Hoby Tales is a match-3 puzzle, renovation and social game based on classic Russian fairy tales and other aspects of Russian culture. The player helps a child house spirit clean their hut, explore the world, assist others, and complete additional tasks by collecting items on match-3 boards and earning stars.
The game is divided into numerous locked chapters and levels accessible via the Storybook icon on the main screen. The first chapter, Hob's Hut, requires the player to clean and decorate a chicken-legged hut similar to the hut of Baba Yaga that's inhabited by the child.
The player collects target items on match-3 boards to earn the stars needed to perform the renovations. They complete this task by aligning three or more matching pieces, creating and using special items, and earning and using boosters. They must also often break, collect, and remove unique objects, such as flower teacups and Petushok rooster lollipop candies.
As with other match-3 games, the player forms special items when they align more than three at a time. For example, five matching items in an L or T shape create a bomb, five items in a straight line create a spinning top, and four items in a square create a propeller. When the player merges these items, they form more powerful tools.
Hoby Tales feature plenty of renovation and exploration fun. The player helps clean up outdoor areas for different characters and reveal elements of other fairy tales. They eventually unlock and customize the avatar picture, join teams, message other players, participate in individual and group events, collect stamps in sets, and open a miracle wardrobe.
