Pokémon Shuffle is a freemium puzzle game, somewhat similar to the Pokémon Trozei games, even using similar sprites. By default, the player can play 5 rounds at a time, represented by a Heart. One Heart is regenerated every 30 minutes until the player once again has 5 Hearts. New Hearts can be purchased using Jewels. Jewels can be purchased through the Nintendo eShop or earned during gameplay. Jewels can also be used to buy 5 more turns if the player runs out of turns. The player travels through certain areas, attempting to defeat Wild Pokémon by lining up three or more Pokémon. Various different formations can also be made. Each Pokémon has one type, with advantages and disadvantages. If a Pokémon being matched has a type advantage against the Pokémon being battled, it causes more damage, whereas if the matched Pokémon has a type disadvantage, it causes less. A puzzle must be completed within a certain number of turns, depending on the Pokémon being battled. Wild Pokémon are fought in a linear fashion, so one must be defeated before the next can be challenged. They can also be caught. The catchability is measured depending on both which Pokémon is being caught and how many moves the player has left after defeating it. If the Pokémon breaks free of its Poké Ball, the player can spend 2500 coins on a Great Ball if they have it to offer a greater chance of catchability. Caught Pokémon can be used as assist Pokémon, with up to four being used at a time, though some battles may restrict them to a lower number. Assist Pokémon appear on the playing field to be matched. The play can choose an "Optimize" option every battle that automatically chooses Pokémon with type advantages. Pokemon that can Mega Evolve are automatically put in the first position through optimization. Pokémon Mega Evolve during gameplay via a meter that fills up as that Pokémon is matched. Each Pokémon also has a special ability with different effects that is triggered by making certain formations withn them. At the end of each area, a Trainer battles the player using a Mega Evolved Pokémon. Upon defeating this Trainer, the player gets a Jewel and the Mega Stone that the Trainer's Pokémon was holding, enabling the player to Mega Evolve that Pokémon if they have it. After every battle, the player is awarded coins, which can be used to purchase power-ups before a stage, and their Pokémon are awarded experience points, which will eventually cause them to level up. In addition to Normal stages, there are two other modes. In Expert stages, Pokémon that are otherwise unavailable can be battled and caught. The difference, however, is that instead of turns, battles are limited by time. Again, the time limit differs depending on Pokémon. If time runs out, Jewels can be exchanged for more time. Finally, there are Special stages. Here, events distributed via the Nintendo Network through the Check In option can be played. These include Daily Pokémon stages, which offer a different P