Candy Crush Solitaire hits one million downloads, breaks some minor records

King's Candy Crush Solitaire, a novel blend of their popular match-three franchise and TriPeaks Solitaire, has surpassed one million downloads. This achievement marks a significant milestone, representing the fastest-growing Tripeaks Solitaire game to reach this download count in over a decade.

While one million downloads might not seem exceptionally impressive in the broader mobile gaming landscape, a closer examination reveals intriguing aspects. Solitaire and its variations have always held a prominent position in gaming history, yet on mobile devices, they've often been outshone by more visually striking and simpler alternatives. Even King, a dominant force in casual puzzle games, has faced challenges in maintaining market dominance. Their success with Candy Crush Solitaire suggests that combining familiar elements from their established franchises with a well-known classic puzzle genre was a strategic masterstroke.

Expanding Reach

The game's success is further amplified by its strategic distribution. Candy Crush Solitaire was among the first King and Microsoft mobile titles to launch on alternative app stores, leveraging their partnership with Flexion. This move has clearly attracted attention, as evidenced by the subsequent partnership announcement between Flexion and EA.

The implications of this success are multifaceted. We can anticipate more Candy Crush spin-offs in the future, and the game's performance underscores the potential of alternative app stores to significantly boost download numbers for publishers. However, whether this translates into tangible benefits for the average player remains uncertain.

Interested in learning more about the development of Candy Crush Solitaire? Read our interview with Marta Cortinas, one of the executive producers, for insights into King's latest release.