Choosing Between Score and Ingredient Goals

Identify the Required Objective

The objective panel shows what must be done to pass the level. If it lists “bring down ingredients” or “clear all the jelly,” that is the pass condition. The score requirement is typically for star ratings and does not need to be achieved to complete the level unless explicitly stated as the only objective.

When multiple icons are present, the goal is usually the non-score icon. Keep your focus on that requirement. Passing the level first is more efficient than replaying it for stars while risking repeated failures.

How Ingredients Affect Scoring

Ingredient levels can still yield high scores, but only if you create cascades and special candy combinations while moving ingredients down. The score increase often comes from big clears and extra moves at the end. However, if you focus too much on high-scoring combos, you can stall ingredient movement and risk running out of moves.

A balanced approach is to keep exit columns clear and look for special candy matches that also open paths. This gives you score benefits without delaying the primary objective.

When a High Score Matters

Higher scores can be useful for personal milestones, friendly competitions, or events where star collection is tied to rewards. If you are playing for those reasons, it makes sense to replay a level after you have already passed it. This way, you can focus on score without worrying about losing progress.

For first-time clears, it is more efficient to treat the score as optional. Completing the level unlocks the next stage and gives you more opportunities to build progress, which often matters more than a high star rating.

Score Optimization Without Losing the Objective

If you want to improve your score while still passing a level, focus on a few reliable methods: create special candies near the objective area, combine special candies when it also clears blockers, and finish with extra moves whenever possible. Extra moves are converted into bonus effects that add points, so completing the objective with moves remaining is the simplest way to raise your score.

Avoid spending multiple moves to set up a large combination if it prevents ingredient drops or delays jelly clearance. The goal is to improve score as a byproduct of smart objective play, not to chase points at the expense of completion.

Recognize Levels Where Score Is the Only Target

Some levels are pure score challenges. In those cases, the objective panel will show only a score target. These levels require a different strategy: focus on high-value combinations, chain reactions, and keeping the board open for cascades. Here, the score is the win condition, so it should take priority over any other consideration.

Because these levels are about points, it is useful to aim for large matches and special candy combos rather than clearing specific tiles. Extra moves are also important, so try to build efficient clears early in the level.

Use Replays to Separate Goals

One of the simplest ways to avoid confusion is to separate the goals. First, clear the level by focusing on the required objective. Later, if you want a higher score or more stars, replay the level with a score-first mindset. This keeps your progress steady while still allowing you to improve ratings.

Summary: Objective First, Score Second

In most levels, score is a secondary goal. Identify the required objective before you start, direct your moves toward it, and treat score as a bonus. This approach leads to more consistent progress and fewer unnecessary retries.