If you're searching for games like Candy Crush because you've hit a wall with endless jelly-clearing or just want a fresh take on match-three puzzles, this list covers the best alternatives for Android and iOS. Whether you want pure gem-swapping, RPG progression, or head-to-head competition, these 20 games offer new mechanics, themes, and challenges while keeping the satisfying puzzle core you already enjoy.
Why try other games like candy crush?
Candy Crush has dominated mobile puzzle gaming since 2012, but even the most dedicated players eventually crave something different. The games below are a curated mix of pure match-three titles, RPG hybrids that add leveling and loot, and competitive puzzle games where you face real opponents. Each category offers a distinct reason to switch: a fresh theme, deeper strategy, or a faster pace.
Pure match-three puzzle games
These games stick closest to the classic swapping-and-matching formula, swapping candies for jewels, cookies, fruit, or ice. They are straightforward, pick-up-and-play alternatives that require no long-term commitment.
Bejeweled Blitz: the classic that started it all
Bejeweled Blitz by PopCap Games predates Candy Crush and remains the benchmark for fast-paced gem matching. The main screen has an 8x8 grid that is filled with gems. You swap adjacent gems to match three or more identical colors, building combos and multipliers for high scores. On iPhone and iPad, the game requires iOS 15.6 or later; iPod touch also needs iOS 15.6 or later. The Android version is available on Google Play, and EA is testing a Bejeweled Blitz Beta on Android devices that introduces new features. For account or troubleshooting issues, use the in-game support flow, email help@eamobile.com, or visit help.ea.com.
Jewel Mania and other gem-swapping picks
Jewel Mania from Storm8 Studios offers over 600 levels where you smash glass, dig for treasure, and earn rare magic diamonds and rainbow stars through combos. Cookie Jam and Juice Jam, both from Jam City, apply the same core loop to delicious themes: over a thousand levels of cookie-matching in Cookie Jam, and fruit-juice matching with new power-ups in Juice Jam. Frozen Free Fall by Disney lets you match icy puzzles alongside Anna, Elsa, and Olaf across more than 1,000 levels, unlocking characters and decorating a plaza as you progress.
Two Dots and Angry Birds Match: minimalism meets mascots
Two Dots strips the genre to its essentials: connect same-colored dots on a grid with no timer, allowing you to solve each level at your own pace across worlds with unique mechanics. Angry Birds Match by Rovio swaps dots for objects like sweets and mud, clearing obstacles by matching four or more to summon big birds, with seasonal events adding weekly activities. Hexbee has three game modes to play and enhanced visuals thanks to the Retina display support on iOS.
Puzzle RPGs that mix matching with progression
These games add character leveling, loot collection, and story campaigns to the match-three formula, giving you long-term goals beyond clearing a board.
Puzzle & Dragons and Match Land: team-building matchers
Puzzle & Dragons from GungHo Online combines match-three puzzles with JRPG elements and a gacha system. You build a team of monsters with unique abilities, acquire new ones through a lottery-like system, and recruit characters from brand collaborations. Match Land by Race Cat uses pixel art and a medieval setting: you form a team of pixel heroes, battle turn-based foes by matching multiple icons per turn, and conquer over 700 levels with 70 legendary bosses and 60 recruitable heroes.
Marvel Puzzle Quest and Magic: Puzzle Quest: licensed depth
Marvel Puzzle Quest lets you form a team of three superheroes or villains and fight turn-based battles by matching colored gems to deal damage and activate special powers. Magic: Puzzle Quest blends match-three with the Magic: The Gathering card game: matching gems lets you cast spells, summon creatures, and build your own deck, with card effects designed to complement the puzzle mechanics. Both games add strategic deck-building and familiar IPs to the core matching loop. In 10,000,000 the main goal is to reach 10,000,000 points in your run, and you can spend the gold you earned for upgrades and other powerful spells. Dungeon Raid has over 400 unique items to collect and 10 character classes to unlock and master, and you match the adjacent tiles by tracing a line.
Competitive and score-chasing twists
These games change the pace by introducing real-time or turn-based competition, unique win conditions, or high-score challenges that reward quick thinking over long sessions.
Zookeeper Battle and WWE Champions: head-to-head matching
Zookeeper Battle by KITERETSU pits you against other players in timed rounds where you match animals on-screen; the highest scorer wins each round, and the loser is knocked out after successive rounds. Power-ups add a layer of strategy. WWE Champions by Scopely merges match-three with wrestling: matching gems lets you slam opponents, and the game includes RPG-like progression, PvP battles, and tag-team multiplayer.
Threes! and Triple Town: math and building on a grid
Threes! replaces matching identical images with sliding numbered tiles on a 4x4 grid, merging multiples of three to increase your score until no moves remain. Triple Town by Spry Fox evolves the grid itself: matching three identical tiles upgrades them from grass to bush to tree to hut and beyond, ending when the grid is full and your final score is tallied. Both add a cerebral layer without losing the pick-up-and-play feel.
Gardenscapes and Pokémon Shuffle: story and collection hooks
Gardenscapes by Playrix wraps match-three puzzles around a garden-restoration narrative: you swap and match to earn stars, restore your garden to its former glory, and interact with dozens of characters across themed areas. Pokémon Shuffle by Genius Sonority, originally on Nintendo 3DS, puts you in the role of a trainer who matches Pokémon instead of candies; you unlock levels, catch Pokémon by defeating them, and progress through a campaign mode that mirrors the classic battle system.
How to pick your next game like candy crush
Start by deciding which core experience you want: pure puzzle (Bejeweled Blitz, Jewel Mania, Two Dots), RPG progression (Puzzle & Dragons, Match Land, Marvel Puzzle Quest), or competitive play (Zookeeper Battle, WWE Champions). All listed games are free-to-play with optional purchases, and most offer hundreds of levels or long-term progression systems. For more specialized recommendations, check niche mobile game lists on Casual and Niche Mobile Games, which cover indie and lesser-known puzzle titles that don't always appear in mainstream roundups.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are all games like Candy Crush free to play?
Most match-three puzzle games on mobile are free to download and play, including every game on this list. They typically offer optional in-app purchases for power-ups, extra moves, or cosmetic items, but you can progress without spending money.
Do these games work offline?
Many pure match-three games like Bejeweled Blitz, Two Dots, and Threes! can be played offline once downloaded, though features like leaderboards, events, or cloud saves may require an internet connection. Online-only games like Puzzle & Dragons and WWE Champions need a connection for most content.
Which game has the most levels?
Cookie Jam and Frozen Free Fall both offer over 1,000 levels, while Match Land has over 700 levels and 70 bosses. Most games on this list receive regular updates that add new content, so the level count increases over time.
Can I play these games on both Android and iOS?
Yes, all games listed are available on both Android and iOS unless noted otherwise. Hexbee is currently iOS-only, but every other title can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
For the wider topic, see niche mobile game lists.
Related reading: 20 Best Mobile Games to Play When Bored.
