Review Insights · App Store
Daily Themed Crossword Puzzles
PlaySimple Games Pte Ltd · 116,574 ratings · ★ 4.7
4.7
★★★★★
116,574 ratings
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Top complaints - extracted from 52 negative reviews
Recurring phrases mined from 1-2★ reviews. The bigger the percentage, the more users have the same problem. Fix the top 2-3 in your version and you have product-market fit on day one.
1
"game"
18 negative reviews mention this · 35% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Ads. I am sick of the game freezing up when the ads come on. Unless you go in and shop, you get nowhere. This is not what it use to do. WHY?? I will delete the game if this continues to happen." - Mrs Peggy Lee
2
"play"
13 negative reviews mention this · 25% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Too many ADS. The latest update now plays ads before every crossword AND after every crossword! The ads are anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute or more, then show the option to close it, only to be taken to the App Store, Amazon, or opens an app. I use…" - Beth32167
3
"playing"
12 negative reviews mention this · 23% of all complaints
★★★★★ "No longer fun or able to do side offerings. Used to love this app. Now it is constantly lagging, doesn’t award the coins you’ve earned. I am NOT going to contact support. If they are interested in fixing this, then they can contact me! We’ll see if they have really read this revie…" - Patteeaa
4
"puzzle"
10 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "USES AI!!!. Did a daily puzzle and went to check the other tabs. They use AI to create images for their themed puzzles" - bcjsjakncjcs
5
"long"
8 negative reviews mention this · 15% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Going downhill. This app keeps declining and getting overrun with excessive ads. I understand that ads make money but having them as long as they are is just getting ridiculous." - Mja2743
6
"puzzles"
7 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "USES AI!!!. Did a daily puzzle and went to check the other tabs. They use AI to create images for their themed puzzles" - bcjsjakncjcs
7
"crosswords"
7 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Full of ads. This app is full of ads. The crosswords were ok but the ads ruined the app." - TJ Rhudy
8
"crossword"
7 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Full of ads. This app is full of ads. The crosswords were ok but the ads ruined the app." - TJ Rhudy
9
"been"
6 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Beware the Ads. I ordered a pet object from the ads that run between puzzles. I’m sure it was coming out of China. The product never arrived and I’m out about $40. That was 8 months ago. Enjoy the puzzles, but be careful which company you buy from. I a…" - JWD-MD
10
"deleted"
6 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Disappointed. I deleted this today after years of loving it. The latest update deleted my history and makes me start as a newbie. Screwed me again. Crashed my iPad." - Tasl56
📋 All 52 negative reviews
Every 1-2★ review we fetched. Use the copy button to grab them all for your own analysis (paste into ChatGPT/Claude with a prompt like "summarize core user problems, group by theme, ignore bugs, focus on missing features").
Ads
I am sick of the game freezing up when the ads come on. Unless you go in and shop, you get nowhere. This is not what it use to do. WHY?? I will delete the game if this continues to happen.
USES AI!!!
Did a daily puzzle and went to check the other tabs. They use AI to create images for their themed puzzles
Full of ads
This app is full of ads. The crosswords were ok but the ads ruined the app.
Too many ADS
The latest update now plays ads before every crossword AND after every crossword! The ads are anywhere from 20 seconds to a minute or more, then show the option to close it, only to be taken to the App Store, Amazon, or opens an app. I used to love working these crosswords, even when they do repeat clues and words often, but it might be time to look for a different app!
Fun Crosswords: Horrible Everything Else
All I wanted was to do some crosswords in my free time. But this app is insufferable. If you are the kind of person who hates ads with a passion and just want to do some crosswords to keep your mind sharp. Then this app is your worst nightmare.
The crosswords themselves are fine… but it is filled with so many intrusive ads and invasive mobile game fluff such as purchasable coins, multiple tracking daily streaks and “punch-card” design elements that it made me so frustrated that I decided to write a review for the first time.
Let me be clear, I understand free-to-play games and apps need to run ads to survive. But this is too much and insults your time and patience.
Also, the themed archive puzzles are filled with ai slop generated images that I have zero respect for. Maybe use the blood money from your aggressive ad strategy to hire actual artists. But we all know they won’t.
Horrible, don’t touch.
The crosswords themselves are fine… but it is filled with so many intrusive ads and invasive mobile game fluff such as purchasable coins, multiple tracking daily streaks and “punch-card” design elements that it made me so frustrated that I decided to write a review for the first time.
Let me be clear, I understand free-to-play games and apps need to run ads to survive. But this is too much and insults your time and patience.
