Shariki

• "Shariki" is one of the first known of these types of electronic games, and featured a simple game matrix filled with colored circles. It was developed for DOS and released in 1994. The goal of the game is to slide the circles to align them into rows and columns of three or more of the same color. When this happens, the circles disappear and you increase your score. The game ends when no more possible combinations are on the board.
  
  

SEGA Columns

• "Columns" was developed before "Shariki," but is a derivative of "Tetris" with a falling block style in which players position blocks moving increasingly faster. Unlike "Tetris," the goal is to line up three gems of the same color horizontally or vertically, rather than filling in and clearing horizontal lines. Another game in this style is Capcom's "Super Puzzle Fighter," which has a dedicated match three "Columns"-style mode.
  
  

Bejeweled

• "Bejeweled" is the most well-known of all of these games, and synonymous with the genre due to its popularity with fans. The series has sold more than 50 million copies, and has been downloaded in various free versions, including a Facebook version, at least 150 million times. Its gameplay is quintessential to the genre, offering everything from simple and casual modes to difficult timed modes with an emphasis on match combos.
  
  

Puzzle Quest: Challenge of the Warlords

• "Puzzle Quest" offers a unique version of the genre, combining the abstract concept of a match three game with a robust RPG system. Players choose a class, which determines what colors they need to prioritize over others when matching. This game also focuses on puzzle battles against the AI, in which moves conducted by each player affect the other in positive or negative ways.