Despite their overabundance in the formative years of the App Store’s existence, I’m always incredibly excited to try out new match three games on iOS, as the sheer popularity of the genre forces developers to go the extra mile to stand out amongst the crowd. Swap Sword ($2.99) is one such title – while you are still tasked with matching similar tiles, you must also move the protagonist around through the eponymous sword swipes and a whole range of alternative lethal abilities at your disposal. With some stunning pixel art to boot – one would expect no less from the graphical geniuses behind Sunburn ($2.99) – this match three and roguelike amalgamation looked incredibly exciting when we first took a glimpse at it last week. While a December 1st release date was suggested, those who have been eagerly anticipating Swap Sword will be glad to know the game has launched early, and you can now slay creatures and competitors alike on the App Store.

While the first glance suggests similarities to games such as Dungeon Tiles (Free) and the legendary Dungeon Raid ($0.99), Swap Sword appears to go one step further with even more interactivity around the board. All the different tiles have different qualities, so you must avoid slashing dynamite that may appear while attempting to collect the keys and make your way to the exit square on the board. While there are enemies that are actively looking to end your run, your arsenal of spells and magic abilities can be used to suppress such threats, and a wide variance of levels will mean that there is more content than you can shake a sword at. Swap Sword has the potential to be a true sleeper hit, so be sure to download it from the App Store and head down to our forum thread for further discussion on this latest match three title.