Candy Crush is one of the most famous mobile games ever made. Millions of people have swapped candies, chased combos, and gotten hooked on its “just one more level” loop. But if you’ve been playing it for years, you might be ready for something new.
The good news?
There are plenty of games like Candy Crush that capture the same match-three magic but add their own twist.
Some bring in storylines and characters, others mix in strategy or base-building, and a few completely reinvent the formula. Whether you’re into cozy vibes, competitive challenges, or just pure puzzle fun, this list has something fresh to try.
Bejeweled
If you’ve ever played a match-three puzzle game, you’ve basically touched the DNA of Bejeweled.
This is the game that started it all.
Before Candy Crush, before Royal Match, there was Bejeweled, dazzling everyone with colorful gems that pop and sparkle when you line them up.
The beauty of Bejeweled is its simplicity.
You just swap gems to make matches, but there’s something hypnotic about chasing combos and watching cascades light up the screen. It doesn’t overcomplicate things with side quests or storylines – it’s pure puzzle gameplay at its best.
What makes Bejeweled still fun today is its timeless appeal. You can play for five minutes while waiting for a bus or lose an hour chasing a high score. It feels polished, responsive, and just satisfying in a way many newer games try to copy but rarely capture.
Homescapes
At first glance, Homescapes looks like another match-three puzzler, but it brings a lot more to the table. Instead of just clearing levels, you’re also helping Austin the butler renovate his childhood home.
Every puzzle you beat earns stars, which you spend on fixing up rooms, picking out furniture, and uncovering little storylines along the way.
That extra layer makes the game stickier than you’d expect. You’re not just playing for points – you’re playing to see the next part of the mansion transform. And let’s be real, it’s pretty satisfying when a dusty, broken-down room suddenly becomes a bright, stylish space you chose yourself.
The puzzles themselves hit a nice balance. They’re not too easy, but they don’t feel punishing either. And with new events and updates rolling in constantly, there’s always a reason to jump back in and keep Austin’s world moving forward.
Gardenscapes
Gardenscapes takes the same formula as Homescapes but shifts it outdoors. Instead of repairing a house, you’re restoring a massive, run-down garden to its former beauty. Each puzzle you clear earns stars, which let you plant trees, build fountains, and bring life back to the estate.
What makes it fun is the mix of puzzles and creativity.
The match-three levels are familiar, but the real joy is in seeing your garden come alive piece by piece. Watching a plain patch of grass transform into a blooming park with statues, benches, and fountains gives you a sense of progress that keeps you hooked.
There’s also a light storyline running in the background, with quirky characters popping in to add a bit of charm. It’s not just about matching tiles – it feels like you’re part of an ongoing project, and that’s what makes it stand out from the crowd.
Royal Match
Royal Match feels instantly familiar if you’ve played Candy Crush, but it’s got its own charm.
The game puts you in charge of helping King Robert rebuild his royal castle, and every level you clear goes toward unlocking new rooms and decorations.
The puzzles themselves are colorful, quick, and surprisingly addictive. They ramp up in challenge just enough to keep you on your toes, without making you feel stuck for too long.
And the best part?
No energy system holding you back – you can keep playing as much as you want, which is a big win compared to other match-three games.
The mix of castle-building and puzzles makes it easy to lose track of time. You’re not just playing for points – you’re watching an entire kingdom slowly come to life.
Merge Mansion
Merge Mansion isn’t your standard match-three game – it swaps that out for merging mechanics. Instead of sliding tiles, you’re combining items to make bigger and better ones. A simple flowerpot might turn into a blooming plant, and eventually into a whole decorative piece for the mansion.
The real hook, though, is the story.
You’re helping Maddie restore her grandmother’s house, but the grandma herself is… suspicious. She hints at secrets, drops cryptic comments, and leaves you wondering what she’s hiding. That sense of mystery makes the puzzle-solving feel like part of a bigger narrative.
What keeps you playing is the steady sense of progress. Every merge pushes you a little closer to unlocking the next area of the mansion, and the mix of puzzle-solving with exploration gives the game a depth that most others in this genre don’t have.
