Power-ups should rescue decisions, not replace them

Power-ups can make a puzzle game more expressive, but they can also flatten the challenge if they erase every consequence. Plokk treats power-ups as limited tactical choices. Their job is to create one more interesting decision, not to guarantee a high score.

Undo is most useful when the player spots a better route immediately after placing a piece. Reshuffle helps when the current hand creates a dead end, but it still asks the player to use the new shapes well. A continue gives the run another chance, but it should not make early mistakes irrelevant.

Gem costs are part of the puzzle economy. If every rescue is free, players stop caring about board shape. If every rescue is too expensive, power-ups become decorative. Plokk aims for the middle: spending gems should feel meaningful, especially when a run is close to a personal best.

The healthiest moment to use a power-up is often before panic. A board with several partial lanes can become a comeback with one smart intervention. Waiting until no shape fits is usually too late.

Leaderboards work only when players trust the scoring environment. Plokk keeps power-ups visible and limited so strong scores still feel earned. The player who uses a rescue well is rewarded for timing, not for bypassing the game.

That balance matters for both casual sessions and daily challenges. A rescue should create a better story for the run while preserving the core skill: managing space on the board.