Has Candy Crush lost its purpose?

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3390181#Comment_3390181

I can honestly tell you @Alienscar that the one and only reason I still play Candy Crush is this community. Yes, I am addicted, but not to the game. I love the feedback I've been getting here, I cannot deny that, and it has made me feel good. It's been great to have made friends as I am a bit of a loner and I don't do any other social media.

I did plan to give it all up after All Stars. But then Tiago won. Tiago won it thanking me and my tips and it made it all the more worthwhile hanging around again and working on understanding how the game works. Yes, I am addicted. But NOT to this stupid, silly, boring game! I play to understand the game, and to update my threads and help others beat the game. That is my reason for playing now.

Why do people play it?

Same reasons people do a lot of other things @christinewupp Loneliness, boredom, curiosity, peer pressure…

Why did you start playing? I was short of something to do in the first lockdown.

I don't think it's good enough or interesting enough or relaxing enough to even become addictive now.

You have been playing too long to be able to understand the game from a beginners point of view I would say. At its heart Candy Crush is a simple match three game. Ignore the veneer of events and features and the game is extremely simple. Alongside Sudoku, crosswords and word searches people love simple games. Candy Crush is clever because it has added the psychological effects that can cause addiction.

This mess it has become cannot cause an addiction any more, surely?

Why are you still playing then? That is a rhetorical question because the answer is simply that you do not want to, or possibly can't bring yourself to stop playing. That sounds like addiction to me

Has Candy Crush lost its purpose?

No, the purpose of Candy Crush is the same as it has always been. To make money for King.

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3390075#Comment_3390075

Some good points, thanks. There are clearly many reasons why players start to play and why others stick with the game and you've summarised those well here.

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3390059#Comment_3390059

Thanks for admitting this. I may be a little naive in thinking that it's all so obvious to everyone now. The illusions are pretty well made and even though we keep telling anyone who comes here that these races aren't real, millions of players never do come here and probably most of those have no idea about the fake nature of it all, so good point.

Techz_3712

Hmm...

(This is my guess or thought, not exactly the fact).

That’s actually a fair question. Even with all the blockers, repetition, and AI-driven boards, people keep playing because the game still gives small moments of satisfaction — clearing a tough level, watching good cascades, or using boosters at the right time. For new players, it’s the fun of discovery: every episode feels fresh at first, and the design is still colorful and rewarding in short bursts.

For older players, many stay because of habit, the social parts (teams, contests, community), or simply the sense of progress — even if it’s repetitive, it’s progress. It’s not really about huge prizes or milestones, but about enjoying the ride, even with its ups and downs.

So while the flaws are there, the attraction comes from the mix of challenge, habit, and small wins that feel good in the moment...

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3390043#Comment_3390043

That's why I started over earlier this year. I've spent no money and managed to accumulate a lot of gold and boosters but to be honest, it makes the game even less challenging b/c you can always use a booster or two to pass a hard level.

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3389614#Comment_3389614

Until I started following this board and seeing your comments, I never realized that the regular contests weren't real players. I kind of felt like a fool when I was rushing to finish an episode race b/c I thought other players were seeing my progress and trying to "take my gold". Lol

TerriM

I think it is the time I've invested in Candy crush. I've been playing since 2014 so a very long time. I'm on level 14,000+ and have no boosters and only 17gold. I love the pins (I call them cards!!) But I will not at anytime play the competitions. Not interested.

I am sick of striving to win a mere 25/30 and sometimes 40 gold bars to keep going to the next level. Somethings gotta give !

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3389811#Comment_3389811

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3389756#Comment_3389756

I guess what I just don't get is why Candy Crush is (still, in its present form) addictive. To be true this is what I was asking at the beginning of this thread. Why do people play it? I don't think it's good enough or interesting enough or relaxing enough to even become addictive now.

Some of the long standing players clearly have formed a habit and are addicted. I see a lot of posts from players who just got to the point where the game turns on them and demands they start spending money. This point apparently is being moved about the game now, and a new place somewhere between levels 6000 and 10,000 has been introduced as well as the last 2000 levels of the game. This is when addicted players start to get messed about, may lose their ads due to a purchase and suddenly find the game has changed. Many seem to continue at this point because they have formed this habit and can't let go, and they hope that the game will change back to how it used to be, to the game they once loved. That is a sad kind of denial. Some folks are stuck in the past like that. I guess I'm one of those, and I do continue giving the game another go to see how much gold I can make (and if I can get to the All Stars finals).

