Candy Crush Saga
CautionFree
Addictive design
Free-to-play with in-app purchasesAd-supported (free with ads)Virtual currency (gems, coins, credits)Energy and wait timersLimited-time offers and FOMOManufactured scarcity and grind+4
Royal Match
Released 25 February 2021 Developer Dream Games
A match-three puzzle game in which you clear obstacles and finish each level within a set number of moves, earning coins that help King Robert restore his castle room by room. Optional extras include timed events and Teams, a group feature with chat. New levels are added about every two weeks.
Money health
HarmfulChance, compulsion or exploitation
Addictive design
Very high5 of 5 — counts the hooks designed in
Average price
Freefree to download
Spending ceiling
No ceilingRepeat purchases, no limit
Australian rating
Online interactivity and chat, Chance-based in-game purchases
How it makes money
Harmful: chance, compulsion or exploitation
Royal Match is free to download. Dream Games sells coins (which buy extra lives, moves and boosters), special offers and a Royal Pass: the Australian App Store lists items from A$1.99 to A$29.99, with the Royal Pass at A$14.99, and Google Play shows single items up to A$149.99. You have five lives and wait for them to refill or pay; Common Sense Media says nothing has to be bought but progress slows considerably without spending. Wikipedia reports about 55 million monthly players and more than 12,400 levels by November 2025.
How you pay
- Free-to-play
The App Store AU lists items from A$1.99 ('Tiny Concept Offer') to A$29.99 ('Queen's Treasure'); Google Play (AU) shows single items from A$1.39 to A$149.99.
- Battle pass
The Royal Pass is listed at A$14.99 on the App Store AU.
- Loot boxes
Google Play's Australian classification lists 'chance-based in-game purchases' and the store labels flag random items, so some paid offers have randomised rewards; the specific offers weren't individually verified.
minor part of the game
Techniques it uses to keep you paying or playing
- Game currency
Coins buy extra lives, extra moves and boosters, and are sold in packages (Mini Coin Package is A$2.99 on the App Store AU).
- Wait or pay
You start with five lives; a failed level costs one and lives regenerate over time unless you buy more (Wikipedia, Common Sense Media).
- Social nudges
Teams is an alliance system with shared progression and chat (Wikipedia; the Australian classification notes online interactivity and chat).
minor part of the game - Never-ending
More than 12,400 levels as of November 2025, with new ones added every two weeks (Wikipedia).
Fairer alternatives
Similar games with a healthier money model
What it costs
Free to start, then A$1.99–A$149.99 a purchase
| What | Where | Price | Checked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiny Concept Offer (smallest listed in-app item) The App Store shows only a selection of the game's purchases. |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS ↗ | A$1.99 | Oct 2026 |
| Mini Coin Package (smallest listed coin pack) Other listed bundles: Duke's Treasure and Normal Concept Offer A$9.99, Prince's Treasure A$14.99. |
Apple App Store (AU) · iOS ↗ | A$2.99 | Oct 2026 |
| Queen's Treasure (largest listed item) | Apple App Store (AU) · iOS ↗ | A$29.99 | Oct 2026 |
| Royal Pass | Apple App Store (AU) · iOS ↗ | A$14.99 | Oct 2026 |
| Largest single in-app item Top of the 'per item' range shown on the Google Play listing (A$1.39 to A$149.99); the item is not named. |
Google Play (AU) · Android ↗ | A$149.99 | Oct 2026 |
Store prices change often and sales are common; we record the regular price on the date shown.
Age ratings
Classification
Age ratings judge content (violence, language, gambling themes). They say little about how hard a game pushes spending — that's what the badges above are for. About rating boards
Safety & parental controls
Who can talk to your child, and what can they buy?
- Text chat
- Players can interact with strangers
- No user-made content
- Account: not recorded
- Terms of service minimum age: 13
Teams has text chat and can put children in contact with other players. Dream Games' terms (effective March 2026) say children 12 and under are not allowed to use the service and that 13 to 17-year-olds need a parent's or guardian's permission. The Apple App Store (AU) lists the game as 13+, while Common Sense Media recommends age 8+. Turn off in-app purchases in the phone's settings; Dream Games publishes no parental-controls page.
Platforms & release
Where you can play it
| Platform | Released | Store |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone and iPad | 25 February 2021 | Store page ↗ |
| Android phones and tablets | — | Store page ↗ |
Further reading
- Official website ↗
- Dream Games terms of service (age rules, effective March 2026) ↗
- Common Sense Media review (age 8+) ↗
- Wikipedia ↗
Facts last checked 22 October 2026. Sources: apps.apple.com, play.google.com, play.google.com, play.google.com, play.google.com, en.wikipedia.org, www.royalmatch.com, www.dreamgames.com, www.commonsensemedia.org, www.metacritic.com. Spotted something wrong? Send a correction.