Candy Crush Saga may have reached peak popularity, with quarterly spending declining over the past eighteen months, but that hasn’t stopped the sweet-swapping puzzle game from raking in the cash. Candy Crush Saga players still spent over $1.3 billion on the game in 2014 alone, according to The Guardian, with dollars being used towards in-app purchases such as extra lives, extra moves, color bombs, lollipop hammers and gold bars.
Candy Crush Saga continues to be the third-highest grossing app in the United States, closely trailed by Candy Crush Soda Saga at sixth overall. The game has gained a cult-like following since launching on the App Store in June 2013, following in the footsteps of other smash-hit games such as Infinity Blade and Angry Birds. The game was most lucrative when it pulled in $551 million during the third quarter of 2013.
The latest financial numbers from King, the developer of the game, reveal that Candy Crush Saga represented 45% of spending on the company’s games during the final quarter of 2014, the first quarter in a long time that the iconic title did not make up the majority of its revenue. King has been working to diversify its gaming portfolio so that it relies less on Candy Crush Saga to remain profitable. The company had 356 million monthly unique users playing its games last quarter.
Earlier this week, Apple introduced a new category on the App Store to promote games without in-app purchases. The “Pay Once & Play” section offers a range of titles that are organized into the following categories: Recent Releases, Blockbuster Games, and App Store Originals. Some of the featured titles include Thomas Was Alone, Minecraft – Pocket Edition, Hero Emblems, Threes, Blek, and Goblin Sword.
Candy Crush Saga is a popular match-three puzzle game developed by King. In the game, players match colorful candies to create combinations and clear levels. Each level has specific objectives, such as reaching a certain score, collecting ingredients, or clearing jelly.
The gameplay features various power-ups and boosters that can be used strategically to help complete levels. As players progress, they encounter new challenges, including different board layouts and obstacles.
Candy Crush Saga is known for its vibrant graphics, engaging sound effects, and frequent updates that introduce new levels and events. It’s available on multiple platforms, including mobile devices and Facebook, making it easily accessible to a wide audience. The game’s addictive nature and social elements, like competing with friends, contribute to its lasting popularity.
To play Candy Crush Saga, follow these basic steps:
1. Understanding the Basics
- Objective: Match at least three candies of the same color to clear them from the board.
- Levels: Each level has specific goals, such as reaching a target score, collecting ingredients, or clearing jelly.
2. Making Matches
- Swipe: Drag your finger or use your mouse to swap adjacent candies.
- Combos: Create special candies by matching four or more:
- Striped Candy: Match four candies in a line.
- Wrapped Candy: Match five candies in an “L” or “T” shape.
- Color Bomb: Match five candies of the same color.
3. Using Boosters
- Boosters: These are special items that help you complete levels. They can be earned or purchased. Examples include:
- Extra Moves: Adds more turns.
- Color Bombs: Clears all candies of a chosen color.
4. Understanding Obstacles
- Each level may feature obstacles like chocolate, licorice, or jelly that can block your matches. You need to plan your moves to deal with these.
5. Strategies
- Plan Ahead: Look for potential matches before making a move.
- Focus on Goals: Prioritize completing the level objectives rather than just clearing candies.
6. Social Features
- Connect with friends via Facebook to see their progress, compete for high scores, and send/receive lives.
7. Staying Engaged
- Participate in events and challenges to earn rewards and keep the game fresh.
By mastering these elements, you can enhance your Candy Crush experience and progress through the levels! Happy crushing!
Candy Crush Saga boasts a variety of features that enhance gameplay and keep it engaging. Here are some key features:
- Match-Three Mechanics: The core gameplay involves matching three or more candies of the same color to clear them from the board.
- Special Candies:
- Striped Candy: Created by matching four candies in a row or column; clears an entire row or column.
- Wrapped Candy: Made by matching five candies in an “L” or “T” shape; explodes twice to clear surrounding candies.
- Color Bomb: Formed by matching five candies of the same color; clears all candies of that color from the board.
- Boosters:
- Extra Moves: Grants additional turns to complete a level.
- Lollipop Hammer: Used to smash a single candy or obstacle.
- Color Bomb: Clears all candies of a chosen color.
- Candy Swap: Allows a free swap of two candies.
- Obstacles:
- Chocolate: Grows if not cleared, blocking candy matches.
- Licorice: Prevents adjacent matches until cleared.
- Jelly: Requires clearing the jelly layer to complete the level.
- Level Variations: Thousands of levels with different objectives, including timed levels, ingredient collections, and jelly-clearing challenges.
- Daily Rewards: Players can earn rewards by logging in daily, including boosters and extra lives.
- Events and Challenges: Regular events and limited-time challenges provide additional rewards and unique gameplay experiences.
- Social Features: Connect with friends through Facebook to compare scores, send lives, and participate in friendly competitions.
- Graphical and Audio Enhancements: Bright, colorful graphics and cheerful sound effects create an engaging atmosphere.
- Frequent Updates: Regular updates introduce new levels, challenges, and seasonal events to keep the game fresh.
Candy Crush Saga offers a variety of features that enhance gameplay and keep players engaged:
1. Match-Three Gameplay
- Simple mechanics of matching three or more candies of the same color, making it accessible for all ages.
2. Levels and Worlds
- Thousands of levels spread across different worlds, each with unique themes, challenges, and objectives.
3. Special Candies and Combos
- Create special candies (like striped and wrapped candies) by matching specific patterns, adding depth to strategy.
4. Boosters
- Use boosters to gain advantages, such as extra moves, color bombs, and other powerful items to help complete levels.
5. Obstacles
- Encounter various obstacles, such as chocolate, licorice, and jelly, which add complexity and require strategic planning.
6. Daily Rewards and Events
- Participate in daily challenges and events to earn rewards, including boosters and extra lives.
7. Social Features
- Connect with friends via Facebook to compare scores, send and receive lives, and participate in competitions.
8. Level Types
- Diverse level objectives, such as collecting ingredients, clearing jelly, and reaching score targets, keep gameplay varied.
9. Seasonal Updates
- Regular updates introduce new levels, themes, and limited-time events that keep the game fresh and engaging.
10. Leaderboard and Achievements
- Track your progress against friends and players worldwide with leaderboards and earn achievements for milestones reached.
These features combine to create an engaging and addictive experience, making Candy Crush Saga a favorite among puzzle game enthusiasts.