ALEXO STARS: match stars, move planets and plan your next cascade

One gap, one swap, a new opening

Two golden stars sit on either side of a red planet. A third star waits directly below that planet. Swap those two neighbours and the gap closes: three stars line up, shatter and leave space for the objects above. Sometimes the falling pieces complete another line straight away. That second match happens without another swap, turning a small move into a cascade.

This is the core of ALEXO STARS. Matches must form a continuous horizontal or vertical line; diagonal groups do not count. An ordinary swap that fails to make a match moves back into place and does not use a move. Special objects have their own activation rules. Watch the whole board rather than concentrating only on the object you have selected: a useful opening may be a few spaces away.

Read the target before chasing points

The objective above the board tells you what the current level needs. You might have to reach a score, clear a number of objects or collect a particular colour. Later levels can combine requirements, and frozen spaces introduce another target. Complete every displayed requirement: a large score alone will not finish a level that still needs specific planets.

Imagine you need water planets but a line of golden stars is ready nearby. The stars may help by changing what falls into the board, yet matching the required planets directly could be more valuable. Compare that immediate progress with the chance of a larger follow-up. There is no single move that suits every objective. The useful habit is simpler: check the target, look at the remaining moves and then choose your swap.

From a small board to fifteen different worlds

The first two levels use three colours and have no move limit, leaving room to learn the controls. From level 3, moves are limited and four colours are in play. The board measures 6 × 6 spaces through level 10, grows to 7 × 7 for levels 11–20 and reaches 8 × 8 from level 21. More space gives you more patterns to consider, without changing the basic matching rule.

There are 300 levels in 15 worlds, with 20 levels per world. You start in the Solar neighbourhood before reaching ice worlds, volcanic landscapes, ring worlds and more distant regions. Backgrounds, frames and celestial motifs change along the route. Early symbols stay simple; later planets gain more elaborate surfaces, rings and small moons. These visual changes accompany the journey. You still match the same object types rather than learning a new rule for every decorative detail.

Turn four matches into a comet

From level 2, a line of four matching objects creates a comet. Its marking shows whether it clears a row or a column. Swap it with a neighbouring object to activate it. Before doing so, check where that line will pass: an effect that crosses the planets you need is usually more useful than one that only produces a satisfying flash elsewhere.

From level 11, a line of five or more creates a supernova. Swap the supernova with an ordinary neighbour to clear objects matching that neighbour’s colour. This gives you a way to target a scattered colour without first bringing those objects together. The effect depends on the neighbour you choose, so pause before swapping. A supernova beside several colours offers a decision, not merely a button to press as soon as possible.

Combine specials when their positions line up

Two adjacent special objects can produce a larger effect. Comet + comet clears a cross. Supernova + comet turns objects of the comet’s colour into line-clearing specials and activates them. Two supernovas clear the entire board. These combinations can reach beyond a normal three-object line, especially when your targets are spread across several rows.

That does not mean you should preserve every special indefinitely. Moving ordinary objects to bring two specials together costs opportunities, and a useful comet now may be better than a combination that never becomes available. Look at the number of moves left. When an effective pair already sits next to each other, its value is easy to assess; when the pieces are far apart, keep the current objective in view.

Let falling pieces continue the work

Cleared objects leave gaps. The remaining pieces fall and new ones enter from above. If that movement forms another valid line, the next wave clears automatically. Each cleared object earns ten points multiplied by the current cascade stage. A chain reaction can therefore contribute more than its first small line suggests, although the exact follow-up depends on the resulting board.

Your overall score continues across levels. Points already earned remain after a failed attempt or a level restart, while the current level’s objectives start again. Keep those two measures separate when judging progress: a rising total is rewarding, but completing the task is what unlocks the next level. Once you succeed, use the continue button to move on. Completed levels remain available in the level map if you want another attempt at a familiar board.

Controls, help and the sound of space

On a touchscreen, tap two neighbours or swipe between them. With a mouse, select or drag adjacent objects. Keyboard players can move with the arrow keys and select with Enter. A hint button shows a possible swap. After two failed attempts at a level, an optional assisted retry offers three extra moves and highlighted swap suggestions. You can choose that help when a particular objective keeps catching you out.

Crystalline impacts and deeper energy sounds accompany the clears. The first three levels have no background music. From level 4, music enters at about 15% objective progress and becomes faster and louder towards completion. The sound switch mutes the audio. Progress is stored locally in the browser; keeping the same browser and device is the practical way to return to your unlocked levels.