There Are Multiple Types of Hard Levels Actually
Hard levels in Candy Crush Saga are easy to understand, right? They are the levels that make you hate the game and are the most frustrating!
Well, that is how players would define hard levels. But in this guide, I am specifically going to explain how Candy Crush Saga decides what levels are hard.
What Is a Hard Level?
Hard levels in Candy Crush Saga are marked levels on the map. These levels have various forms of skulls floating over them. It is not stated how King decides what levels are considered hard.

The Different Types of Levels Based on Difficulty
Four level Types
There are four level difficulties in Candy Crush Saga. I am going to list them from easiest to hardest.
- Normal levels
- Hard levels
- Super hard levels
- Nightmare levels
Normal Levels
Normal levels are the most common level type in Candy Crush Saga. These levels have a pink background.

Hard Levels
Hard levels have a skull on them on the map, and they have a purple background on the level select screen. There can be multiple hard levels in episodes.

Super Hard Levels
Super hard levels are skulls with horns on the map. They have a deep blue background on the level select screen.

Nightmare Levels
Nightmarishly hard or nightmare levels are a skull and crossbones on the world map. They have a black background on the level select screen.

The Difficulty of Hard Levels Varies
I have found the super hard or nightmarishly hard levels tend to be accurate. These levels often are very hard.

But purple hard levels are not always difficult. In fact in a few cases I had a harder time with levels that were not marked hard.
It should be noted that there are other systems to mark hard levels.
If you check the Candy Crush Saga wiki, they have their own system for level difficulty. This system is more complex than the one used in the game.
Of course, players may personally rate levels differently compared to the game and the wiki!
What I Think About Hard Levels
I normally save up my boosters and use them on hard levels.
Since I am still pretty low level in the game, I have not seen how hard the game truly can get. For now, I feel most levels are possible with enough time.
To me, what makes a level hard is the life timer more than the difficulty. I don’t mind spending many lives to beat a level. Waiting for them to come back is what is the real buzzkill.
My record for the longest time to beat a level was over six months. I quit playing the game because of this level, and I came back to it and beat it later. I wish I could remember the level number. But I can’t anymore.