Also, the themed archive puzzles are filled with ai slop generated images that I have zero respect for. Maybe use the blood money from your aggressive ad strategy to hire actual artists. But we all know they won’t.
Horrible, don’t touch.
Going downhill
This app keeps declining and getting overrun with excessive ads. I understand that ads make money but having them as long as they are is just getting ridiculous.
Don’t download - waste of time
Update added unreasonable amount of ads!
Scam when you purchase no ads
Still receiving ads after purchasing yearly subscription/// waste of money
Use to be great
This use to be a fun, greatapp, but the developers have gotten greedy, you have to watch 2 minute ads it sucks
App restarted
The App restarted me to a new player after playing for years. No reply back from the help desk.
Disappointed
I deleted this today after years of loving it. The latest update deleted my history and makes me start as a newbie. Screwed me again. Crashed my iPad.
Scam
I paid to get a game without ads and I still constantly get them. In addition to that, I cancelled my subscription back in Feb and they are still charging me today!
Too many long ads
Used to be fun. Now ads show too often and can’t be canceled. You just gotta sit there and let them play out. No time for that. Deleted…
False advertising
I play this game a lot so I figured I’d buy the no more forced ads pack. Bought it and immediately had to watch an ad in order to continue. False advertising.
Too many errors
Some words are wrong and some letters cannot be changed.
SO MANY ADS
I have really enjoyed this app. I never minded watching an ad before the crossword puzzle. Or watching ads to earn things. That’s just part of it! What has made me so frustrated today is that the Solitaire Cash ad has popped up FIVE different times during a one minute span while I’m in the middle of the puzzle. Why?? I finally just got out of the app and might try again later. But if it continues, I’ll just delete the app.
Popup ads
The new version will all the popup ads is making it really hard to keep playing this game.
Ads are out of control now
I understand that if I’m not going to buy the ad free version that I’m going to have to put up with ads. However now there’s ads that cover the crossword board. Was a great game now it’s not.
awful auto hints
the first screen of hints is unnecessary, it shouldn’t turn on the hint when I hit play and spend coins that I didn’t say too. this was the last straw to delete.
Was good now sucks and will be deleting
This game was good. The ads would run after doing a puzzle but now it opens like 10-15 pop ups in my browser in the middle of a puzzle. This deserves 0 stars. Not playing again.
UPDATE 3/26
I have sent a thing through the in game help center about 2 weeks ago and still haven’t heard back. So still will not play it because I’m not paying for “no ads” since according to the other reviews you don’t even get “no ads” when you pay
UPDATE 3/26
I have sent a thing through the in game help center about 2 weeks ago and still haven’t heard back. So still will not play it because I’m not paying for “no ads” since according to the other reviews you don’t even get “no ads” when you pay
Not so much
The ads aren’t working correctly. They never end. So now I have another good game to say goodbye.
Too many, long ads
I truly used to enjoy this app. But the freezes, screen going black and having to start over; coupled with the one after another ads is just too much.
Created more bugs
No longer have a timer knowing how long a puzzle has been worked on.
Forgot the consumer
I don’t mind an ad here and there if I’m playing free, but this went from about 1 minute of ads between each game to a sold 3-5 minutes. Deleted
So many ads
Way too many ads with this app. I had to delete it
Misleading
Purchased coin and No ads. Still get ads constantly. Liars. $30 still have ads, liars.
YOU PAY FOR SOMETHING YOU DON’t GET😱
I paid additionally for more MINIS and I found none on the site after paying for it🤩
They despise users
They have so many ads they even interrupt your games while you are in the middle of them. It could be fun but they just can't help but screw with you. You'll see. I have win so many tournaments on it, but their insouciant attitude just ruined everything. You were warned
Not worth it
So, most of the ads are unclosable. No option to close the ad without restarting the whole app. I used to love this app. Now, I can’t go 5 minutes without watching 120 seconds worth of an AI generated ad and then have to restart the app anyway. Find another crossword app.
If I could give 0 stars I would. I took back my 5 star.
If I could give 0 stars I would. I took back my 5 star.
Pop Up Ad
This would be an enjoyable app, but every time I start to play a level, a pop up ad comes up without my doing and forces me out of the game and into my internet app. It happens several times when playing a level and even during the ads after completing a level. It’s very frustrating especially when you’re playing a timed challenge. I will not be keeping this app.
Glitch
It has started to glitch very badly. Makes game play unbearable. You need to fix this.
Ads after first puzzle
Instant ads
Too many interruptive ads
Too many popups make it too obnoxious so I deleted it.
