Verbal Alchemy is a game created by u ndefined where you must make combinations of elements to make new elements.

Gameplay

You begin with a screen showing the 4 classical elements or Air, Water, Earth and Fire. On the bottom of the screen, you will see two empty slots, an addition screen, and other buttons mentioned below. Tap any of the elements to place them into the slots. 3 outcomes are possible after pressing the addition button:

  • A new element is formed from the selected combination. A blue dot appears next to the newly formed element.
  • The combination does not result in a new element. The items disappear.
  • The combination has been tried before; you already have this element. A blue dot will appear next to this element, and the items will remain in the addition slot.

A tally is visible at the bottom showing all of the elements you have found of the total to be found. The home button at the bottom left of the screen (top left of the grey area) will quit the game.

Sorting Mechanisms

To the right of the addition button sets the current sorting mechanism, which can be changed by tapping on it. The systems, going to the default option first, are:

  • ID-wise - This system, denoted by an arrow pointing upwards, sorts the elements by their ID. The first 4 elements have IDs 1 through 4, their first derivatives have lower numbers, and subsequently, higher order derivatives appear further down the list.

  • Alphabetically - This system, shown by the A-Z figure, sorts the elements alphabetically.

  • Latest Use - This system, denoted by a clock figure, sorts the elements according to how recently the element was used in the addition slot. This system is subsequently dynamic; every time you click on a new element, it will appear on top of the list.

  • Colour - This system, indicated by a gradient, sorts the elements by the colour of the element (and secondarily by their ID). The colour is arranged according to the Fancade palette, which reads bottom-to-up, then left-to-right.

Settings

The settings are accessed by the cog on the lower left hand side of the screen. This presents two options, and an arrow button on the left hand side which lets you toggle between the other set of options (there are 4 in total). This reveals the following options:

  • Hide Finals/Show Finals - "Hide Finals" hides the final derivatives; ones that cannot further be used to create new elements. "Show Finals" undoes this. The finals also have a red dot on the top right corner of their element box.

    • Split/Do Not Split - "Split" splits the final elements from the others. This also separates them from the others when it comes to the sorting mechanisms, but they are still sorted internally. "Do Not Split" reverses this operation. If you have hidden the final elements, this option is not available.

  • Show ID/Hide ID - "Show ID" will show the ID number of each element (as previously referenced), "Hide ID" undoes this.

  • Erase Data - This will delete your game progress. The game will ask "Are you sure?" before it quits, and resets your progress.

  • On nothing/duplicate/new - This will modify the resulting action upon mixture. "Clear" is to remove the elements. "Retain" is to keep the elements. "Put mixture" is to replace the elements with the one resulting combination.

All settings are saved (excluding sorting mode). You press the cog again to bring you back to the game.

Hint System

A successful combination yields 8 coins. If you amass 100 coins, you can purchase a hint after pressing the home button. When you replay the game, the grey box to the right of the addition screen (which is greyed out beforehand) shows a little light bulb. Pressing this light bulb will make a successful element combination appear. You add this yourself, and create a new element.

Credits

Several members of the Fancade Discord server have contributed to the creation of new elements and alternative combinations. They are accredited in the "Credits" level.

Tapping the element in the list while in settings will show who created the element. Furthermore, certain elements will have different combinations, to which they are attributed to the individual contributor. It can be cycled through by tapping on the element again.

Trivia

  • The combination for "pressure" had a less reasonable combination: earthquake + earth. This was changed in June 2023.

External Links