Some call it the butterfly effect. This effect demonstrates that action may affect another thing, which itself will affect something else, and so on. It is also called chained reactions.
Chain games will have you to do one action, in order to connect everything and complete a level. Use for example a bomb that will explode and make nearby creature explode themself and so on. You will have to complete each level with a set of chained reactions.
Chains games do not necessarily require a single action. You can act in different places in order to get the desired result. Feed the creatures, complete boxes and much more!