SUGAR SMASH: THE BOOK OF LIFE
The Book of Life: Sugar Smash is a free‑to‑play match‑3 puzzle game developed by Jam City (originally SGN) and inspired by the animated film The Book of Life. In the game, players swap and match colorful candy‑themed pieces to complete hundreds of levels and help characters like Manolo, Maria, and Joaquin collect treats and charms for an epic fiesta, journeying through themed worlds like the Land of the Remembered and the Land of the Living. It features fun power‑ups, voice work from movie actors, social features for sharing lives with friends, and regular updates with new levels and challenges.
The official trailer for The Book of Life: Sugar Smash!
Role
Game and UI Artist
Company
Jam City
(formerly SGN)
Background
Sugar Smash: The Book of Life is based on the 2014 animated film The Book of Life, directed by Jorge R. Gutierrez and starring Diego Luna, Zoe Saldana, and Channing Tatum. The game launched successfully, benefiting from the movie’s popularity despite the crowded match-3 genre in mobile gaming.
I joined the team in 2015, shortly after launch, and served as the sole artist for most of the game’s live-ops period. Because it was a licensed IP, all art required approval from 20th Century Fox Animation. The team had no designated UX designer, so I collaborated closely with Game Designers to create wireframes, flows, and layouts for all new events and features. While the game is no longer live, it remained popular until it was sunsetted in 2017.
Key Objective
Increase DAU, player retention, revenue, and new players, all while making visually appealing art for players to look at.
