How to Play Hexa Tap: A Color-Sort Puzzle Primer That Gets You Past Level 3
Stack colored chips on hexagon cells and ten of the same color pops. Simple to say, but at first you'll wonder "why did my chips go over there?" Here is a primer for your first games of Hexa Tap.
👉 Play Hexa Tap (free, no download)
1. The rules in three lines
- Pick a block (a stack of chips) from the tray and place it on an empty hex cell. Tap to pick and tap to place, or drag it.
- If a neighbor's top color matches, those chips gather into the cell you just filled.
- When ten or more of one color stack in a cell, that whole layer pops.
You score 10 points per popped chip, with a multiplier when one move sets off several chains.
2. "Why did my chips go there?"
The most confusing part. Usually chips gather into the cell you just filled, but when a chain merges several cells they gather into the tallest stack. So if you want chips in a particular cell, build it up first and they'll follow.
3. Chains are the real fun
When a top layer pops, the color hidden underneath is revealed. If it matches a neighbor, it gathers again, hits ten, pops again… that's a chain. Several pops in one move make your score jump.
Tip: park eight or nine of one color in a cell and wait. While you tidy elsewhere, dropping the last one or two often sets off a chain.
4. What changes by level?
- Levels 1–2: practice. Few colors, lots of room.
- From level 3: four colors and pre-placed mixed chips.
- Level 5: ice appears for the first time. It takes two hits, with a "One more pop!" alert when it cracks. Still four colors, so you can focus on the ice.
- From level 6: a fifth color joins.
- From level 8: the endless levels, where ice spreads faster and faster.
A typical run ends in about 7–8 minutes.
Clear a move-limited level and every unused move is worth 20 points, so saving moves pays.
5. Common beginner mistakes
- Filling cells at random: the game ends when the board is full. Build cells around one or two colors instead of mixing everything.
- Stacking many colors in one cell: a different color underneath locks that cell for a while. Think about the top color when you place.
- Forgetting undo: if you regret a move instantly, use undo one move. That's what it's for.
Hard to tell colors apart? Try color-blind mode
Turn on Color-blind mode in settings and every top chip gets a shape for its color, with a palette whose colors are easier to tell apart. Screen readers announce the color names too. It is off by default.
Keyboard works too
On a computer, pick a block with 1, 2 or 3, move with Tab and place with Enter. Your progress and best score stay in this browser.