Developer: King
Price: FREE
Version Reviewed: 1.30.30
Device Reviewed On: iPhone 5

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Had your fix of Candy Crush Saga and you’re still desperate for more? Well, Candy Crush Soda Saga will be perfect for you then, as it's a lot like the previous game. It offers up a few new game modes to try out, but ultimately it's more match-3 gaming done well – albeit with plenty of opportunities for monetization.

As before, you'll be matching candies to gain points and work towards the next stage. There are bottles of fizzy drinks, too. Hence the name, and the new mode: Soda. Soda involves matching up bottles with candies in order to release purple soda up the screen, eventually freeing some candy bears. The same method of playing might apply, but the fact you have a slightly different aim does make a difference.

candy5candy6Candy bears play an increasingly vital role in the new stages. Another level type involves matching candies to clear ice and eventually free more candy bears. Often, the challenge comes in figuring out where the bears are located so you know what part of the level to focus on. There's a certain amount of trial and error here of course, which is where Candy Crush Soda Saga's restorative energy/hearts meter comes into play. Often, you'll run out of moves and have to wait for it to recharge. You'll gradually chip away at things though, and Candy Crush Soda Saga is an easy game to dip into from time to time.

There's a new type called Honey too, but similar rules apply here. You can match 4 candies in a square to create a fish that can clear more areas, plus there's a coloring candy that can wipe out all of one type. It's these little things that ensure that Candy Crush Soda Saga feels sufficiently different to the original to entice you back in. It's somewhat trickier too, so it should last players longer than before.

If you don't like match-3 games, Candy Crush Soda Saga will still be up there on a list of games you despise, but there's a reason why these games are so popular. They work well and they're reasonably well-designed, if occasionally a little heavy-handed in encouraging you to pay up to progress. Candy Crush Soda Saga achieves that all over again and is sure to entice.