Faerie's Hope
How to Play
Neopia Studio is a "match-three" game, an informal name for games where the player manipulates tiles into specific configurations that causes those tiles to disappear. Other Neopets match-three games include Sutek's Tomb, Goparokko, and the now-retired Ghoul Catchers.
The main storyline of Neopia Studio involves refurbishing an abandoned movie studio. To do so, you earn "Movie Stars" by completing levels of a Petpet-matching game. (Why matching Petpets helps with the refurbishment is left to the imagination of the player.)
Gameplay
The goal with each level is to strategically clear Petpet tiles to accomplish the stated goal of each level. The goal can be clearing a certain number of certain Petpet tiles, clearing or using certain non-Petpet tiles from the board, or "uncovering" certain sections of the board by clearing Petpets on top of them. Each level has its own specific objective!
The game's plot takes place in what we call the "overworld." You start out in the movie studio overworld, but also visit the Dreamworld and Dancing Island overworlds as you advance through the Dreamworld side missions.
Shimmy and the player faerie convene in the movie studio overworld
The game itself takes place on different screens. Each level has a setup screen where you can get basic level information, choose a Neopet, and select boosters. The game itself is then played on a different setup after that.
The level setup screen (top) and game screen (below)
Currencies
Neopia Studio features several "currencies" that can be used for progression and rewards.
Currency | Used For |
![]() Coupons |
Can be exchanged in the Closet for cosmetic wearables for your Neopets. |
![]() Coins |
Can be exchanged for extra lives or extra turns. |
![]() Wocky Jelly ![]() Wocky Jam |
Can be exchanged for advancements in the plots. You use the Wocky Jelly for the main story, and the Wocky Jam for the side stories. |
![]() Lives |
Can be "exchanged" for losses. Once you are out of lives, you cannot play match-3 levels. You re-earn 1 Life every 30 minutes. Lives can also be instantly refilled for ### coins. |
Game Elements
Standard Tiles
The standard tiles are based on iconic Petpets from Neopets.com. They do not have any special effects on their own, but disappear when three of the same colour are aligned, and can be matched together in certain arrangements to make special tiles.
Special Tiles
Special tiles are created by arranging standard tiles in certain arrangements. These tiles have special effects when moved or activated. A special tile can be activated in place by tapping it, or in an adjacent square by swapping it.
Special Tile | How it's Made | What it Does |
![]() Missile |
![]() ![]() |
Hits all tiles in the same row and column it is activated in. |
![]() Boomerang |
![]() ![]() |
Hits the tiles above/below & left/right of the tile it is activated on, and also one random tile that contributes to your objective for that level. |
![]() Bomb |
![]() ![]() |
Hits all tiles in a 5x5 square (except the corners!) centered on the square it is activated in. |
![]() Spinning Top |
![]() ![]() |
Hits all tiles of the same colour as the tile it is activated with. |
Special tiles can be combined with each other to produce extra-powerful effects.
Combo | What it Does |
![]() ![]() Missile+Missile |
Hits all tiles in the three columns and three rows centered on the square they were combined. |
![]() ![]() Missile+Boomerang |
Hits the tiles immediately above/below & left/right of the tile they were combined on, then hits one random tile that contributes to your objective for that level, and starts a Missile effect in the row and column that tile is in. |
![]() ![]() Missile+Bomb |
Hits all tiles in the five columns and five rows centered on the square they were combined. |
![]() ![]() Missile+Top |
Hits every standard tile of a randomly selected colour, and replaces the ones that get cleared with a Missile, then launches them all. |
![]() ![]() Boomerang+Boomerang |
Hits all eight tiles surrounding the tile they were combined on, and then removes three random tiles that contribute to your objective for that level. |
![]() ![]() Boomerang+Bomb |
Hits the tiles immediately above/below & left/right of the tile they were combined on, then hits a randomly selected tile that contributes to your objectives and a 3x3 square centered on it. |
![]() ![]() Boomerang+Top |
Hits every standard tile of a randomly selected colour, and replaces the ones that get cleared with a Boomerang, then launches them all. |
![]() ![]() Bomb+Bomb |
Hits all tiles in a 7x7 square centered on the square they are combined in. |
![]() ![]() Bomb+Top |
Hits every standard tile of a randomly selected colour, and replaces the ones that get cleared with a Bomb, then launches them all. |
![]() ![]() Top+Top |
Makes a blast that provides one hit to every tile on the board. |
Non-Standard Tiles
Non-standard tiles move around the board like the standard Petpet tiles, but have other features and cannot be matched. Collecting a certain number of them is often an objective for the levels they appear on.
Non-Standard Tile | What it Does |
![]() Bottled Butterflies |
When landing at the "bottom" of a level's board, they will release a butterfly with the same effect as a Boomerang, hitting a random tile that advances the level objective. They can be part of a swap and do move. |
![]() Letters |
Destroyed by completing matches in squares adjacent to them. They can be part of a swap and do move. |
![]() Cookies |
Destroyed by completing matches in squares adjacent to them. They will also stop Missile effects from advancing past them. They can be part of a swap and do move. |
![]() ![]() Surprise Boxes |
The surprise boxes come in the six colours of the standard tiles, and start with a number on them. When landing at the "bottom" of a level's board, they will place that many standard tiles of the same colour as the box randomly on the board. They can be part of a swap and do move. |
Static Tiles
Static tiles are tiles that do not move at all, and cannot be used for matches. However, they can be interacted with by matching standard tiles adjacent to them. Clearing a certain number of them is often an objective for the levels they appear on.
