King's Candy Crush Solitaire, a unique blend of their popular match-three franchise and TriPeaks Solitaire, has surpassed one million downloads, setting a new record as the fastest Tripeaks Solitaire game to reach this milestone in over a decade. While not overwhelmingly impressive in absolute terms, the achievement is noteworthy considering the competitive mobile gaming landscape.
Solitaire and its variations have long been popular, yet mobile gaming has seen a surge of simpler, visually appealing alternatives. Even King, a dominant force in casual puzzle games, has faced challenges maintaining market leadership. Their success with Candy Crush Solitaire suggests that combining familiar elements from their established series with a classic game like TriPeaks Solitaire was a shrewd strategy.
Expanding Reach
The game's success is also likely linked to its availability on alternative app stores through King and Microsoft's partnership with Flexion. This strategic move, highlighted by a subsequent partnership between Flexion and EA, suggests a growing trend among publishers to leverage alternative distribution channels.
The implications for players are uncertain. However, this success could lead to more Candy Crush spin-offs and underscores the potential of alternative app stores for increasing game downloads. To learn more about the development of Candy Crush Solitaire, read our interview with executive producer Marta Cortinas.
