Level 9292 is impossible - (Edited by CM: working on a fix)

I think the issue is the AI adjusting the number of moves based on formal criteria without taking into account the layout and dispenser drops programming. That level is at least possible to pass with the lucky candy booster, but the dragon levels are just becoming impossible.

HM100

Yet you can't create a Jelly Fish on 14997 due to its board layout. Frog and Colorbomb are the key points of 14997 to clear out the swirls and regular candies do not spawn in the place where the swirls exist.

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3444309#Comment_3444309

Some other levels have recently been made impossible due to the latest round of moves reduction (a 'gift' to celebrate the new fish). I'm wondering just how many of these levels are in the game now. A dozen? More? I'm just waiting for them to reduce the moves on level 114 to 14.

HM100

This level is designed to be finished with at least 27 good moves in its current state as 1 Sprink spawn per move and 35 are required. So in that level I had to spend 10 more bars for 5 extra moves in order to finish it. Otherwise, on mobile if you have ads, then moves from ads might help you pass this level (At least if you get 5 moves from them). Reducing the amount of sprinks required to be released is one of the best things it could be done to make this passable without extra moves. I also have another selective redesign of 14997 with 16 moves instead of 19, however.

michimune

The suggestion that boosters from the inventory might solve the problem makes me think that those who answered the query are not aware that boosters do not affect the drop rate (a fact more obvious in level 114). The fact that boosters do not affect the drop rate also underlies a commonly used exploit in All Stars.

Because the manager has used the modal answer to the question. The boosters CAN affect the drop rate in most games created by King, eg. Candy Crush Soda, but not this Candy Crush😔

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3444309#Comment_3444309

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3444349#Comment_3444349

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3444026#Comment_3444026

Hi again everyone. I wanted to come back with an update now that I have had the chance to dig further into level 9292 with the team.

I originally shared what I understood at the time, which was that nothing had been flagged on our side. After reading your follow-up details and the breakdown of the dragon math, I went back to our designers for a deeper check. It turns out your calculations were helpful in pointing us in the right direction. The team has now identified that something in this level is not behaving as it should, and they are already looking into it.

So thank you for insisting on the specifics 🙏 I appreciate you taking the time to lay out the numbers so clearly.

Once the fix is confirmed and released, I will update this thread. In the meantime thanks again for raising it in such a detailed way.

There can only be two reasons why QueenB got this answer: Either it is now accepted that mathematically impossible levels are in the game or there is no person left at King's who understands how the game works. The latter is a possibility as so many staff were laid off and the AI is in charge of writing levels. The suggestion that boosters from the inventory might solve the problem makes me think that those who answered the query are not aware that boosters do not affect the drop rate (a fact more obvious in level 114). The fact that boosters do not affect the drop rate also underlies a commonly used exploit in All Stars. If no one at King's understands this mechanism it makes me wonder how they can think of making such events fair in the future.

Yes, I think we got the confirmation, even though it might have been unintended. Thank you.

Just to clarify: In this level there is no way that boosters will allow any player to pass. This is what we mean by "mathematically impossible" levels @QueenB : a level which cannot be passed within the moves given, regardless of strategy used and regardless of boosters used. It is wrong to suggest that using boosters from the inventory would help to pass such a level: They would be completely wasted as no matter how many boosters you play they will do nothing to help a player pass such a level.

However, the information you received does in fact answer the question: If this level is not malfunctioning then this must mean that there are indeed some levels in Candy Crush that cannot be passed without paying for extra moves.

you start with 23 moves, you need 35 dragons or whatever they are called to win. They drop at 1 per move, and there are 8 on the screen to start. this means the only way to win the level is to have at least 27 moves. If you do not have any saved gold bars to buy additional moves, then it is impossible to win the level without buying gold. Even when you get lucky and have a friend give you 3 moves you are still 1 short. you can keep the level difficult by making users start with 24 moves instead of 23, or add another dragon somewhere to start. then users would still need to buy moves or wait until they are gifted 3 to have any chance to pass, but it's at least still possible to win without paying.

this level is mathematically impossible without buying moves. if you play it perfectly and get 3 moves gifted by a friend, then you still need one more perfect move to win.

I know. In fact, I know more of these.

Just to clarify from our end: the team hasn’t flagged anything “impossible” or malfunctioning about this level.

