NOVASMC

GAME DECISION MAP

Candy Crush Saga

Puzzle · Cross-platform · 2012

Current analysisBaseline 2026-06-20Open Decision Analysis → · Korean full analysis

Design direction

Reorder the failure screen around results, equal retry and map choices, and optional recovery, preserving difficulty, rewards, the economy and free recovery routes.

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Read the recurring-flow summary

Spend a life to enter a move-limited match-3 level → swap candies and create special candies to clear the board objective → complete the level and advance on the Saga Map → route the win into races, teams, passes, collections, and events → use earned lives and boosters to attempt the next level.

REASONING IN THIS GAME

Selected designs and judgment conditions

Goals and residual processing

Initial IFR · goal direction

Realign choice, exposure, sequence and rule conditions to recover volition, value and trust.

Final IFR · design goal

Show the result first on the failure surface, offer Retry and Return to Saga Map as equal immediate choices, and open recovery or offer details after explicit action with synchronized state cues.

Recurring Structures

Detailed Repeating Structures

What repeats and keeps the system moving?

2 analysis items · Read the method

Core classification and definition · Compounding Growth

Compounding Growth

Spend a life to enter a move-limited match-3 level → swap candies and create special candies to clear the board objective → complete the level and advance on the Saga Map → route the win into races, teams, passes, collections, and events → use earned lives and boosters to attempt the next level.

Outputs strengthen assets, capabilities, or access and open a stronger next cycle.

View pattern definition →
  1. Core

    Core Level Loop

    Select level → limited-move match-3 board → objective clear/fail → next map node or retry.

    Evidence
    Source Described
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  2. Competition

    Frontier

    Star Tournament/endcap spaces mitigate latest-level cap while preserving core puzzle input.

    Evidence
    Source Described
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence

Bottlenecks

Bottleneck Patterns

Where do decisions and flow break?

5 analysis items · Read the method

Core classification and definition · Pressure and Concentration Bottleneck

Pressure and Concentration Bottleneck

The limiting point sits in the retry result handoff.

Difficulty, randomness, growth, or completion pressure accumulates at one decision point and concentrates the burden of retrying or reinvesting.

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  1. Core

    Pressure and Concentration Bottleneck · Retry

    The limiting point sits in the retry result handoff.

    Evidence
    Classification Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  2. Supporting

    Access and Qualification Friction ·

    The limiting point sits in the entry handoff.

    Evidence
    Classification Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  3. Supporting

    Resource and Value Conversion Failure · Booster

    The limiting point sits in the booster handoff.

    Evidence
    Classification Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  4. Supporting

    Obligation and Volition Erosion · Liveops Event

    The limiting point sits in the liveops event return handoff.

    Evidence
    Classification Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  5. Supporting

    Decision and Planning Calculability Breakdown · Economy

    The limiting point sits in the economy planning handoff.

    Evidence
    Classification Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence

Contradictions

Contradiction Patterns

What must improve, and what must remain protected?

5 analysis items · Read the method

Core classification and definition · Action and Return Continuity vs System Depth and Throughput

Action and Return Continuity vs System Depth and Throughput

Across retry/stop ; ; seed, improve Complexity Vs Convenience while preserving Performance Vs Load.

Continuity to the next action, return, or reinvestment must improve while route diversity, strategic depth, and throughput remain protected.

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  1. Core

    Core Contradiction

    Across retry/stop ; ; seed, improve Complexity Vs Convenience while preserving Performance Vs Load.

    Evidence
    Classification Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  2. Supporting

    Freedom Vs Control / Popularity Vs Scarcity

    Across access continuity → route/receipt, improve Freedom Vs Control while preserving Popularity Vs Scarcity.

    Evidence
    Classification Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  3. Supporting

    Freedom Vs Control / Popularity Vs Scarcity

    Across capacity → use → result attribution, improve Freedom Vs Control while preserving Popularity Vs Scarcity.

