A multi-characteristic matching game including a gaming device displaying a plurality of selections including at least two characteristics where one of the selections functions as a base. The gaming device determines and indicates the optimal selection based on the characteristics of the selections. The gaming device enables a player to pick the selections and causes each picked selection to function as the base when the picked selection includes at least one matching characteristic with the selection functioning as the base. The gaming device continues to determine and indicate the optimal selections in the unpicked selections until there are no unpicked selections including at least one matching characteristic with the characteristics of the selection functioning as the base or until there are no selections remaining in the game. The gaming device provides an award to the player based on the number of matching selections picked by the player in the game.