The earlier King browser game that Candy Crush Saga is described as a variation of is Candy Crush.
King released Candy Crush as a browser-based tile-matching game in 2011, before expanding the concept into Candy Crush Saga. The original was a simpler score-attack game, while Saga introduced a level-by-level structure with specific objectives and a progression map.
The transition reflected King's shift from portal games toward Facebook and mobile games. Candy Crush Saga first appeared on Facebook in April 2012, using the popularity of the browser title as its starting point. It also adopted the “saga” format that King had developed in games such as Bubble Witch Saga.
A common mix-up is to name one of King's other games, such as Bubble Witch or Pet Rescue. Those titles influenced King's broader design strategy, but Candy Crush Saga is specifically described as a variation of Candy Crush.