    Evidence
    Classification Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  4. Supporting

    Performance Vs Load / Stability Vs Volatility

    Across voluntary/legible completion path, improve Performance Vs Load while preserving Stability Vs Volatility.

    Evidence
    Classification Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  5. Supporting

    Freedom Vs Control / Revenue Vs Trust

    Across choice control → alternative legibility, improve Freedom Vs Control while preserving Revenue Vs Trust.

    Evidence
    Classification Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence

Solution Mechanisms

Solution Mechanisms

Which intervention mechanism changes the condition?

5 analysis items · Read the method

Core classification and definition · Route and Return Handoff

Route and Return Handoff

Apply Route and Return Handoff across retry/stop ; ; seed while preserving the protected value.

Connect the current state to valid next actions, routes, retries, and returns while preserving choice and existing paths.

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  1. Core

    challenge·puzzle-first·mastery·low friction

    Apply Route and Return Handoff across retry/stop ; ; seed while preserving the protected value.

    Evidence
    Solution Link Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  2. Supporting

    Loss Trust and Entitlement Buffer · Attachment

    Apply Loss Trust and Entitlement Buffer across access continuity → route/receipt while preserving the protected value.

    Evidence
    Solution Link Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  3. Supporting

    State and Rule Visibility Encoding · Attachment

    Apply State and Rule Visibility Encoding across capacity → use → result attribution while preserving the protected value.

    Evidence
    Solution Link Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  4. Supporting

    Cadence and Rhythm Coordination · Attachment

    Apply Cadence and Rhythm Coordination across voluntary/legible completion path while preserving the protected value.

    Evidence
    Solution Link Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  5. Supporting

    Loss Trust and Entitlement Buffer · Attachment

    Apply Loss Trust and Entitlement Buffer across choice control → alternative legibility while preserving the protected value.

    Evidence
    Solution Link Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence

Solution Compositions

Solution Compositions

How should interventions be combined and sequenced?

7 analysis items · Read the method

Core classification and definition · Single-Track Localized Bundle

Single-Track Localized Bundle

Connect 1 source-declared mechanism across retry/stop ; ; seed as Single-Track Localized Bundle.

Combine a core intervention with stabilizing or accelerating support within one problem track and keep its impact localized.

View pattern definition →
  1. Core

    challenge·puzzle-first·mastery·low friction Composition

    Connect 1 source-declared mechanism across retry/stop ; ; seed as Single-Track Localized Bundle.

    Evidence
    Solution Link Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  2. Supporting

    Loss Trust and Entitlement Buffer · Attachment Composition

    Connect 1 source-declared mechanism across access continuity → route/receipt as Single-Track Localized Bundle.

    Evidence
    Solution Link Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  3. Supporting

    State and Rule Visibility Encoding · Attachment Composition

    Connect 1 source-declared mechanism across capacity → use → result attribution as Single-Track Localized Bundle.

    Evidence
    Solution Link Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  4. Supporting

    Cadence and Rhythm Coordination · Attachment Composition

    Connect 1 source-declared mechanism across voluntary/legible completion path as Single-Track Localized Bundle.

    Evidence
    Solution Link Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  5. Supporting

    Loss Trust and Entitlement Buffer · Attachment Composition

    Connect 1 source-declared mechanism across choice control → alternative legibility as Single-Track Localized Bundle.

    Evidence
    Solution Link Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  6. Supporting

    Parallel Solution-Mechanism Composition

    Connect 5 source-declared mechanisms across retry/stop ; ; seed as Core-First Branch-Sequential Portfolio.

    Evidence
    Solution Link Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence
  7. Supporting

    Parallel Solution-Mechanism Composition

    Connect 5 source-declared mechanisms across retry/stop ; ; seed as Parallel Local Contracts with Independent Rollback.

    Evidence
    Solution Link Confirmed
    Outcome basis
    Design Evidence