Bubble Witch 2 Saga, the first-ever King Games sequel, is here–and it might signal a break of fresh air for the benighted company. One of King’s least popular games, Bubble Witch Saga was a great example of how the public has come to see the publisher: creepy, slightly malevolent, and covered in warts. Well, not so much that last one, but you get our drift.

The original Bubble Witch Saga was released back in September 2011, and featured a trio of witches (similar to the mythical Furies) who stood around in a cave stirring cauldrons and popping bubbles, apparently for use in magical potions. Occasionally, the witches would look up from their stirring to do some staring instead, right at the player. It’s disconcerting to say the least. The witches were also joined by a black cat who smoked a corncob pipe for some unknown reason. The tone was dark, ominous, and far too attached to a medieval design that didn’t do the game any favors. Small wonder Bubble Witch “only” managed to get 10 million likes on Facebook (as opposed to 73 million for Candy Crush).

But with the new Bubble Witch 2 Saga (cumbersomely named due to King’s noted obsession with the word “saga”), the franchise has gone in a dramatically different direction. Gone are two of the witches, along with the cat’s pipe. Instead, players take on the role of the spunky Stella, who fights against the evil witch Morgana–a tiny skeleton with pink hair–alongside her two cats, one black and one white. There are far more variations on the match-three Bubble Shooter mechanics that make these types of games so popular with casual players. The overall effect is much brighter, happier, and more pleasant overall than the grim-looking original, and that’s good news for King. The company desperately needs a win to balance out its falling stock price and waning overall public interest in Candy Crush Saga.

Have you started playing Bubble Witch 2 Saga yet? If you want help with any level, check out our sister site Bubble Witch Cheats for all the tips you need.