Jelly Splash
Jelly Splash is all about connecting colorful blobs, and it nails that simple, satisfying loop. You don’t swap tiles here – you draw a line through as many matching jellies as possible, and the longer the chain, the bigger the payoff.
It’s bright, quick, and doesn’t overload you with side systems. You jump in, make some big combos, and before you know it, you’ve cleared half a dozen levels.
What makes it stick is how fast everything moves. The animations are smooth, the jellies have this bouncy personality, and there’s a nice rhythm to the gameplay. It’s perfect if you want something light and low-pressure that still keeps you hooked.
Marvel Puzzle Quest
Marvel Puzzle Quest blends match-three puzzles with RPG-style combat. Every match you make powers up your superheroes, letting them unleash special abilities. Line up enough tiles, and suddenly Iron Man is firing repulsor blasts or Wolverine is slashing through enemies.
The fun here comes from collecting and upgrading your roster.
There are tons of characters to unlock, each with unique skills that change how you approach the puzzles. It’s satisfying to build a team that works well together, especially when you finally take down a tough opponent.
Unlike most puzzle games, this one has a competitive edge.
You’re not just matching tiles for points – you’re strategizing, managing abilities, and battling villains. That extra layer of depth makes it stand out if you’re craving more than just casual play.
Zookeeper Battle
Zookeeper Battle puts a quirky spin on the match-three formula. Instead of candies or gems, you’re lining up cartoon animals – lions, pandas, elephants, and more.
What makes it different is the head-to-head mode.
Every match you make powers up your character to attack or defend against your opponent. It turns a simple puzzle into a real duel, where every move feels like it matters.
The matches are quick, usually just a couple of minutes, which makes it super addictive. And with its silly art style and fast pace, it’s hard not to grin while playing. There’s a lot of fun in trying to outsmart someone in a puzzle that feels more like a battle than a casual game.
Grindstone
Grindstone is a puzzle game with bite.
Instead of sweet candies or gems, you’re slashing through monsters by chaining them together in long, colorful combos. The bigger the chain, the more loot you earn – and the more satisfying it feels.
The presentation is striking.
Bright, cartoonish visuals clash with surprisingly gory animations, giving the game a wild personality. It’s not just about clearing a board – it’s about carving your way through waves of enemies and grabbing treasures along the way.
What keeps it fresh is the progression system. As you play, you unlock gear and upgrades that change how you approach each puzzle. It adds just enough strategy to make you think without losing that instant “one more level” appeal.
Two Dots
Two Dots looks simple, but don’t let that fool you. The rules are straightforward: connect dots of the same color.
But the game keeps throwing clever twists at you – like sinking anchors, clearing fire, or connecting in squares to wipe out huge sections.
It has a super clean design that’s easy on the eyes, and the soundtrack is surprisingly chill. Playing it feels almost meditative at times, especially in the early levels.
As you move forward, though, it ramps up the challenge. Some levels can be tough, but beating them feels rewarding. And with hundreds of levels to get through, it’s the kind of game you can keep on your phone for years without running out of content.
Bubble Witch 3 Saga
Bubble Witch 3 Saga swaps the grid for a bubble-shooting board. You’re aiming and firing bubbles to make matches, clearing clusters before they pile up too high.
It’s a classic arcade setup, but wrapped in a polished, modern mobile package.
There’s a light storyline following Stella the witch, who’s trying to restore balance to her world. It’s not super deep, but it gives some personality to the levels and makes the game feel more than just bubble-popping.
The real hook is the physics. Shots bounce off walls, chain reactions collapse huge sections, and sometimes one perfect shot can turn a level around.
That mix of skill and luck makes for those addictive “just one more try” moments.
Angry Birds Blast
Angry Birds Blast takes the familiar bird-vs-pig rivalry and turns it into a puzzle game. Instead of flinging birds with a slingshot, you’re tapping groups of balloons to free the birds trapped inside.
Clear enough balloons, and the pigs lose yet again.
