Customer Reviews (100)

Katmarie C. • 2025-03-25T03:57:02.757Z

Edited to add a star for adding the option to watch an ad for more coins. Fun at first but I can only play a few hands a day because of the high coin cost per hand and the long 4 hour wait for more coins. Also, I'm stuck on level 391 because there are so many cards that can only be played on their same color. It's a ridiculous requirement. And I recently played a hand with 5 Jacks in the deck but nothing to match them with. Too frustrating, going back to the other fun CC games.

Colleen McAuliffe • 2025-03-25T02:35:34.456Z

game keeps freezing on a new event pop up and won't let me do anything without resetting the game and then it does it again. after a round.

Steve Knaub • 2025-03-25T01:48:08.560Z

really fun game!

Summary of Key Insights

Candy Crush Solitaire is generally well-received, with many users finding it fun and addictive. However, a significant portion of users are frustrated by the high cost of playing levels, the slow coin regeneration rate, and perceived "rigged" levels designed to encourage in-app purchases. The game's strengths lie in its engaging gameplay, connection to the Candy Crush franchise, and appealing graphics. The main weakness is the aggressive monetization strategy, which detracts from the overall user experience. The overall sentiment is mixed, with many positive reviews offset by complaints about the game's economy. The app has a high percentage of 5-star reviews (67%), but a notable number of 1- and 2-star reviews (9% and 12%, respectively) indicate significant dissatisfaction among a subset of users.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 100 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but assumed to be recent based on the version number (1.0.368)
  • Analysis Methods: Sentiment analysis (manual assessment based on review text), keyword extraction (identifying frequently mentioned terms and phrases related to positive and negative experiences), and frequency analysis (counting the number of reviews mentioning specific issues).

Key User Pain Points

  • High Coin Cost per Level: Many users complain that the cost to play each level is too high, especially at later stages. This limits playtime and creates frustration.
  • Slow Coin Regeneration: The 4-hour wait time for free coins is considered excessively long, forcing users to either purchase coins or stop playing for extended periods.
  • "Rigged" Levels/Unfair Hands: Some users believe that the game intentionally provides unplayable or difficult hands to encourage the use of boosters or the purchase of coins. They report instances where no cards are playable or where levels seem impossible without spending money.
  • Freezing/Glitches: A few users reported technical issues such as the game freezing or glitching, particularly during event pop-ups.
  • Lack of Coin Earning Opportunities: Users desire more ways to earn coins besides winning levels, such as watching ads or completing daily tasks.

Frequently Requested Features

  • More Ways to Earn Coins: Users consistently request additional methods for earning coins, such as watching ads, daily rewards, or side games.
  • Friend System/Lives: Some users suggest implementing a system similar to other King games (e.g., Pyramid Solitaire Saga) where players can send and receive lives from friends.
  • Lower Coin Cost per Level: A reduction in the cost to play each level would alleviate frustration and allow for more sustained gameplay.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Fun and Addictive Gameplay: Many users describe the game as fun, engaging, and addictive.
  • Connection to Candy Crush Franchise: Fans of the Candy Crush Saga appreciate the familiar characters and theme.
  • Appealing Graphics and Design: Users praise the game's beautiful graphics, animations, and overall design.
  • Challenging Levels: Some users enjoy the challenging nature of the levels, as long as they don't feel unfairly difficult.
  • Relaxing and Unwinding: Many users see the game as a good way to relax and unwind.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

  • High Priority:

    • Rebalance Coin Economy: Reduce the coin cost per level and/or increase the rate of coin regeneration. This is the most frequently mentioned pain point and directly impacts user engagement.
    • Implement Additional Coin Earning Opportunities: Introduce features like watching ads for coins, daily rewards, or mini-games to provide alternative ways to earn currency.
    • Investigate and Fix Freezing/Glitches: Address the reported technical issues to improve the overall stability and user experience.

  • Medium Priority:

    • Review Level Design for Fairness: Analyze level design to ensure that levels are challenging but not perceived as "rigged" or impossible without spending money. Consider adjusting the frequency of difficult levels.
    • Introduce Friend System/Lives: Explore the feasibility of adding a friend system where players can send and receive lives, as suggested by some users.

  • Low Priority:

    • Clarify Purpose of Postcards: Address the user who didn't understand the point of the postcards by providing better in-game explanation.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Solitaire Game with Fair Monetization: A solitaire game that prioritizes fair monetization and avoids pay-to-win mechanics could attract players frustrated with existing options. This could involve a subscription model or a more balanced in-app purchase system.
  • Community-Driven Level Design: A platform where players can create and share solitaire levels, allowing for a more diverse and engaging experience.

Trends and Observations

  • Polarization of Reviews: The review distribution shows a significant number of 5-star reviews alongside a noticeable number of 1- and 2-star reviews, indicating a polarized user experience.
  • Monetization Concerns Increase with Level Progression: Complaints about the coin economy and "rigged" levels seem to increase as players progress through the game, suggesting that the monetization strategy becomes more aggressive at higher levels.

Conclusion

Candy Crush Solitaire has the potential to be a highly successful game, but its aggressive monetization strategy is currently hindering its long-term appeal. By addressing the key user pain points related to the coin economy and perceived fairness, King can significantly improve the user experience and increase player retention. A more balanced approach to monetization, combined with ongoing bug fixes and feature enhancements, will be crucial for the game's continued success.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.king.apps.candysolitaire