But why would new players become addicted to this messy thing? Why? What's the purpose of it all to anyone new to the game? This game is just so boring and manipulated I can't see how it can become habit forming now. In fact I've seen a lot of my newly added game friends (now renamed "social", have you noticed that?) drop out before they reached level 1000. There is nothing addictive about bashing about with double colour bombs for no good reason. I am sure that players now drop out not because they have reached the "wall", which used to be around level 2000 but has apparently moved up the game since, but because of boredom and a lack of purpose. I have not been seeing many posts of players stuck in any levels before 6000, and my latest own game has got past level 4000 without encountering any sign of the game "turn" on me. It's still giving me all the good events and letting me win lots of gold.

I think players are now dropping out because of boredom and because this game has no purpose. This mess it has become cannot cause an addiction any more, surely?

@zeus77 If you are still around, please could you shed some light on this. You can't have run out of gold, so why did you stop playing?

MountainMom

I love your 12-step program, @Nobody1 !

I asked AI for one:

This program is designed to help players manage their gaming habits and find balance in their lives while enjoying Candy Crush.

Steps of the Program

Step 1: Acknowledgment

Admit that your gaming has become unmanageable and is affecting your daily life.

Step 2: Belief

Come to believe that a higher power, or a supportive community, can help you regain control over your gaming habits.

Step 3: Decision

Make a decision to seek help and commit to changing your gaming behavior.

Step 4: Self-Reflection

Conduct a personal inventory of your gaming habits, identifying triggers and patterns that lead to excessive play.

Step 5: Sharing

Share your experiences and feelings about your gaming with a trusted friend or fellow player.

Step 6: Readiness

Be ready to let go of your unhealthy gaming habits and embrace a more balanced approach.

Step 7: Humility

Humble yourself by recognizing that you cannot do this alone and that support is essential.

Step 8: Amends

Make amends to those affected by your gaming, whether it’s family, friends, or responsibilities that were neglected.

Step 9: Continued Growth

Continue to develop healthy gaming habits and set limits on your playtime.

Step 10: Self-Assessment

Regularly assess your gaming behavior and make adjustments as needed to maintain balance.

Step 11: Spiritual Connection

Seek a deeper connection with your values and priorities outside of gaming, whether through hobbies, relationships, or self-care.

Step 12: Service

Help others who struggle with similar gaming habits by sharing your journey and offering support.

Conclusion

This program encourages players to enjoy Candy Crush responsibly while fostering a supportive community for those seeking balance in their gaming lives.

Candy Crush Anonymous 12 step program. 🤣

The way the game is being manipulated has become so obvious and transparent.

Facts don't matter to a person that is really addicted to the game @christinewupp

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3389600#Comment_3389600

I admit that I enjoy winning, too. That is why I quite like the leaderboard competitions now, the real live ones against real other players. But "winning" in any of the fake events, that isn't winning in my book. It's just being King's puppet. King do prey on human nature by the way the whole game is set up, but I cannot see how so many new players can believe these illusions for very long now. The way the game is being manipulated has become so obvious and transparent.

getting to the end of the map, reaching milestones, gaining impressively high win streaks or champions race win streaks, so why bother with any of that?

These are the reason @christinewupp why new players start and existing players continue to play.

The game preys on people's nature and for some that equals addiction.

It is why so many people complain about the Weekly Contest. People like to win

And to add to my comments, I think the fact that there are so many people posting here not only asking but requesting that this game should pay its users is a sign that this game has no perceived purpose. So players think if we did get an income this would be a purpose. Because playing it is a chore and just not an enjoyment by itself.

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3389386#Comment_3389386

Thank you for that enlightening reply. It helps a lot to know I am not alone in the way I feel. Playing Candy Crush shouldn't be a chore. I think the main problem is that it's now run entirely by a computer programme which tries to equate "easy" with "fun" and just doesn't get what makes us humans tick. "challenging" is fun. There's no challenge in this game for me now. Nothing to strive towards or to achieve. Just "easy" alternating with "impossible" is truly boring.

