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Stick Merge
Stick Merge is an explosive blend of casual action gaming and strategic weapon merging that has captivated millions of players worldwide. Developed by TinyDobbins, this addictive free-to-play game combines the satisfying mechanics of merging identical items with the adrenaline rush of a shooting gallery. Whether you're playing on your browser, mobile device, or PC, Stick Merge offers an engaging experience where you'll merge weapons to create devastating firearms and use them to defeat waves of stick figure enemies. Since its release, Stick Merge has become one of the most popular casual action games, garnering millions of downloads and a stellar 4.9-star rating across all platforms. This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to become a master at Stick Merge.
Stick Merge is a casual action merging game developed by the independent game studio TinyDobbins, known for creating engaging idle and merging games like Monkey Mart, Merge Round Racers, and Stick Defenders. The game launched on web platforms in May 2024 and has since expanded to iOS and Android, reaching players across the globe.
The core concept is simple yet incredibly addictive: merge identical weapons to create stronger guns, then use them to eliminate stick figure enemies in an intense shooting range. With over 50 unique weapon tiers to unlock and progressive difficulty that keeps the gameplay fresh, Stick Merge offers hundreds of hours of entertainment for both casual and dedicated gamers.
Game Type: Casual action + idle gameplay hybrid
Developer: TinyDobbins
Release Date: May 13, 2024 (Web), July 2024 (iOS), November 2025 (Latest updates)
Platforms: Web browser, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac
Rating: 4.9/5 stars
Price: Free-to-play with optional in-app purchases
In Stick Merge, you operate as a stickman marksman who manages an evolving arsenal of weapons. The game takes place in a dynamic shooting range where enemies continually emerge from behind obstacles and barriers. Your mission is twofold: strategically merge weapons to increase their destructive power and deploy them effectively against incoming enemies.
The game's world revolves around a simple but compelling loop: merge → earn → upgrade → repeat. Each successful merge unlocks a new weapon tier, bringing you closer to the ultimate arsenal. The progression system is carefully designed to maintain a sense of achievement every few minutes, making the game incredibly satisfying to play in short bursts or extended sessions.
Stick Merge features a linear progression system with 50 distinct weapon levels. Starting with basic pistols, you'll progressively unlock more advanced firearms such as shotguns, machine guns, sniper rifles, and eventually futuristic energy weapons. Each weapon level is created by merging two identical weapons of the previous tier, creating a clear path to progression.
The progression feels rewarding because each merge provides immediate visual feedback—your gun becomes noticeably more powerful, and the impact on gameplay is instantaneous. Players who reach the maximum weapon level (tier 50) report that the game remains enjoyable due to the idle mechanics and cosmetic upgrades available beyond weapon merging.
The merging mechanic is the heart of Stick Merge. Here's how it works:
Drag and Merge: Click and drag your left mouse button to select a weapon. Drop it onto an identical weapon to initiate a merge. Two weapons of the same tier combine into a single, higher-tier weapon. For example, two Pistol Level 3s merge into a Pistol Level 4.
Automatic Progression: Unlike some merge games where you need to manually activate merges, Stick Merge allows you to merge weapons whenever you have two identical items. This creates a flow state where you're constantly progressing and unlocking new content.
Resource Efficiency: Focus on merging weapons regularly to maintain momentum. The faster you merge, the quicker you advance through weapon tiers, and the more coins you earn from defeating stronger enemies.
Once you've deployed a weapon, the shooting happens automatically. However, positioning matters:
Aiming: Drag your mouse cursor to the position where enemies will emerge. Better positioning leads to cleaner kills and faster coin accumulation.
Focus Fire: Prioritize enemies hiding behind obstacles, as those fully exposed are less of a threat. Efficient targeting maximizes your earning potential.
Movement: Your stickman automatically takes optimal positions based on where you move your cursor, so constantly adjust your aim to cover maximum ground.
Stick Merge introduces progressively difficult enemy waves. Early waves feature single enemies, but as you advance, you'll face multiple stickmen simultaneously. The game carefully balances challenge and accessibility—even with basic weapons, you can progress slowly, but upgrading your arsenal dramatically improves your success rate.
Difficulty scaling ensures that the game never feels impossible. If you're struggling, you can take a break, accumulate idle rewards, and return with a stronger arsenal ready to dominate the next wave.
Step 1: Launch the Game
Access Stick Merge on Poki, your web browser, or download it on iOS and Android. The game loads instantly—no lengthy introductions or complex tutorials.