It’s fast, colorful, and keeps the wacky humor the series is known for. The animations make every pop feel energetic, and the little victory dances when you clear a level never get old.
What makes it fun is the mix of power-ups. Big balloon clusters unleash rockets, bombs, and other flashy effects, giving each level that chaotic payoff. It’s a lighter take on the series, but it still delivers the same goofy charm that made Angry Birds huge.
Candy Blast Mania
Candy Blast Mania feels like classic match-three through and through. You’re swapping candies to line up matches, chaining combos, and aiming for high scores across hundreds of levels. It doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but it nails the fundamentals in a way that feels smooth and satisfying.
The game shines in its level variety.
Some stages have you clearing jelly, others collecting specific pieces, and a few throw in tricky obstacles to keep you thinking. That mix means it never feels like you’re just repeating the same puzzle.
The quick level design makes it easy to pick up anytime.
Whether you’re killing a few minutes or sinking into a longer session, the colorful combos and fast feedback loop keep the momentum going.
Cookie Jam
Cookie Jam is a sweet-themed puzzler that feels familiar but still manages to stand out. You’re matching cookies, pastries, and other treats to clear levels, with new desserts and challenges introduced as you go.
The presentation is where it shines.
Levels look like they’re set inside a bakery, and every move feels tasty thanks to the colorful design. The developers keep things fresh with seasonal events, so you’ll sometimes find yourself playing through holiday-themed puzzles with special rewards.
It’s a game that doesn’t try to overcomplicate things. The mechanics are straightforward, but the steady flow of new content keeps it from getting stale.
Fishdom
Fishdom mixes match-three puzzles with a light aquarium-building feature. Every level you clear earns coins, which you can use to decorate tanks and add new fish. It gives the gameplay a sense of progression beyond just beating puzzles.
The puzzles themselves are colorful and lively, but the fun really kicks in once you start customizing. Buying quirky decorations and unlocking new fish adds a personal touch, and the fish even “talk” with little comments. It makes the game feel more interactive than most puzzle games, since you’re not just solving boards – you’re also shaping an aquarium.
What’s clever is how the two parts of the game feed into each other. The better you do in puzzles, the more freedom you get in designing your tanks, and that loop is what keeps you coming back.
Best Fiends
Best Fiends takes the match-three format and gives it an adventure twist.
Instead of just clearing tiles, you’re battling slugs by matching shapes that charge up your little bug characters. Each fiend has unique abilities, so building the right team becomes part of the fun.
The art style is colorful and full of personality.
The bugs aren’t just background helpers – they feel like characters you actually get to know as you unlock new ones. That sense of progression makes it more engaging than the average puzzle game.
What sets it apart is the mix of strategy and collecting.
You’re not just chasing high scores – you’re figuring out how to use different fiends’ powers to crush tougher levels. It keeps the game from feeling repetitive and makes every victory feel earned.
Jewel Mania
Jewel Mania feels like a throwback to the early days of match-three, but with plenty of polish to make it shine today. The setup is simple: swap jewels to make matches, rack up points, and clear objectives before you run out of moves.
The visuals are crisp and colorful, with gems that sparkle just right when you pull off a big combo. It’s straightforward, but there’s satisfaction in how cleanly it plays.
The challenge steadily increases as new obstacles appear, so it doesn’t stay easy for long.
What makes it work is its focus on the basics. There aren’t heavy storylines or side features – it’s about pure puzzle gameplay done well, which is exactly what some players are looking for.
Final Thoughts on Games Like Candy Crush
Candy Crush might be the classic, but it’s far from the only puzzle game worth your time. From the quirky battles of Zookeeper Battle to the strategic depth of Best Fiends, each of these games offers its own spin on a familiar idea.
What’s great is how flexible the genre has become.
You can relax with a cozy game like Pokémon Café ReMix, or push yourself with something more competitive like Marvel Puzzle Quest. There’s no shortage of variety, and that means you’ll never run out of ways to get your puzzle fix.
If you’re ready to move beyond Candy Crush, any of these 20 titles can scratch that itch – and maybe even replace it as your new go-to puzzle obsession.
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