So-called match-three games all pretty much rest on the same premise. Observe the board, notice patterns, clear said board. Matching tiles will help you achieve this goal. So, what sort of criteria can you apply when testing them?

First and foremost, there is ease of use. Obviously, no one wants to waste their time on an excessively complicated game. Candy Crush clones are supposed to be simple, straightforward, and immensely fun.

Yes, that would be the next bit of criteria - how fun a game is and for how long can you play it. Of course, this is a purely personal matter, but some basic ideas pretty much everyone can agree on.

Frugal as we are, we also paid attention to the prices - as well as whether the app suffers from the case of OAA - Obnoxiously Annoying Ads.

Another app from Zynga that we simply have to include on our list. No, they're not paying us, but they do seem to be making some terribly good games. This one is set in the wonderful universe of Harry Potter - magic and all included. The owl is at your window. Will you pick up the invitation letter?

You start the game by entering your name (or nickname) and choosing your house (Slytherin all the way!). Next, you pick a wand, and you're ready to rock. Hagrid will give you a chest containing the most magical gems you have ever laid your eyes on. Arrange them the right way, and the powers of the universe will begin to shift in your favor.

After a short tutorial, you will go through a series of levels. The difficulty will increase gradually, but the rewards you will receive along the way will motivate you to keep doing your very best.

When you reach level 3, you will be able to fully customize your profile and avatar. At level 7, the opportunity to compete with other users will present itself. Once you go all the way to 32, numerous benefits and extra lives will make your progress a lot easier. What lies beyond that point? It is up to you to discover.

Regardless of whether you're an experienced gamer or want to play this with your 5-year-old offspring, the game will provide you with almost endless hours of fun. It literally doesn't matter whether you are a fan of the franchise or not. Even those who couldn't care less about Harry's adventures will be mesmerized. Seriously. Magical spells that enrich the experience are animated wonderfully, as are many other details you will encounter along your way.

Daily events are another way to spice things up. They will offer additional levels, bonuses, and spells you can use while playing. If this is not enough, you can also buy additional coins and lives at very reasonable prices. However, this won't be necessary, and you should be able to make considerable progress without ever reaching for your wallet.

Perhaps our only genuine complaint is the fact that many of the more elaborate animations will take a few seconds to load. The lag is not unbearable, but, at the same time, it is noticeable and could annoy a more sensitive user. Luckily, every other gameplay element is pretty much brilliant, which makes us forgive the developers for those slightly longer loading times.

Not all sequels have to be horrendous. Yes, some more recent Hollywood remakes have been a nightmare but, when it comes to games, the situation seems a whole lot brighter. The next-gen Candy Crush is definitely a worthy successor to the originator of the genre. We are pretty impressed. This is not one to be missed. Give it a chance - you might like it as much as the original version.

The very start of the test came with a big surprise - there is no need to sign in, log in, nor do anything in terms of giving permissions and handing over your precious data. In a day and age where privacy is but a fictional concept, this was rather refreshing. Hopefully, the game will stick to this and not invade our personal digital space. For now, we are more than thrilled - especially after testing apps devoted to crypto, which require you to scan your passport!

Anyway, the game is about as straightforward as it gets - so much so that the creators decided not to burden the player with almost any tutorials or walkthroughs. This is another bonus in our book as, more often than not, games will go overboard with this sort of thing, making the first 10-15 minutes of play a bit tedious. With Candy Crush Soda Saga, you'll be ready to rock in a matter of seconds.

The gameplay is as fun as it gets - especially since you will immediately get to compete against other users from across the globe. Of course, you will need to be connected to the internet to do this. Still, you can also play on your own, offline, or within a closed network with your closest friends. You can also cooperate with other users - send and receive hearts - and progress a lot faster.

One thing that caught our attention was the graphics. Lightly distorted figures and backgrounds almost remind us of the 1990s Cartoon Network. Perhaps our only complaint would be the lack of fun special effects that Harry Potter: Puzzles & Spells is so generous with. The music is also pretty decent - in fact, possibly the best out of all the games we tested this week. Of course, most players will turn it off after a while but, if you are one of those people who detest silence, this could serve as a very relaxing soundtrack to your gaming.

The app is, of course, free, but some bonuses can be had for a (reasonable) price. Again, much like the other two games, we picked as our favorites, this one too is never obnoxious nor pushy when it comes to paid features. In fact, there are no limits to how far you can go without spending a dime. Candy Crush Soda Saga is a thoroughly entertaining way to pass a lazy Sunday afternoon during the pandemic, and we cannot possibly recommend it enough.

Obviously, we couldn't possibly attempt to write this kind of an article without touching upon the classic, the golden standard, the one that started it all. We didn't necessarily want to include it into our top 3, if for no other reason, because we wished to let other stars shine brighter. In addition, Candy Crush Saga has been around for so long; maybe we ended up playing it too much. Still, it retains its rightful place on the throne and is definitely still as entertaining as ever.

This one seemed rather good and pretty addictive at first, but then, during the testing period, an odd thing happened. After the second update, the app turned so glitchy and would crash about once every 10 minutes of playing. Obviously, the problem is most likely to be only temporary, but it still serves as a fair warning that such a scenario is not outside of the realm of possibilities. This sort of mishap has put us a bit off Cookie Jam, even if it does appear to be pretty promising overall. Perhaps we'll give it another chance in a couple of months.

For all the fans of the show (and we definitely are!), this will be an instant pick. Still, once you get through the excitement of finally finding a Pokémon-themed puzzle, you will realize that the gameplay itself is not exactly extraordinary. In fact, it is in no way exceptional. All the moves, all the tricks, all the special effects have already been seen elsewhere. This app is simply missing something unique, a selling point that will launch it above its competitors. For now, it remains a middle-of-the-road solution - a curiosity for all Pokémon lovers and perhaps a few others.

Much like Pokémon Shuffle Mobile, this one too attempts to cash in on the popularity of its characters. Marvel is, after all, one of the biggest names in the business today and its superheroes draw in many potential players. That's all fine and dandy, but the game ultimately suffers from sub-par execution. With a strong emphasis on a sharp competitive edge, the app basically pushes the user to purchase add-ons and bonus points in order to progress and succeed. You won't get anywhere without dropping at least $30. This sort of pay-to-win arrangement is not something we are after. Not at all.

Fast-paced and easy, Candy Charming will suck you into its orbit in a matter of minutes. Unfortunately, this infatuation won't last too long, especially once you start noticing that the game is way too simple for its own good. It seems better suited for very small children rather than adults looking for a challenge. If you have young gamer-to-be in your home, this could be a good choice for them. Otherwise, it's better skipped.

One thing we are very happy about is the fact that, during the period of testing this one, we saw very few if any ads. This, in our book, is an extremely big bonus. However, something else was determined to act as a thorn in our side and ruin the fun. Bubble Shooter seems to be the exact opposite of Candy Charming. It is surprisingly difficult! The game can be fun for a short while, but then it quickly becomes borderline frustrating. This sucks out all the entertainment potential from it. We are not sure if this would fly in 1993 when games were much more difficult by default, let alone in 2021. Only recommended if you have a masochistic streak.

The app seems decent enough at first but only for a short bit. Within the first 20 minutes, you will realize that the game is geared more towards taking your money than anything. Constant offers, pop-up windows, and transition screens asking for cash are pushy and downright annoying. Yes, we understand that the developers too have to make a living, but this was getting a bit ridiculous. We spent more time finding our way through ads and offers than actually playing. Not a good sign and not the quality we look for in a winner.