Step 2: Understand Your Starting Loadout
You begin with basic pistols. Your first task is simple: kill enemies to earn coins and accumulate enough weapons to perform your first merge.
Step 3: Execute Your First Merge
Once you have two identical pistols, click and drag one onto the other. Watch as they combine into a stronger weapon. This satisfying merge is your first step toward building a legendary arsenal.
Step 4: Upgrade and Repeat
Continue eliminating enemies to gather coins. Use these coins to purchase new weapons from the shop. Merge identical weapons whenever possible to progress through the weapon tiers.
Step 5: Purchase Cosmetics
Complete missions and collect crystals. Spend these crystals on helmets and cosmetic upgrades for your stickman. While these don't affect gameplay, they add a sense of personalization and achievement.
Step 6: Master Advanced Strategies
As you progress, implement the advanced strategies detailed below to optimize your gameplay and reach the game's maximum weapon tier.
In the early game, focus on three priorities:
Weapon Selection and Movement
Aiming and Shooting
Shop and Menu
Weapon Merging
Aiming and Shooting
Interface Optimization
The mobile interface scales perfectly to all screen sizes. Buttons are large and responsive, making gameplay smooth on phones and tablets.
While most actions use the mouse, some web versions support:
Merge Strategy 1: The Pyramid Approach
Build multiple weapon lines simultaneously rather than focusing on a single gun type. This creates a "pyramid" of weapons where you merge low-tier items steadily upward. This approach maintains momentum and prevents you from getting stuck waiting for matching weapons.
Merge Strategy 2: The Speed Run
If you're aiming for maximum progression speed, prioritize merging high-damage weapons that help you defeat enemies faster. Faster enemy elimination = faster coin accumulation = faster ability to purchase new weapons = faster progression overall.
Merge Strategy 3: Balanced Arsenal
Maintain a mix of high-damage and high-fire-rate weapons. Some enemies are defeated faster with heavy-hitting sniper rifles, while others fall quicker to rapid machine gun fire. Flexibility beats specialization.
Positioning Mastery: Constantly adjust your cursor position to cover the maximum area. Enemies spawn from predictable locations, so position yourself where you'll catch multiple enemies simultaneously.
Power-Up Optimization: Use power-ups strategically during boss waves or when facing multiple heavy enemies. Activating a damage boost at the right moment can turn a losing battle into victory.
Patience vs. Aggression: Don't rush through levels. Taking time to merge and upgrade is better than charging into difficult waves underpowered. The game rewards steady progression over reckless advancement.
Coin Efficiency: Spend coins on weapons that unlock new tiers. Avoid spending heavily on cosmetics until you've reached a comfortable progression point.
Crystal Conservation: Crystals are earned more slowly than coins. Save them for meaningful cosmetic purchases rather than spending them immediately.
Idle Income: Let the game run in the background. Stick Merge generates idle rewards over time, allowing you to accumulate resources even when not actively playing.
Tier Skipping Prevention: Some players try to save weapons and merge them in bulk. This strategy backfires because it delays your progression and reduces your income during that period. Merge continuously.
Weapon Specialization Phases: In mid-game (levels 15-30), you may want to specialize in specific weapon types to unlock unique variants faster. However, in the late game, maintain balance.
Future-Proofing Your Arsenal: Plan for upcoming weapon tiers. If you're one merge away from unlocking a new weapon type, prioritize completing that merge to access fresh gameplay content.
Web Browser (Recommended for Most Players)
Stick Merge runs smoothly on any modern browser, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge. No download required—instant play on Poki, CrazyGames, and the official website.
iOS (Apple)
Android
Windows and Mac (Desktop)
Chromebook and Tablets
Stick Merge runs efficiently on Chromebooks and tablets, making it ideal for larger-screen gaming experiences.
Stick Merge is built using modern game development frameworks optimized for cross-platform compatibility. The game uses lightweight assets to ensure fast loading times and smooth performance even on budget devices.
Engine: HTML5 and JavaScript (web version)
Mobile Framework: Native iOS and Android implementations
Cloud Integration: Optional cloud saves via account synchronization
Minimum Requirements
Recommended Requirements
| Browser | Compatibility | Performance |
|---|---|---|
| Chrome | Excellent | Excellent |
| Firefox | Excellent | Excellent |
| Safari | Excellent | Excellent |
| Edge | Excellent | Very Good |
| Internet Explorer | Not Supported | N/A |
50 Unique Weapons Across Tiers
Each weapon has distinct visual and mechanical properties. Progression through these tiers provides constant visual feedback and gameplay evolution. You'll visually see your arsenal growing more sophisticated as you advance.
