Merge Bistro is a simulation game that focuses on world-building through merge, match-3 and crafting mechanics. The player helps the main character, Mai, build a restaurant on an island while exploring the world. They direct her and other characters, including monkey construction workers, to grow plants, harvest crops, source raw materials, create delicious meals and open up hidden areas and items.
The player completes their mission by combining three or more identical natural items on two-tone green squares on a checkered landscape. Beyond creating planks from cutting Dryad trees, they can also reveal special chests that they need to produce other items or energy, stars and coins for future usage, purchases, sale or trade. They also perform merges to reveal new allies. For example, the player might combine three potato plants to produce potatoes for use in dishes like baked potatoes or sugar cane to make apple pies. After a while, these actions unlock the other characters.
Merge Bistro features a lot of different types of play and opportunities to earn items that can make it easier to keep playing. The game offers daily free items, lucky-card items, gift boxes and sacks, and a marketplace. It even offers video ad viewing to restore energy, cash and diamonds.
