Essentially a match-3 game, but with 2 other puzzle types thrown in every 5 levels or so. You can choose to play each level with a timer or without. Choosing the fastest timer gives you the most stars, and choosing to play without the timer gives you none.

Most of the traditional match-3 levels can be completed with ease on the "normal" timer mode, except for 1, which required a bit of advance planning and therefore more time to calculate your moves. It was possible to get stuck on that particular level for infinity (I did) if you did not plan your moves in advance. Not sure if this was what the developers intended, but luckily there is a "restart" option for each level.

As you progress through the levels, the story also advances. You have been sent to collect Aztec artifacts from the jungle and with every artifact acquired, the game tells you something about them. The dialogue was well-written and the info about the artifacts seemed genuine. Each artifact is showcased in your tent and you can view it again.

My only gripe is that the timed match-3 board and row slider puzzle are almost impossible to complete with the timer on "normal" mode. With the row slider puzzle, you have to wait for the tray to move to where you want it to go (you can't control it), and that takes time, so it's unfair to the player.

There are a total of 105 levels if I remember correctly. It took me 3+ hours to get through the entire game.

Ever since I became addicted to WWE Champions on mobile earlier this year match 3 games have become my thing. I’ve always enjoyed games like Bejeweled but I’ve never been addicted. Therefore, when I get the opportunity to play – and review – a new one I jump at the opportunity.

Almost every match 3 game that I’ve played recently has had a point of differential. Whether that differential is a license (e.g. WWE Champions, anime-inspired (e.g. HuniePop) or franchise (e.g. Bejeweled) there is something different about them. Aztec Venture’s differential is its theme. As you may suspect, the theme of the game is an Aztec adventure.


The game features eight chapters of fifteen levels each for a total of 105 levels. After every four levels the game presents the player with a different mini game. These mini game levels are different to the regular levels.

Regular levels have you clearing pillars of different colored Aztec blocks. Individual blocks may have a special characteristic. For example, the first introduced mechanic sees them with a vine wrapped around them. You need to match 3 to get rid of the vine and then match 3 again to destroy the block.

The mini games are where the most fun is at and they do feel like a reward to play. The first such mini game, level 5, sees the player slide puzzle pieces into the right direction. The one that I had the most difficulty with was the third one. You need to move balls from the top of the screen into a mine cart below. The problem is that you have a limited amount of time to do this and the player has no control over the mine cart. This means you’re constantly trying to move the ball over the screen rather than directly down into it. If you’re ever so slightly off from the cart it misses and it doesn’t count. You also have a limited amount of time so frustrations quickly grow.

Overall, the gameplay is fun albeit a little frustrating. I found it a challenge trying to beat the par times for each level. Sometimes I nailed them and other times I had to repeat levels at a later time to get the maximum number of stars for each level (5).


The visual-audio presentation of Aztec Venture is pretty spot on. In fact, it was one of the best components of the game. The colour palette chosen is warm and inviting. It’s very easy on the eyes and a pleasure to play. Consequently, it enables the player to spend significant amounts of time playing in one sitting. The audio is smooth to listen to and is befitting of the theme of the game. This is always a bugbear of mine so when I see an art style and audio that matches the theme I am appreciative.


Personally, the biggest drawback that I have with the game is the lack of Steam features. I’m someone who appreciates the extra little bit of work that a developer does to engage with the platform the game is on. Unfortunately, the game completely lacks Steamification. By that, it feels as though the game has been dumped onto Steam without a care in the world.

Please, rokaplay, if you want the Steam userbase to take your games seriously and to jump at the opportunity to purchase them, you need to Steamify your game. Your games are born to be Steamified.
Add achievements. Achievements are so simple to add to your game especially when goals and targets are so identifiable as they are in this game. For example, how about an achievement for completing a level? If you want to make your players earn them unlocks then for achieving 4 or 5 stars on a level rather than just completing it.

Further, incorporate the Steam Leaderboard. You have a game that is predicated upon how quickly a player can complete each level. I’d like to see if somebody has beaten my thirteen seconds on level twelve.

Your titles deserve the extra purchases that achievement hunters and competitive players would make. Ultimately, you’re robbing yourself sales for not very much work. Yes, it’s the cream for a title but in a world where developers are consistently offering said cream you need to join the coffee club!


If you enjoy match 3 games as much as what I do then you’ll find plenty to like about Aztec Venture. There’s enough content for you to play through and get your monies worth. The presentation is very good for a game within the genre. The biggest downside to the game is the way rokaplay refuse to Steamify their games. If they added those extra features I’d be one very happy gamer.

Overall: 8/10 - a game that fans of the genre will enjoy. If you're not a match 3 fan already then the game won't change your mind about the genre. Personally, I enjoyed my time with the game quite a lot. It made me happy with its casual charm.


Please visit Gamephasis[www.gamephasis.com]. We're a new website that offers reviews, previews, news and much more. If you'd like to join our team we'd certainly love to have you on board. Are you a streamer? Put yourself in our Hero Class so that our community can discover you. If you're a YouTuber add your videos to our site and you'll get the all of views - and income - on your monetized YouTube videos! It's win-win, chicken dinner!

Definitely not worth the $10 it's asking for, given the generally simple gameplay mechanics this piece has; worth considering if it's being offered for a $1 or less.

This piece is a Match-3 set in an Aztec themed adventure with a very light (almost negligible) story element. You complete rounds of Match-3 puzzles and collect Aztec relics. There are puzzles and power-ups introduced over the course of your play time in an attempt to keep gameplay interesting, but nothing too particularly special. Some of the puzzles are particularly buggy, especially the one you have to drop balls into a moving container. Some levels are just outright broken, forcing you to place blocks in layers you can't see if you've stacked too high up and the first few bottom layers gets pushed offscreen. There are a lot of levels but it does get a little dull after a while.

Overall, game content lacks depth to justify the price it's asking for. It is alright for a couple of hours but not too enjoyable. Worth considering if it's on a sale and you're into Match-3 archetypes.

Good against boredom ^^

Even if it's a bit repetitive, it's an original match-3.

I did not enjoy this. I do not recommend. I found it dull. You mileage may vary. It's one of those games sitting in my library, must have been part of a bundle at some point. I keep wanting to say it's alright but it isn't really. There are just way better games out there for the money.

Boring, seen a thousand times before. Even the sound files are recycled.

A poor match 3 game, with uneven difficulty, sluggish controls, and a scattering of other types of minigames that are just outright bad and some are buggy as well. Some levels are a breeze, other levels require you to place blocks below the visible portion of the screen just to complete on the "normal" timer.

Don't waste your money on this game.

Oh, and the "story", horribly written and vaguely racist.

Fun "match the colors" game
There are many of these, but each tome they are in different styles with different theme'd music

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MhJuThFAwp8