Candy Crush Solitaire is King First’s New Game Under Microsoft Ownership

King, the developer of the popular Candy Crush series of tile-matching video games has just released Candy Crush Solitaire on iOS and Android. This is King’s first new game since Microsoft acquired its parent company Activision Blizzard for $68 billion back in October 2023.

Microsoft Solitaire is one of the most popular casual games of all time, and it has a long history on Windows (it was first included with Windows 3.0 back in 1990). Candy Crush Saga and its various sequels remain among the most popular mobile games of all time, and Microsoft explicitly said when it announced its acquisition of Activision Blizzard that King would fill an important hole in its gaming activity.

“We saw an opportunity to bring together two timeless gaming experiences, Candy Crush Saga and Solitaire, both of which offer a satisfying balance of relaxation and challenge,” said King Executive Producer Marta Cortinas on Xbox Wire.

Candy Crush Solitaire offers a series of escalating levels, just like previous Candy Crush games, but it’s a TriPreaks Solitaire game. For those unfamiliar, TriPeaks Solitaire differs from the mainstream suit-matching Solitaire game, known as Klondike, as it requires players to clear boards by playing cards in ascending or descending order.

“Its mechanics provide a great blend of strategy and progression, similar to how players advance in Candy Crush levels,” said Cortinas about Candy Crush Solitaire. “From there, we layered in the signature Candy Crush Saga elements, colorful boosters, engaging progression, and collectible rewards, ensuring that players would recognize the familiar sense of accomplishment and fun from our franchise.”

Candy Crush Solitaire is available today for iOS and Android devices, but there’s no PC version yet. If you’re on Android, the game can be downloaded from the Amazon App Store and Samsung Galaxy Store in addition to the Google Play Store.