Connect the Ore: Get to the Diamond! is a Suika (Watermelon) game that features craft world outcomes instead of the evolution of fruit. The player's goal is to take the basic building blocks explored in geology to create a diamond instead of a watermelon. They must also meet score goals.
The playfield displays an underground area and a container. The player drops round-cornered blocks into the container to match pairs. With each match, a pair merges to create a new block or a related object, such as a round mineral or a rectangular metal ingot. For example, two blocks of soil topped with grass create a light gray stone block. Over time the player creates stones that contain crystals until they eventually create a diamond.
When two blocks or other objects merge, the force causes the new shape to explosively leap into the air and then bounce against other blocks and the container side walls. The player can sometimes use this action to force nearby shapes into new positions or merges.
Connect the Ore: Get to the Diamond! attempts to distract the player by making the background move left and right behind the container. It also presents obstacles, such as pieces of wall that extend out and force blocks to bounce during drops.
The player tracks their progress on a horizontal score goal bar above the container. They access a leaderboard via a trophy button above the bar. The center button allows them to start over completely. Other buttons allow them to drop a TNT dynamite stick bomb or slime ball into the container.