Idle Mechanics
Unlike pure action games, Stick Merge generates idle rewards. Leave the game running, and you'll automatically earn coins and crystals over time. This hybrid idle-action approach appeals to both casual players seeking relaxation and hardcore players chasing progression.
Satisfying Merging Animation
When you merge two weapons, the game provides satisfying visual and audio feedback. This small detail—the merge animation—is carefully crafted to reinforce the rewarding nature of progression.
Progressive Difficulty Curve
The game introduces new mechanics and challenges gradually. Early waves are forgiving, but later waves require strategic thinking and optimized loadouts. The difficulty curve maintains engagement without ever feeling impossible.
Cosmetic Customization
Unlock helmets and cosmetics to personalize your stickman character. These cosmetics are purely aesthetic but provide an additional reward stream, keeping the progression loop engaging even after you've reached weapon tier 50.
Shooting Gallery Immersion: The shooting range setting creates a focused, arcade-like experience different from open-world shooters.
Weapon Progression Clarity: The 50-tier weapon system provides clear long-term goals. Players always know exactly what's next.
Balanced Free-to-Play Model: The game is entirely playable without spending money. Optional purchases exist, but never feel mandatory.
As you progress to mid-game, the strategies that worked in early levels require refinement.
Efficient Merging Chains: Identify which weapons yield the fastest progression through tiers. Some weapon lines have shorter paths to tier 50; prioritizing these accelerates overall progress.
Boss Wave Preparation: Mid-game introduces boss waves—stronger enemy variations with higher health pools. Prepare for boss waves by ensuring your current weapons exceed the minimum recommended tier.
Specialization Windows: Consider temporarily specializing in specific weapon types to unlock unique variants quickly, then rebalance your portfolio.
Reaching late-game demands patience and strategic planning.
Sustainability Focus: At this point, progression slows naturally. Focus on sustainable gameplay loops rather than forcing advancement. The game becomes more about optimization than raw progression speed.
Cosmetic Hunting: With weapons mostly unlocked, shift your focus to collecting cosmetics. Create themed loadouts with matching cosmetics.
Challenge Hunting: Look for time-limited challenges and special events that reward rare cosmetics or bonus coins.
Even after reaching weapon tier 50, players report the game remains engaging.
Optimization and Perfection: Fine-tune your loadout for different enemy types. Some players maintain separate weapon sets for speed runs versus survival challenges.
Cosmetic Collection: Hunt for rare and limited-edition cosmetics that showcase your commitment to the game.
Competitive Play: If your version includes leaderboards, compete for top positions in high-score rankings.
Yes, Stick Merge is completely free-to-play. The entire game, including all 50 weapon tiers, can be unlocked without spending money. Optional in-app purchases exist for cosmetics and speed-up items, but they're entirely optional.
Casual players typically reach tier 50 within 20-40 hours of gameplay spread over several weeks. Hardcore players optimizing every decision can reach tier 50 in 10-15 hours. The timeline depends entirely on play frequency and strategy efficiency.
The web version requires internet, but the mobile versions support offline play after initial download. Downloaded levels remain playable without internet connectivity.
Difficulty scales automatically based on your weapon tier progression. There are no selectable difficulty modes—the game adjusts challenges to match your progress.
Yes, if you link your game account to Apple ID, Google Play, or a custom account, your progress synchronizes across devices. This allows seamless play across phone, tablet, and desktop.
If you've linked your account, reinstalling the app restores all progress. If you haven't linked your account, progress is lost. Always link your account immediately after starting.
The soft cap is a weapon tier 50. Once reached, new content becomes limited, though the game remains playable for cosmetics and optimization.
Common causes include insufficient RAM, too many background apps, or outdated graphics drivers. Solutions include closing background apps, clearing browser cache, and updating your GPU drivers.
Some versions support controllers, but keyboard and mouse are recommended for optimal control. Check your specific platform's documentation.
The web version uses minimal data during gameplay (under 1 MB per hour). Mobile versions are similarly efficient, though initial download and occasional updates consume more data.
No, Stick Merge is not pay-to-win. Spending money accelerates progress but doesn't unlock content unavailable to free players. Every weapon tier and cosmetic can be obtained through regular gameplay.
Premium cosmetics, speed-up boosters, and resource packs. None directly impacts gameplay balance.
