Candy Crush Solitaire adds a sweet twist from King’s flagship franchise to the classic card game.

• Candy Crush Solitaire is a new take on the classic card game with a sweet coating.
• King is pursuing this format, likely in part due to Balatro’s popularity.
• The release is scheduled for February 6 for iOS and Android.

Given Balatro’s success over the holidays, it’s no surprise that some other publishers and developers are trying to get their share of the action. But while we’ve seen heists and shovels “inspired” by this roguelike approach to poker, King clearly sees potential in the genre and is adding a sweet sprinkle of its iconic franchise to the upcoming release of Candy Crush Solitaire.

As you’d expect from the name, it’s a solitaire game with the addition of Candy Crush. You’ll play the classic Three Peaks solitaire game, as well as use boosters, blockers, and a progression system that’s probably familiar to fans of the cult match-three series.

Candy Crush Solitaire is now open for pre-registration on iOS and Android. Pre-registration will earn you exclusive in-game rewards such as a special card back, 5,000 coins, four cancels, two fish cards, and three color bomb cards. Candy Crush Solitaire will be released on February 6th for all platforms.

Are the candies crushing him?

King has definitely stuck with their mega-popular franchise for years now, and unlike Supercell, they don’t seem to invest too much in experimentation (I mean, why would you?). So I think Candy Crush Solitaire is partly a recognition that they need to break new ground and explore new ways to reach their audience.

And as much as I joked above, I wouldn’t be surprised if Balatro’s popularity doesn’t give them at least a little courage. At the end of the day, Solitaire is a classic for a good reason, and it’s much easier to sell to a more mature audience (think Candy Crush) than something new and flashy like Balatro.

If you’re looking to expand your game a little before you start Candy Crush Solitaire, why not check out our list of the 25 best puzzle games for Android and iOS?