Static Tile | What it Does |
![]() Ukuleles |
Ukuleles let out music notes when tiles are matched adjacent to them. Only a single tile adjacent to one ukulele is needed to get one set of music notes from each ukulele adjacent to it. Once all of the music notes required for a level are earned, the ukuleles will disappear, making room for tiles to take their place. |
![]() Boxes |
Boxes are destroyed by completing matches in squares adjacent to them. |
![]() Chocolates |
Chocolates are destroyed by completing a single match in squares adjacent to them, and will then hit the tiles directly above/below & left/right of them. |
![]() ![]() Chocolate Boxes and Chocolate Wrappers |
Chocolate boxes and chocolate wrappers are opened up by matching tiles adjacent to them. The chocolate box will disappear after 3 adjacent matches, and then place two chocolate wrappers randomly on the board. The chocolate wrapper will disappear after 2 adjacent matches, and then place two chocolates randomly on the board. |
![]() ![]() Paintings |
Paintings are completed by matching tiles adjacent to them. After 8 adjacent matches, the paintings will be completed and disappear from the board, making room for tiles to take their place. |
![]() Curtains |
Curtains will cover a vertical row, and can be cleared one tile at a time by matching tiles anywhere adjacent to the curtain. The curtain will always move upwards, clearing its bottom tile until it's completely gone. Sometimes a different tile might already be behind the curtain, in which case it is revealed when the curtain gets cleared. |
![]() ![]() Faeries |
Faeries are stuck as stone statues, and can only be freed by hitting them with a special tile's effect. |
Tile Modifiers
Tile modifiers appear around or on top of standard, special, or non-standard tiles, and modify your ability to use or interact with those tiles. Clearing a certain number of them is often an objective for the levels they appear on.
Tile Modifier | What it Does |
![]() Vines |
Tiles trapped in vines cannot be used in a swap and will not move, but can be used as part of a match. Vines can be removed by including the vined tile in a match or by affecting the vined tile with a special tile's effect. |
![]() Ice |
Tiles trapped in ice cannot be used in a swap, but can move and can be used as part of a match. Ice can be removed by including the iced tile in a match or by affecting the iced tile with a special tile's effect. |
Board Modifiers
Board modifiers are parts of the board that can modify your ability to use or interact with certain tiles. Some modifiers can be cleared by matching standard tiles directly under or on top of them, or by using the effects of special tiles. Clearing a certain number of them is often an objective for the levels they appear on.
Board Modifier | What it Does |
![]() Constellations |
Constellations are areas under certain parts of the board that are covered by clouds. They are uncovered by matching tiles on top of them. Once all constellations have been uncovered, the remaining clouds will disappear. |
![]() ![]() Teleporters |
Teleporters move tiles in disjointed ways across the board. Tiles go into a yellow teleporter and out of a respective purple teleporter. |
![]() Branches |
Branches appear between tiles, and those tiles cannot be swapped with eachother, nor can they move in the direction the branch blocks. But they can be swapped and move in any other direction, and can be used as part of a match. Branches also block clearing non-standard tiles and static features from adjacent matches. Branches can be removed by getting them hit by a special tile's effect. |
![]() Honey |
Honey sticks to the board and will stay where it is until it is removed, and it will spread to one random adjacent tile if no honey was removed in the previous turn. Tiles under honey can be swapped and do move, and can be used for matches. Honey can only be removed by fully clearing the covered tile in a match or fully clearing it by a special tile's effect. |
Power-Ups
Power-Ups are little tools you can use to manipulate the game board in a way you cannot by moving and matching tiles normally. Using them does not count as using a turn!
Power-Up | What it Does |
![]() Mini Wand |
Can remove any 1 tile (or its tile modifier, if it has one) of your choosing from the board. |
![]() Mega Wand |
Essentially has the effect of a Missile power-up, hitting all tiles in the same row and column of a tile of your choosing. |
![]() Magic Gloves |
Allows you to swap any two adjacent tiles that you otherwise would not be allowed to swap. However, it will still not allow the swap if one (or both) of the tiles have a tile modifier. |
Boosters
Boosters are advantages you give yourself prior to starting a level. They will provide you with the relevant special tile(s) somewhere on your starting board. Every level has different options for which boosters are available.
Booster | What it Does |
![]() Spinning Top |
Start the level with a Spinning Top instead of a random standard tile. |
![]() Missile |
Start the level with a Missile instead of a random standard tile. |
![]() Bomb |
Start the level with a Bomb instead of a random standard tile. |
Gifts from Neopia
Starting with Level 30, once you complete consecutive levels without losing a life, you will build up a streak that earns you "gifts from Neopia," which are free boosters awarded automatically at the start of the next level. These boosters are in addition to any boosters you choose to use on a level as well. If you lose a life, your streak resets, and you will have to win consecutive levels again to re-earn it.
Neopets
There are currently three playable Neopets available. While they may bear some resemblance to the Neopets featured in the stories, they are seemingly unrelated. Their cosmetic appearance can also be customised in the Closet.
Each pet has its own special skill that can be charged up by matching standard tiles of a specific colour. The skill can be charged multiple times in a level, but after doing so three times it will cost more tiles to charge it again. The skill also has two levels: a standard level, and a MAX level that you can reach after charging up again without using your currently charged standard skill. Using a pet's skill does not count as using a turn!
Species | Skill | Needed Tiles |
Standard Level | Max Level |
![]() Shoyru |
![]() Bomb |
![]() 35 (1-3) 40 (4+ ) |
Hits a randomly selected 3x3 square of tiles. | Hits a randomly selected 5x5 square of tiles. |
![]() Kougra |
![]() Boomerang |
![]() 20 (1-3) 25 (4+ ) |
Hits two randomly selected tiles that contribute to the objectives. | Hits four randomly selected tiles that contribute to the objectives. |
![]() Aisha |
![]() Windmill |
![]() 30 (1-3) 35 (4+ ) |
Hits six random tiles of one random colour. | Hits fifteen random tiles of the colour with the most tiles. |
