People who play video games have a tough time in the summer. The summer season in the video game industry is analogous to a desert—a barren wasteland with a spattering of oases to hold off complete dehydration. I too have been thirsty for quite a while, and am eagerly anticipating the fall and winter season, where games like Grand Theft Auto V and the next generation of consoles will hit us like a thunderous rainstorm.
But that’s not to say I’ve been avoiding games all throughout this hot and dry season. In fact, there’s one game in particular that has probably eaten more of my time than any other game during these summer doldrums. It’s a game on my iPhone. A free game on my iPhone. A free match 3 puzzle game on my iPhone that involves delicious sweet treats. Yes, that’s right, Candy Crush Saga.
But I’m not ashamed to admit it. Well, maybe a little, but there’s no denying the genius behind this seemingly simple puzzle game. It’s a game that’s ridiculously easy to stop at a moment’s notice, quick to pick up and play, and doesn’t require a great deal of thought and brainpower.
And even though it’s only a match 3 puzzle game, I was legitimately shocked to see that a new gameplay mechanic is introduced for every set of levels. Whether it’s the regenerating chocolate blocking certain pieces, or the “orders” specifying which candies to match, I was pleasantly surprised to see that not all levels boil down to getting a certain amount of points. I almost feel silly discussing “gameplay mechanics” for a match 3 puzzle game, but for all the time I spent playing Candy Crush Saga, it feels almost warranted.
I’m proud to say I haven’t dropped a single dollar on this game. I have enough patience to wait a set period of time instead of splurging money to get another set of lives. I’ve also managed to avoid logging into Facebook and annoying all of my friends with inane notices and requests. Every time I complete a set of levels, I beat the 3 quests, all while waiting 24 hours between them to move on. Yes, it’s a ridiculous obstacle that set in front of you to try to lure you into simply buying the next set of levels, but I have enforced a strict rule on myself that I will not spend any money on this game. It helps me sleep better at night.
I’m current at level 155 right now, and I have no intention of stopping any time soon. The summer drought of video games is slowly coming to an end with the month of August. This month will have some huge releases, like Saints Row IV, Pikmin 3, Splinter Cell: Blacklist, and other big titles. But if there is no doubt that if I have 5 random minutes in my day in which I have nothing to do, I’ll probably spend those 5 minutes fulfilling my sweet tooth with Candy Crush Saga.