Candy Crush Soda Saga: Tips, Tricks, and Guide! (Part 1)

Candy Crush Soda Saga is King's second entry in the Candy Crush series. Released for iPhones and Android only recently, it's nonetheless taken the mobile gaming world by storm. In this guide, I'll share my favorite Candy Crush Soda Saga tricks. With these tips on your side, you'll be a Candy Crush Soda Saga guru without breaking the bank for boosts!

# Playing the Game

This always seems to trip people up, but we don't actually make the game, guys.

If you want to play Candy Crush Soda Saga, go check it out on Facebook, Google Play, or Apple iTunes

Candy Crush Soda Saga is free! Don't get fooled by scams or imitators. The links above take you directly to the official download for the free version of Candy Crush Soda Saga.

The Facebook version is great for playing on laptop or desktop PCs that run Windows or Mac OS, while the Google Play version works great on Android devices like Samsung phones. The iTunes version is for those of you who have iPhones or iPads.

# Stuck on a Level?

We have a variety of level guides available, you can start at the beginning with level 1 or use the search box to see if we have a guide for that level.

If you're still stuck, visit our Facebook page and perhaps we (or another Without the Sarcasm community member) can help out!

# Match 3 And Lose

The fastest way to lose at Candy Crush Soda Saga is... matching 3 candies together. I just blew your mind there, didn't I? "But... but... the whole game is match 3!" Yeah, but it doesn't really help.

The bottom line is that on most levels, it's mathematically impossible to clear the objective with match 3 moves. On most of the really tricky levels, you're going to need to clear out so much candy that matching 3 just isn't going to cut it. Every 3-in-a-row you make brings you one move closer to losing.

What do you do, then? Master making and using the special candies, and get used to losing. :(

# Know Your Special Candies

The special candies in Candy Crush Soda Saga are super important. As we just found out, there's no way to clear enough candy in each level without using them. Thus, the game is all about positioning candies to make special candy matches.

Special candy matches require four or more candies to be matched, either in a line, a L or T shape, or in a square.

But even special candies aren't enough. Special candy combos can be created by matching pairs of special candies together, regardless of their color or type. Each different combination of candy produces a different effect.

Candy Crush Soda Saga Tip Different levels benefit from different special candies and special candy combos. A level where you need to clear all the frosting will probably benefit from matches like wrapped + striped, which clears a large plus-shaped region of candy. On a "raise the soda" level, matching two fish together will release 3 fish candy that break soda bottles and remove other small obstructions.

If you don't know the special candies, how to make them, and what their combos do, check out our special candies guide for Candy Crush Soda Saga!

# Luck, Not Skill

Let's get this one out of the way. Many people think that Candy Crush games are games of skill. They are not. If you learn one thing from this guide, let it be that Candy Crush Soda Saga is a game of chance.

While the game itself is technically "free to play," King makes its money off of people who pay for boosts, lives, and other stuff like that. They are heavily incented to make each level difficult enough to frustrate you into doing things that make them money.

As I said above, it's mathematically impossible to win without special candy combos. Most levels are designed with too few moves to make them slightly more difficult. Much of the time, special candy combinations are at the whim of whatever candies the level gives you.

Take this all together, and you'll see that no matter how much you know, the deck is stacked against you. You are going to either pay or spend a lot of time losing.

What can you do with this information? Try to keep this in mind as you play. Know that you're going to get stuck and that the levels aren't fair. Don't get frustrated, it's not you, it's Candy Crush Soda Saga trying to get you to pay. Don't give up! Don't surrender! You CAN get past the tough levels!

Juicy! Let's keep the tips rolling in part 2!