The basics

Tap a generator. The oven, the cupboard, the milk churn and the garden make ingredients. Each tap costs energy.
Merge two of a kind. Drag one item onto a matching one to make the next item in its chain: flour becomes pasta dough, dough becomes tagliatelle, and so on up to a whole lasagna tray.
Serve orders. Villagers along the top of the board ask for specific dishes. A tick means you already have what they want; tap Serve.
Do chores. Orders pay coins. Spend them on chores in the Chores book to restore Casa Lucia and unlock the next scene.
Pick a style. Some chores let you choose a look: rustic, classic or Riviera.

Keep your board tidy

Merge early, merge often. A crowded board is the main thing that slows you down.
Use storage. Park items you'll need later instead of selling them.
Know your max tiers. A crown marks an item at the top of its chain.
Save the Lucky Charm. It takes any item one tier up. Use it to finish an order you're one merge away from.
Pop bubbles fast. A lucky bubble floats by only once.

Energy powers your generators, so spending it well is the whole game.

Let it refill. Energy comes back over time while you're away. Short sessions through the day use it fully.
Never tap onto a full board. Clear space first so every tap turns into something useful.
Work toward orders. Make what customers are asking for, not the highest tier you can reach.
Play events from the main board. Event energy is earned by playing on the main board, so you never have to choose between the story and an event.
Spend gems where it counts. The shop sells energy for gems, including a basket of energy vials. Gems are precious, so keep them for when you're one push from finishing a chore.

Tip: there are no secret “free energy links” for Scandal Hill. Anything that asks for your login to give you free energy or gems is a scam.

Festival Fund Race: race Donna and Sofia to raise the most coins for the festival.
Festival pass: fill the pass by playing and collect rewards along the way.
Recipe days: limited-time events from Carnevale and Ferragosto to La Vigilia, each with its own dishes.
Decoration events: decorate a festival room in your own style.
Card album: collect cards of village keepsakes and complete sets for prizes.

Can't find what you need? Check the FAQ, or in the game open Settings and tap Contact support.