Niche Shift

Niche Shift reshapes the familiar merge-puzzle format around an ocean food chain. A simple swipe starts the sequence: merge Plankton to create Krill, merge Krill to create Fish, and keep evolving creatures toward the legendary Leviathan. That clear progression gives each merge a visible purpose, while the ecosystem theme makes the board feel less like a set of static tiles and more like a fragile chain of dependencies. The pressure comes from hunger and balance. High-level predators, identified in the source as Level 3 and above, grow hungrier every time a move is made. They must be merged to be fed; if neglected, they starve and become Bones, which function as useless obstacles that clog the board. This turns ordinary tile placement into resource management, since pushing evolution too quickly can create creatures that demand attention before the board is ready to support them. A cautious rhythm is usually stronger than rapid merging. Saving space, timing predator merges, and preventing bone clutter matter as much as chasing the next creature tier.