Thank you for your answer @QueenB . I have one more request if I may.

The level asks for 35 dragons/sprinks. Eight are on the starting board. 27 more are supposed to drop from the dispensers. They drop at a rate of one per move. So how many moves would it take for 27 to drop? Can anyone from the team PLEASE tell me how it is possible in less than 27 moves?

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3443731#Comment_3443731

Hi an thank you for laying out your perspective so clearly.
I always appreciate how deeply you look into these things and how much thought you bring to the high-level gameplay side of Saga.

Just to clarify from our end: the team hasn’t flagged anything “impossible” or malfunctioning about this level. It is designed to be a challenging one, and different players will tackle it differently, some through strategy alone, some with a bit of inventory support, some with helpers like ads or gifted moves.

I totally understand why this particular setup caught your attention, though, and I’ll share your comments with the team. I can’t speak to the mathematics behind every board layout, but I can say that nothing here suggests an intentional shift toward “unbeatable” design.

Difficulty spikes happen in late-game content, but they’re not meant to shut players out.

Thanks for raising the conversation, your insight is always valued, even when the answers aren’t black-and-white.

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/578545/level-9292-is-impossible

Hei albanyfunny 😃
I know levels like this can feel extra challenging, especially when you’re right on the edge of beating it. I’ve checked with the team on our side, and nothing seems broken or behaving incorrectly, it’s just one of those tougher levels.

That said, this is exactly where your saved-up inventory can make a difference. Boosters, extra moves, UFOs, etc. are meant to help smooth out the spikes at this stage of the map and you’ve definitely earned the right to use them when something gets too tight.

Of course you can also wait for other helpers (ads, moves from friends, etc.) if that’s more your style, but both paths are valid. Either way, I really appreciate you taking the time to share how this level felt for you.

I’ll pass the feedback along, even if I can’t promise changes.

This is one that is mathematically impossible, so yes it's now a thing. even with the 3 bonus moves from a friend, you are still one move short. play perfectly with 4 extra moves and you could do it, but with the given moves plus 3 extra it is impossible.

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3444309#Comment_3444309

This level has been mathematically impossible to pass within the given number of moves for months, but it used to be possible to get past it with the help of three bonus moves from a friend. Recently I advised a player to wait for such a chance. Now the moves have been reduced further to ensure that no one can pass this level without paying. It's a remarkable coincidence, I might add.

I have a question @QueenB

Are mathematically impossible levels now considered normal by King? I want to emphasize that I'm not referring to levels that have a comically small chance of passing, but rather levels where the impossibility can be mathematically proven. Is the existence of such levels official now?

Comments

The suggestion that boosters from the inventory might solve the problem makes me think that those who answered the query are not aware that boosters do not affect the drop rate (a fact more obvious in level 114). The fact that boosters do not affect the drop rate also underlies a commonly used exploit in All Stars.

Because the manager has used the modal answer to the question. The boosters CAN affect the drop rate in most games created by King, eg. Candy Crush Soda, but not this Candy Crush😔

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3444309#Comment_3444309

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3444349#Comment_3444349

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3444026#Comment_3444026

Hi again everyone. I wanted to come back with an update now that I have had the chance to dig further into level 9292 with the team.

So thank you for insisting on the specifics 🙏 I appreciate you taking the time to lay out the numbers so clearly.

Once the fix is confirmed and released, I will update this thread. In the meantime thanks again for raising it in such a detailed way.

Yes, I think we got the confirmation, even though it might have been unintended. Thank you.

this level is mathematically impossible without buying moves. if you play it perfectly and get 3 moves gifted by a friend, then you still need one more perfect move to win.

I know. In fact, I know more of these.

Just to clarify from our end: the team hasn’t flagged anything “impossible” or malfunctioning about this level.

Thank you for your answer @QueenB . I have one more request if I may.

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/comment/3443731#Comment_3443731

Hi an thank you for laying out your perspective so clearly.
I always appreciate how deeply you look into these things and how much thought you bring to the high-level gameplay side of Saga.

Difficulty spikes happen in late-game content, but they’re not meant to shut players out.

Thanks for raising the conversation, your insight is always valued, even when the answers aren’t black-and-white.

https://community.king.com/en/candy-crush-saga/discussion/578545/level-9292-is-impossible

I’ll pass the feedback along, even if I can’t promise changes.