Candy Crush Saga is a popular match-3 game with an almost endless array of levels that are designed to provide a relaxing and somewhat luck-based gameplay experience.

The goal in Candy Crush Saga is to match 3 or more candies so they explode and destroy all the ice blocks and other obstacles, allowing us to complete each level’s objective.

The gameplay is extremely simple and largely random, but it still somehow feels like we’re in control, which I liked. This randomness is what makes the game playable by anyone regardless of skill level, but it might also create a frustrating experience for those expecting to be able to win purely by being good at the game.

As we play, we receive a bunch of consumable power-ups that make completing the levels easier. The early levels can be completed by just playing them enough times no matter your skill level, but later levels feel almost impossible without using these power-ups.

The game was initially released on Facebook and is now one of the most downloaded games of all time – in large part thanks to its addictive gameplay, colorful art style, and flashy animations that give it a broad appeal.

Candy Crush Saga monetizes via iAPs for power-ups and extra lives. The iAPs are in-your-face and constant, but we can still buy lives and power-ups through in-game gold, and some players have the option of watching ads for more. The 30-minute wait for each new life is irritating and drastically limits how long we can play.

An option to buy endless lives would make this a top-tier game, as the core gameplay itself is well-made. You’ll be fine for the first 100 levels, but once you get into the 200-300 range, the free-to-play experience becomes frustrating, and I’d suggest just stopping at that point. This also makes it a very difficult game to properly score.