Sort Icons is a sorting game that features hexagon-shaped elements (i.e., grids made of empty hex spaces distributed in different patterns and stacks of mixed hex tiles). Against a gradient purple backdrop, the player attempts to meet specific level-by-level score goals by sorting the mixed-tile stacks into new stacks of matching tiles that have only one color and one icon per column.
The player receives three stacks below an empty grid. They slide each one into an optimal position on it. When they place a stack adjacent to another stack that has the same top tiles, one group of tiles flips from its stack to the nearby one. Once the player builds a large enough stack of matching tiles, the game removes it from the grid and adds points to the top-center goal area. As they make progress, the game increases the number of colors and icons and adds new tiles with slightly lighter or darker shades of color.
Sort Icons offers several booster-style tools near the bottom of the screen, including a boxing glove hammer allows the player to destroy a stack of their choice, four arrows that allow them to swap and replace a column, and double arrows that supply them with a new set of three stacks. The player uses coin winnings to purchase access to these tools after they run out of free moves.