, in 10 chapters of 3
- Clock per board
- 1:35 on board 1, up to 5:30
- Board size
- 24 to 96 tiles, up to 36 characters
- 3 stars
- Finish with 40% of the clock left
- Session length
- Under 5 min
- Platform
- Web browser
- Devices
- Desktop, tablet, mobile
- Price
- Free
- Sign-up
- Not required
How do you play Critter Link?
Tap a character, then its twin. The pair leaves when a line with no more than two turns can join them through empty cells, and the line may also run around the outside of the board. Clear every tile before the clock runs out to win. Linking pairs within 4 seconds of each other builds a combo worth up to 30 points a pair, and every whole second left adds 3 points. From board 3, an arrow next to the score shows where the remaining tiles slide after each link. Each board has 3 hints and 2 shuffles, and when no pair can link the board reshuffles for free.
Tips & strategy
- Twins on the same outer edge always link: the line steps out, runs along the empty lane around the board and back in.
- Keep the combo going by linking within 4 seconds: from the 11th quick pair in a row, every pair is worth 30 points instead of 10.
- On boards where tiles drop, a pair taken low in a column pulls every tile above it down and can break lines higher up.
- Save your 2 shuffles for a low clock: when no pair can link, the board already reshuffles for free.
- For 3 stars, finish with 40% of the clock left: on board 30, which starts at 4:45, that means at least 1:54 still on the clock.
What are the controls in Critter Link?
| ACTION | INPUT |
|---|---|
| Pick a character | Tap a tile, then its twin |
| Pick a character | Click a tile, then its twin |
| Move the cursor / pick | Arrow keys, then Enter or Space |
| Hint / shuffle | H / S keys or the buttons below |
| Restart the board | R key, or Restart in the pause menu |
| Pause | P or Esc, or the pause button |
Plays with keyboard, mouse, and touch. Fullscreen works in desktop and mobile browsers.
Critter Link FAQ
How does a line connect two tiles in Critter Link?
With at most two turns. The line runs only through empty cells and may leave the board to travel along the empty lane around its edge. One straight segment, two segments with one bend, or three segments with two bends all count; a path that would need a third bend is refused, and both tiles stay where they are.
What happens when no pair can be linked in Critter Link?
The board reshuffles itself for free. The remaining characters are dealt again onto the same spots until at least one pair can link, and this does not use up either of the 2 shuffles you get per board. A message under the board tells you it happened, so you know the layout changed.
Why do the tiles move after a match in Critter Link?
Most boards from board 3 on have a slide rule, shown by the arrow chip next to the score. After every link the tiles drop down, float up, slide left or right, or pack toward or away from the middle to fill the gap the pair left. Boards 1, 2 and 6 keep every tile still, and the first board with each new rule explains it with a short card.
How are points scored in Critter Link?
Each linked pair is worth 10 points. Link the next pair within 4 seconds and the combo grows, adding 2 points per step up to 30 points a pair. When the board is cleared, every whole second left on the clock adds 3 more points. Your best score on each board is saved next to its stars.
How do I get 3 stars on a Critter Link board?
Finish with at least 40% of the clock left. Stars depend only on the time remaining: 40% or more gives 3 stars, 15% or more gives 2, and any other win gives 1. Hints and shuffles cost no stars, only the seconds you spend, and you can replay any unlocked board to raise its stars and best score.
What happens when the clock runs out in Critter Link?
The board ends on a Time's up! sheet that shows how many tiles were left, and Retry starts the same board again with a full clock. Nothing you unlocked is lost. The clock turns red under 15 seconds and ticks during the last 10, and it stops whenever the game is paused or a sheet is open.
How many boards and characters does Critter Link have?
There are 30 boards in 10 chapters of 3, from Forest Friends to Starry Sky. Each chapter brings 12 new characters, 120 in all, and later boards mix in friends from earlier chapters, with up to 36 different characters on one board. Characters that look alike, such as the penguin and the penguin chick, never share a board.
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