
Candy Crush: The Addictive Marketing Secrets Behind Its Success”
Apr 5, 2024
4 min read
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Recreations come and go, but Candy Crush is here to remain! It began in 2012 and as of June 2016, it was being played by 409 million individuals. The diversion is free to play, and the figure shows that 70% of players within the final level haven't gone through a single penny! In any case, the amusement creates a whopping $405,708 each day.
So, why is Candy Crush so well known? Well, the individuals who made the amusement utilized truly keen marketing and brain research traps to create it profoundly addictive. Let's take a look at how Sweet Smash prevailed on all amusement charts in this case ponder!
Candy Crush Marketing & Psychology
Utilizing keen marketing and psychology, Candy Crush got to be the beat amusement on Google Play, Apple App Store and Facebook. Indeed in spite of the fact that it could be a straightforward candy-matching diversion with fundamental illustrations and music, it kept individuals locked in.
The developers cleverly utilized mental tricks in their showcasing, causing players to end up addicted to the game. This habit not as it kept clients playing but moreover brought more cash to the developers. It's a blend of smart marketing and understanding why people proceed to play games.
Free Game
Candy Crush could be a free game like numerous other apps. You'll download and play it without spending any money. You don't have to pay to play the game, and it is designed so that individuals can play it for free, but with a few limitations such as it has a certain number of lives and moves. On the off chance that you need more lives and moves, you'll buy them as in-app purchases. This free-to-play model worked well for the game's creators since it permitted clients to try it out and get involved. Once individuals got addicted to it, they regularly began investing money routinely, subsequently giving consistent and feasible pay to the company.
Simplicity
The game is very easy to play. All you have to do is swap the candies next to each other to form three rows or columns of the same colour, and they will disappear. Once you complete certain tasks, you move on to the next level.
Although it is a simple game, it is not continuously easy. It gets harder as you progress in the game, and since you only get a few lives, you really want to keep playing to beat the challenges.
Pay to Play More
In Candy Crush, you can buy more chances to play using real money. You begin with 5 lives, and when you run out of lives, you either wait for your friends to send you extra lives or buy them with your own money. The same applies to tricks for completing levels.
You can ask your friends for help on Facebook, but it takes time because your friends have to accept your invitation to agree to help you. Therefore, many people choose to spend money to continue playing because of their addiction.
Purchasing items in the game does not cost much, and on average, a player spends around $25. Even though it’s not a lot for a person, many players spend a little bit which can add up to a lot of money for the company.
Facebook Integration
Candy Crush Saga's strategic move to integrate with Facebook proved astute. Players now have the option to either pay for extra lives or moves or request them from their Facebook friends. This leverage of Facebook's extensive user base, exceeding 1.5 billion, has significantly widened the game's audience, drawing in new players.
Target Audience Diversity
Candy Crush's appeal spans across diverse demographics, welcoming players regardless of age, ethnicity, religion, or geographic location. Despite its broad appeal, the game's original target demographic was women aged 25-45.
Social Engagement
The game fosters social interaction by allowing players to compare their performance with friends and family. This competitive element often prompts players to spend money to surpass their loved ones. Progressing through the game's levels becomes a notable achievement, driving players to flaunt their success within their social circles.
Quality Design
A significant factor contributing to Candy Crush's popularity is its high-quality design. With captivating graphics, soothing music, and a seamless user experience devoid of technical glitches, the game ensures an enjoyable playing experience. Additionally, the absence of intrusive advertisements further enhances its appeal.
Gameplay Positioning
Candy Crush is strategically positioned as a quick, time-filling game, with each turn lasting only 2-5 minutes, catering to short bursts of entertainment.
Level Challenges
With over 2000 levels, Candy Crush offers escalating challenges. The game carefully balances difficulty to prevent player frustration while still incentivizing spending on tougher levels.
Analytical Insights
Utilizing analytics, Candy Crush identified level 65 as particularly challenging and made adjustments to maintain player engagement and progression.
Marketing Strategies
In addition to traditional advertising, Candy Crush employed various marketing strategies, including word-of-mouth, influencer partnerships, cross-promotion, and television commercials, to broaden its global reach.
Psychological Tactics
Candy Crush employs clever psychological strategies, leveraging universal love for candies, gender-neutral color schemes, and motivating language to keep players engaged.
Addiction Mechanisms
Restricting lives creates a sense of scarcity, fueling addiction by countering hedonic adaptation. Additionally, the game's element of luck, akin to casino slot machines, keeps players hooked.
Convenience Factor
Candy Crush's convenience, playable with one hand and without constant internet access, ensures accessibility anytime, anywhere, even in unconventional places like Antarctica.
Continuous Engagement
By continuously releasing new levels, Candy Crush ensures player retention beyond completing existing content.