Review
Candy Box 2
You have some candies. A moment later you have a few more. There are two buttons: eat all the candies, or throw ten of them on the ground. Candy Box 2 begins as the smallest possible idle game and then, one odd decision at a time, opens into an adventure.
- Where it runs
- Browser
- How it is funded
- Free, no ads; optional donations
- Attention it asks
- Finite: a short voyage
- Best for
- Curious players and fans of text art
What it is
Candy Box 2 is a free browser game hosted at candybox2.github.io, at version 1.2.3 when we checked in October 2026. Its developer, who goes by aniwey, writes in the official FAQ that the game is written in TypeScript with "a bit of HTML and a bit of CSS". Everything on screen is drawn with monospaced text characters, from the opening counter to the places you visit later.
It is the sequel to the original Candy Box, which is still playable from a link at the bottom of the official page. Both games share an idea: a single growing number that you spend on unexpected things.
How a session goes
The opening could not be simpler. Candies arrive one at a time, steadily, while the page is open. You can eat them, which does something, or throw some on the ground, which does something else. Every action is a small experiment, and the game rewards the urge to see what happens.
Before long, the candy counter stops being the point. Candies become currency for equipment, a reason to visit new places, and the fuel for a small role-playing adventure with exploration, fights and puzzles. The tone stays light throughout, with lots of jokes in the text and a willingness to be silly. Part of the fun is that you are never quite sure what the next purchase will reveal, so we will leave the specifics for you to find.
The idle part never fully disappears: there are moments where the best move is to leave the tab open and let candies pile up before trying something again. But Candy Box 2 is closer to a compact adventure with an idle engine than to an endless incremental game.
How much time it asks
Candy Box 2 has a clear shape and an ending, so it does not ask for months. Most of the time you are actively exploring, with occasional waiting while candies accumulate. It is a good choice for a weekend when you want something finished and memorable, rather than another number to look after.
How it is paid for
The game is free. In its FAQ the developer says there are no ads and explains how to donate for anyone who wants to support future free games; nothing in the game asks for money. The source code is linked from the official page.
Who it suits
- Players who like discovering a game's rules by poking at them.
- Fans of text-drawn graphics and retro computer aesthetics.
- Anyone who wants a short, cheerful break from long-haul idle games.
Who might skip it
- Players who want a pure idle game that runs untouched for weeks.
- Anyone who finds monospaced text hard to read for long stretches.
- Those who prefer polished graphics and sound.
Fair winds
- Completely free, with no ads.
- Clever opening that teaches through curiosity.
- Distinctive text-drawn look.
- A finite adventure that respects your time.
Headwinds
- The idle element fades as the adventure grows.
- Text visuals can be tiring on small screens.
- Not much reason to return once finished.
Official site — Candy Box 2Opens the publisher's own page in a new tab. No tracking parameters.