Absolute trash!
I strongly believe this game deserves no stars whatsoever. It’s incredibly repetitive and most of the questions make absolutely no sense. It’s horrible. I spend more time on google than the actual app because the questions are so ridiculous I have to look up answers to see if I am the one who is ignorant. Which I am not, considering most of the answers I find using the search engine HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE ANSWER TO THE CROSSWORD! It’s wild that this game has any good reviews. Actually I’m sure they are all from bots because there is just no way anyone truly enjoys playing this game because frankly it’s annoying and exhausting.
Don’t waste your time with this one.
I like the crosswords but after each is solved, you’re forced to play some other random game & download it before you can see another crossword. There’s no way to close out the random games except to close out the whole app and start over. You can’t even pay to escape all the ADS! Totally frustrating & won’t be playing anymore.
Good besides one feature
Sometimes when you get a word it will give you letters in other ones. I don’t want that and I can’t find anywhere to turn it off. Literally ruins the point of crosswords
Beware
I started playing this app and loved it. I paid to get rid of the ads and guess what? Still full of ads. Just stay away from this dishonest game.
Nothing but an ad
I get there are ads, but these ads you cannot get out of. It rarely lets you get to a crossword.
Slow
Slow sluggish, ads turn blank screen, sputters during the game Stops and I have to wait Weird and frustrating
Beware the Ads
I ordered a pet object from the ads that run between puzzles. I’m sure it was coming out of China. The product never arrived and I’m out about $40. That was 8 months ago. Enjoy the puzzles, but be careful which company you buy from.
I also ordered car detail spray that never arrived. Seriously, buy from the ads at your own risk. You’ve been warned.
I also ordered car detail spray that never arrived. Seriously, buy from the ads at your own risk. You’ve been warned.
No longer fun or able to do side offerings
Used to love this app. Now it is constantly lagging, doesn’t award the coins you’ve earned. I am NOT going to contact support. If they are interested in fixing this, then they can contact me! We’ll see if they have really read this review. I have been playing this for several years. The side options to earn extra coins were fun. Watch three videos, earn one hundred words, etc. as of the last update it is impossible to complete any of these. Now you have to watch 14!!! Videos. And you can’t even achieve that because you’re cut off after watching five or six. And to add further insult, there are ads before and after every puzzle but THOSE DON’T COUNT. Honestly, developers, just get rid of these and stick to the puzzles. I’m not interested in talking to anyone, cause you won’t do anything anyways. Thanks for letting me vent
A little easy and ads
Not a bad concept however the ads... You can't get out of them. The only way to get out of the ads I get are to completely close out the app and restart it.
Unplayable
I used to play every day. But now there are ads that continually pop up over the puzzle. The ads block half the puzzle and I cannot close them or play. I will wait another week to see if it still happens. If so, I will just delete the app. Sad.
Ads!!
I have enjoyed this game for many years. Recently they have increased the ads. Originally they were tolerable. But now they are up to 2 minutes. Deleted!
Subscribed
I paid around $20 to subscribe to this app yet I still have too many adds! Fun game but not worth the time due to very frequent adds
Think I’m done with this one
I’ve been playing this for a long time. The puzzles have gotten repetitive and not all challenging. The ads are ridiculous and have become really long to wait through.
Coin Limit
I love this app and have been playing everyday for 5 years but I have now reached the maximum coin limit of 35,000 so I don’t play it as much.
Why is the max coins set at 35K?
Why is the max coins set at 35K?
Stuck in an ad
I’ve restarted the app several times but The hyperx gaming headset ad won’t clear. Stuck seeing the ad. No more game to play.
Was good, now almost unplayable
I have been playing these crosswords for a long time. I really enjoy the puzzles. Within the past week there is a glitch where the app tries opening a random link and opens my browser to a page that doesn’t even load. I played these crosswords three daily puzzles today and had this happen 16 times! I would go back to the puzzle and it would immediately do the same thing. The only thing I press are the letters and the app just opens these random webpages. It is getting to be almost unplayable with how often this happens. I couldn’t even finish typing a word without two pages opening. Please fix this
Ads ads and more ads
I used to really enjoy the crosswords with my morning coffee. Puzzles are just boring, using the same words over and over. Used to be ads after finishing a puzzle but now it breaks away to an internet window to open an add in the middle of a puzzle. This app has gotten very stale and only wants ad money. Deleted!!!
+ 2 more in the clipboard copy
Sentiment summary
94%
Positive (4-5★)
3%
Neutral (3★)
3%
Negative (1-2★)