Since the debut of Candy Crush Saga in 2012, an entire subculture of candy-themed games emerged that reshaped the mobile gaming landscape. Candy Crush was a casual gaming touchstone, with its simple, addictive gameplay, bright colors, and deep social media dependence.
The Candy Crush Double Bubble
Candy Crush Saga melds a straightforward match-three puzzle with simple enough mechanics yet plenty difficult to master gameplay. In this game, players need to swap candies to create matches of three or more, which will clear candies from the board and earn them points. With increased difficulty levels and new challenges included, such as chocolate barriers and colour bombs, the game design encourages play for hours each week.
The integration of this game with Facebook increased its popularity because it made it feel more communal and competitive. It lets players send lives and compare themselves to their friends. The social aspect drove word-of-mouth as players invited others, which was a bonus in its overall viral success.
Expanding the Candy Universe
After the massive success of Candy Crush Saga, developer King Studios opened it up to spin-offs like Candy Crush Friends Saga, Candy Crush Jelly Saga, and Candy Crush Soda Saga. The basic premise essentially remained unchanged, with each new instalment adding something new but keeping a core of what made the original so entertaining. Using this tactic, Candy Crush was able to not only retain all the players that it already had, but also continuously battle for new players, making sure that Candy Crush continued to be a household name in mobile gaming.
Naturally, these games are also benefiting from King’s monetization expertise. Gamers can download and play for free, and the in-game purchases allow players to pay for lives, boosters, and various game improvements. This model has paid off, with reports claiming that Candy Crush Saga alone has brought in over 20 billion dollars since its release.
Candy-Themed Games That Made an Impact Around the World
These candy games are not only financially profitable; they have become an icon of modern culture. Not to mention, it has inspired merchandise, themed events, and, indeed, serious game design discourses all over the world. Candy Crush was so frequently in the driver’s seat in mobile gaming that it paved the way for numerous other casual games with an emphasis on accessibility and social aspects.
Besides, candy games have an appealing visual aesthetic, and are therefore enjoyable to a high number of players. The bright colours and playful aesthetics bring back childhood nostalgia and happiness, making them fun for both kids and adults in need of a light-hearted break from reality. Their tendency to be universally relatable has greatly advanced their reach internationally.
In the past few years, fresh releases such as Sweet Bonanza have been introduced to the scene, providing the same type of candy-themed slot experiences but with a unique twist. With playful graphics and compelling gameplay, these games often showcase cool new aspects and visuals that refine what we love about candy games.
Conclusion
Candy-inspired games have gone from niche titles to a global phenomenon. However, this sweet journey is not over yet — with Candy Crush Saga paving the way for newer titles such as Sweet Bonanza.
What is you favourite cady game? Tell us in a comment.
