Since launching in 2012, Candy Crush has become one of the most successful mobile games ever made. It has generated billions in revenue, been downloaded more than a billion times, and continues to attract millions of active players worldwide.
More than a decade later, it’s still topping charts, proving that a simple match-three formula combined with constant updates can create an enduring hit.
In this article, we’ll explore Candy Crush’s release history, ownership, revenue milestones, downloads, player numbers, and what keeps it popular today.
Candy Crush Overview
When Did Candy Crush Come Out?
Candy Crush Saga first appeared on April 12, 2012 as a Facebook game. Later that year, it expanded to mobile with iOS in November and Android in December. That move to mobile was a game-changer, helping it reach millions of new players almost overnight.
Who Owns Candy Crush?
The game was created by King Digital Entertainment, a developer based in Sweden. In 2016, King was bought by Activision Blizzard for about $5.9 billion. Since then, King has continued running Candy Crush under the Activision Blizzard umbrella.
Why Is Candy Crush So Popular?
Candy Crush hit the sweet spot of mobile gaming. It’s free to download, easy to understand, and comes with endless levels to keep you coming back. The simple “match three” format feels satisfying, while boosters and extra lives give you reasons to keep playing.
What really keeps the game alive is how often it’s updated. King adds new levels every week, so there’s always something fresh to play.
Add in its early success on Facebook, social features like leaderboards, and smart use of player data, and it’s no wonder Candy Crush still has hundreds of millions of monthly players more than a decade after launch.
How Many Levels Are There in Candy Crush?
As of 2025, Candy Crush Saga has more than 17,000 levels across mobile and Facebook. Each update brings more, so the exact number keeps climbing.
Is There an End to Candy Crush?
The short answer is no. Candy Crush isn’t designed to be beaten once and for all. King keeps releasing new episodes week after week, which means the game is essentially endless. Even if you somehow catch up with the latest level, you’ll only be waiting for the next update to drop.
How Much Money Has Candy Crush Made?
Candy Crush All-Time Revenue
Since its release in 2012, Candy Crush Saga has generated $7.8 billion from in-app purchases (IAP). This makes it one of the most profitable mobile games of all time. To put it simply, Candy Crush has earned more than some of the biggest console game franchises ever.
Candy Crush Revenue by Year
Here’s how Candy Crush has performed in recent years:
- 2020 – $665 million
- 2021 – $838 million
- 2022 – $885 million
- 2023 – $968 million
- 2024 – $1 billion
- 2025 (so far) – $778 million
What stands out here is the steady growth year after year. Even after more than a decade, Candy Crush still manages to increase its revenue, hitting the $1 billion milestone in 2024. The 2025 figure (already $778 million) suggests it’s on track for another billion-dollar year.
How Much Revenue Does Candy Crush Bring in Daily?
At the moment, Candy Crush earns $2–3 million every single day. That’s the kind of consistency most mobile games can only dream of, and it shows how strong its monetization model still is.
How Does Candy Crush Make Money?
The bulk of Candy Crush’s revenue comes from in-app purchases, like extra lives, boosters, and special moves. However, advertising also plays a role, especially from non-paying users.
By combining both, King has managed to monetize a wide player base while keeping the game free to play.
Candy Crush Downloads
Candy Crush Saga has been downloaded more than 1.4 billion times worldwide. That puts it among the most downloaded mobile games ever, standing next to global hits like Subway Surfers and PUBG Mobile.
Even after more than a decade, the game is still adding around 9 million new downloads every month. This shows that Candy Crush isn’t just living off old players — it continues to attract new ones at a massive scale.
How Many People Play Candy Crush?
Candy Crush Saga still has a very active player base more than a decade after launch. At the moment, the game has around 117,000 monthly active users (MAU) and about 23,000 daily active users (DAU).
What this shows is that a big portion of the community plays on a daily basis, not just once in a while. The ratio of daily to monthly users is quite strong, highlighting that Candy Crush continues to keep people engaged and coming back for more.
Is Candy Crush Still Popular?
Yes — Candy Crush Saga is still hugely popular. The numbers speak for themselves: $1 billion in revenue in 2024, 1.4 billion downloads, and millions of new installs every month. On top of that, the game keeps a steady base of active players, with thousands logging in daily.
What makes it stand out is its staying power. Most mobile games peak and fade within a few years, but Candy Crush continues to grow more than a decade after release. Regular updates, an endless number of levels, and a mix of free and paying players keep the game at the top of the charts.
In short, Candy Crush isn’t just a classic — it’s still one of the strongest forces in mobile gaming today.
Data Source
- AppMagic, 2025. Candy Crush Usage Data
- Wikipedia, 2025. Candy Crush Overview
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