Game system, game method, game program, and game server for a puzzle game

A game method of a game system capable of executing a game using a puzzle element in a game area, the game method comprising the steps of:

• selecting a first puzzle element from one or more puzzle elements of one or more types in accordance with an operation of a player;
• moving the first puzzle element inside the game area in accordance with an operation of the player;
• coupling, in response to a puzzle element with a same appearance as the first puzzle element coming into contact with the first puzzle element, the first puzzle element and the puzzle element with the same appearance as the first puzzle element to each other and generating a coupled puzzle element having the first puzzle element and the puzzle element with the same appearance as the first puzzle element as components;
• causing, in response to a second puzzle element of a type that differs from the first puzzle element coming into contact with the first puzzle element or the coupled puzzle element, the second puzzle element to execute a predetermined operation without coupling the first puzzle element and the second puzzle element to each other;
• and
• erasing, in response to at least any one of a condition in that an operation of the player with respect to the first puzzle element is no longer performed and a condition in that a predetermined time has elapsed from a time point at which the selection of the first puzzle element is satisfied, the coupled puzzle element from the game area.

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions thereon which, when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method, the method comprising:

• selecting a first puzzle element from one or more puzzle elements of one or more types in accordance with an operation of a player;
• moving the first puzzle element inside the game area in accordance with an operation of the player;
• coupling, in response to a puzzle element with a same appearance as the first puzzle element coming into contact with the first puzzle element, the first puzzle element and the puzzle element with the same appearance as the first puzzle element to each other and generating a coupled puzzle element having the first puzzle element and the puzzle element with the same appearance as the first puzzle element as components;
• causing, in response to a second puzzle element of a type that differs from the first puzzle element coming into contact with the first puzzle element or the coupled puzzle element, the second puzzle element to execute a predetermined operation without coupling the first puzzle element and the second puzzle element to each other;
• and
• erasing, in response to at least any one of a condition in that an operation of the player with respect to the first puzzle element is no longer performed and a condition in that a predetermined time has elapsed from a time point at which the selection of the first puzzle element is satisfied, the coupled puzzle element from the game area.

A game server capable of providing a game using a puzzle element in a game area, the game server comprising:

• processing circuitry configured to
• move a first puzzle element selected from one or more puzzle elements of one or more types in accordance with an operation of a player in the game area in accordance with an operation of the player;
• in response to a puzzle element with a same appearance as the selected first puzzle element comes into contact with the first puzzle element, couple the first puzzle element and the puzzle element with the same appearance to each other and generate a coupled puzzle element having the first puzzle element and the puzzle element with the same appearance as components;
• in response to a second puzzle element of a type that differs from the first puzzle element coming into contact with the first puzzle element or the coupled puzzle element, cause the second puzzle element to execute a predetermined operation without coupling the first puzzle element and the second puzzle element to each other;
• and
• in response to at least any one of a condition in that an operation of the player with respect to the selected first puzzle element is no longer performed and a condition in that a predetermined time has elapsed from a time point at which the first puzzle element had been selected is satisfied, erase the coupled puzzle element from the game area.