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/506968/has-candy-crush-lost-its-purpose

I restarted the game just before the tournament this past year b/c I was stuck on some 12000+ level and had no gold or boosters, I'd been playing for 10 years. I'm currently at level 6621. I've seen you post this general topic in the past and always thought you were off base; however, it has now become a chore for me to play the game. I now only play one episode race a day but I'll be honest, it's a chore and I often have to force myself to get through even an episode b/c it's so boring. I couldn't agree more with your comments and don't have an answer. It is what it is.

Carol-38

I'm bashing my head 🤕 to find an answer @christinewupp can't think of one yet 🤨

Comments

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3390181#Comment_3390181

Why do people play it?

Same reasons people do a lot of other things @christinewupp Loneliness, boredom, curiosity, peer pressure…

Why did you start playing? I was short of something to do in the first lockdown.

I don't think it's good enough or interesting enough or relaxing enough to even become addictive now.

This mess it has become cannot cause an addiction any more, surely?

Why are you still playing then? That is a rhetorical question because the answer is simply that you do not want to, or possibly can't bring yourself to stop playing. That sounds like addiction to me

Has Candy Crush lost its purpose?

No, the purpose of Candy Crush is the same as it has always been. To make money for King.

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3390075#Comment_3390075

Some good points, thanks. There are clearly many reasons why players start to play and why others stick with the game and you've summarised those well here.

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3390059#Comment_3390059

Techz_3712

Hmm...

(This is my guess or thought, not exactly the fact).

So while the flaws are there, the attraction comes from the mix of challenge, habit, and small wins that feel good in the moment...

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3390043#Comment_3390043

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3389614#Comment_3389614

TerriM

I am sick of striving to win a mere 25/30 and sometimes 40 gold bars to keep going to the next level. Somethings gotta give !

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3389811#Comment_3389811

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3389756#Comment_3389756

I think players are now dropping out because of boredom and because this game has no purpose. This mess it has become cannot cause an addiction any more, surely?

@zeus77 If you are still around, please could you shed some light on this. You can't have run out of gold, so why did you stop playing?

MountainMom

I love your 12-step program, @Nobody1 !

I asked AI for one:

This program is designed to help players manage their gaming habits and find balance in their lives while enjoying Candy Crush.

Steps of the Program

Step 1: Acknowledgment

Admit that your gaming has become unmanageable and is affecting your daily life.

Step 2: Belief

Come to believe that a higher power, or a supportive community, can help you regain control over your gaming habits.

Step 3: Decision

Make a decision to seek help and commit to changing your gaming behavior.

Step 4: Self-Reflection

Conduct a personal inventory of your gaming habits, identifying triggers and patterns that lead to excessive play.

Step 5: Sharing

Share your experiences and feelings about your gaming with a trusted friend or fellow player.

Step 6: Readiness

Be ready to let go of your unhealthy gaming habits and embrace a more balanced approach.

Step 7: Humility

Humble yourself by recognizing that you cannot do this alone and that support is essential.

Step 8: Amends

Make amends to those affected by your gaming, whether it’s family, friends, or responsibilities that were neglected.

Step 9: Continued Growth

Continue to develop healthy gaming habits and set limits on your playtime.

Step 10: Self-Assessment

Regularly assess your gaming behavior and make adjustments as needed to maintain balance.

Step 11: Spiritual Connection

Seek a deeper connection with your values and priorities outside of gaming, whether through hobbies, relationships, or self-care.

Step 12: Service

Help others who struggle with similar gaming habits by sharing your journey and offering support.

Conclusion

This program encourages players to enjoy Candy Crush responsibly while fostering a supportive community for those seeking balance in their gaming lives.

Candy Crush Anonymous 12 step program. 🤣

The way the game is being manipulated has become so obvious and transparent.

Facts don't matter to a person that is really addicted to the game @christinewupp

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3389600#Comment_3389600

getting to the end of the map, reaching milestones, gaining impressively high win streaks or champions race win streaks, so why bother with any of that?

These are the reason @christinewupp why new players start and existing players continue to play.

The game preys on people's nature and for some that equals addiction.

It is why so many people complain about the Weekly Contest. People like to win

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3389386#Comment_3389386