King’s Candy Crush Solitaire, a clever blend of their popular match-three gameplay and TriPeaks Solitaire, has already surpassed one million downloads. This makes it the fastest tripeaks solitaire puzzle game in over a decade to reach this milestone.
While a million downloads might not seem groundbreaking in the broader mobile gaming landscape, it's a significant achievement considering the genre's current standing. Solitaire and its variations have always been popular, but on mobile, they've been largely eclipsed by flashier, simpler alternatives. Even King, a giant in the casual puzzle market, has faced challenges maintaining its dominance. Their success with Candy Crush Solitaire suggests that combining familiar elements from their existing franchise with a well-established classic like TriPeaks Solitaire was a winning strategy.
Expanding Reach
Candy Crush Solitaire's success is further amplified by its availability on alternative app stores, a result of King’s partnership with Flexion. This strategic move, along with a similar partnership announced between Flexion and EA, suggests a growing trend among publishers to leverage alternative distribution channels.
What does this mean for players? Potentially, we can expect more Candy Crush spin-offs. It also underscores the value of alternative app stores as a method for publishers to boost download numbers. However, whether this translates to tangible benefits for the average player remains to be seen.
Interested in learning more about the development of Candy Crush Solitaire? Read our interview with executive producer Marta Cortinas for insights into King’s latest release.
