Review Insights · App Store
Empires & Puzzles: Match-3 RPG
Small Giant Games · 99,790 ratings · ★ 4.7
4.7
★★★★★
99,790 ratings
🎯 Build a better version
Top complaints - extracted from 29 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"
19 negative reviews mention this · 66% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Greedy game. Don’t get sucked in to this game they make it addictive and the creator is greedy this game is all about getting your money if you don’t it will take you an eternity to level things up" - Nunyab21457
2
"money"
8 negative reviews mention this · 28% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Greedy game. Don’t get sucked in to this game they make it addictive and the creator is greedy this game is all about getting your money if you don’t it will take you an eternity to level things up" - Nunyab21457
3
"play"
6 negative reviews mention this · 21% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Keeps getting worse. There are a lot of issues with the game but the developers need to get more money over the playability of the game has made this game unplayable most of the time. You are constantly having to get the newest and latest heroes to even attempt…" - Disappointed again 69
4
"been"
5 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Fun. The game has been fun over the years. I got hooked when I had my stroke. I’ve been playing for some time. However I find the game has started noticeably cheating. Just a game i got it quit or play. But after while you still try and climb …" - chuckkeeny
5
"years"
5 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Fun. The game has been fun over the years. I got hooked when I had my stroke. I’ve been playing for some time. However I find the game has started noticeably cheating. Just a game i got it quit or play. But after while you still try and climb …" - chuckkeeny
6
"playing"
5 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Fun. The game has been fun over the years. I got hooked when I had my stroke. I’ve been playing for some time. However I find the game has started noticeably cheating. Just a game i got it quit or play. But after while you still try and climb …" - chuckkeeny
7
"getting"
4 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Greedy game. Don’t get sucked in to this game they make it addictive and the creator is greedy this game is all about getting your money if you don’t it will take you an eternity to level things up" - Nunyab21457
8
"heroes"
4 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Keeps getting worse. There are a lot of issues with the game but the developers need to get more money over the playability of the game has made this game unplayable most of the time. You are constantly having to get the newest and latest heroes to even attempt…" - Disappointed again 69
9
"main"
4 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Keeps getting worse. There are a lot of issues with the game but the developers need to get more money over the playability of the game has made this game unplayable most of the time. You are constantly having to get the newest and latest heroes to even attempt…" - Disappointed again 69
10
"spend"
4 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Keeps getting worse. There are a lot of issues with the game but the developers need to get more money over the playability of the game has made this game unplayable most of the time. You are constantly having to get the newest and latest heroes to even attempt…" - Disappointed again 69
11
"been playing"
4 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Fun. The game has been fun over the years. I got hooked when I had my stroke. I’ve been playing for some time. However I find the game has started noticeably cheating. Just a game i got it quit or play. But after while you still try and climb …" - chuckkeeny
12
"give"
4 negative reviews mention this · 14% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Doesn’t give rewards in Tapjoy. You entice people to download and try the game but don’t honor tapjoy rewards." - DaHolby
📋 All 29 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").
Greedy game
Don’t get sucked in to this game they make it addictive and the creator is greedy this game is all about getting your money if you don’t it will take you an eternity to level things up
Keeps getting worse
There are a lot of issues with the game but the developers need to get more money over the playability of the game has made this game unplayable most of the time. You are constantly having to get the newest and latest heroes to even attempt to keep up. If you want to be any good at this game you will be paying thousands of dollars….literally. Their new dragonspire side game is a joke and they have made it an integral part of the main game. You will have more frustration than joy from this game and will spend so much money chasing after top heroes to no avail. Definitely avoid the game.
Causes seizures
My son has had 2 episodes of seizures while playing this game. We have no family history or epilepsy on either side of the family. He’s addicted to this game and has been playing it since 8 years now. I don’t know if they have changed something on it but 2 weeks ago he sustained his first seizure - ER doctors figured maybe poor sleep or it’s the game. He’s been well rested with over 7-8hours every night since. Tonight he had another seizure while playing this game so I’ll need to pull the plug on it!!! It’s horribly flashy and the sounds are evil!!!
Doesn’t give rewards in Tapjoy
You entice people to download and try the game but don’t honor tapjoy rewards.
Stay away
This is the worst game I’ve played for the amount of time I’ve put into it. Anything to do with combat on the game is complete garbage and it’s been like this forever.
Pay to win only
Now if you have deep pockets and don’t mind spending 100 bucks a week on this game then this is for you. But buyer be happy the more you pay the better you get. No skill needed. Better roles better opportunities better characters and even better choices. But if you don’t have the money then when you get to a point you can’t level your main character anymore then what to do. No money no adventure no advancement your stuck and then the game gets boring you delete it and never come back. Time waisted. So make your choice before you play
Update
What am I supposed to update regularly here?! This is getting annoying already!
Tf
Bro ts is annoying, dawg it keeps forcing me to click what it wants to click like dawg. Ts should be optional
Too many Pay Options on the main screen…
There are way too many pay options on the main screen and I am constantly clicking on them….
The unwanted music
There’s no easily visible way to turn down the games music. It ruins the experience.
Same o same o
Pay if you want to advance fast but same ol things. Slow to move up.
Obnoxious music
Please let us turn off the music! The first thing I do in every game is play is turn off the background music. It makes playing the game really obnoxious having to listen to the music.
The worst game ever
All for money
Worst game ever.
Do not download unless you like wasting your time and money to go any farther after castle lvl 10. All PvP aspects are way over powered in the computers favor. So getting better gear to lvl up and make your hero’s more powerful is slow af. Unless you want to fork over loads of cash. They like to say ftp. But don’t allow you to get stronger to advance higher unless you do pay or spend months upon months lvl 1 character at a time. Then there’s the VAST AMOUNT of different stupid characters and items and lvls and classes and family’s and costumes and and and god it’s to much. Time waster. That doesn’t give you any sort of feeling like you’re getting anywhere. Stupid game.
Good
Cool
Very Spammy
I was brought to this page from an ad that kept automatically opening safari and the App Store. I have 6 safari pages open from trying to exit out of the af for this game.
Self-inflict craziness
In order for you to keep spending $$$$ in your fame, they have introduced self-inflict. It means there is a chance that your skill came back to you if you are inflicted!
The problems is the real percentage that is shown is different from what it happens, you are %10 inflicted and your damage keeps back at you but your enemy is 60% inflicted but they do fine!!!
The problems is the real percentage that is shown is different from what it happens, you are %10 inflicted and your damage keeps back at you but your enemy is 60% inflicted but they do fine!!!
I hate this game!
I tried to purchase 14 trainer heroes and 200 instant power summon tokens using 6.99 dollars but it kept saying there was an error! Are you guys pranking me?!
Nefarious Tactics- Be Warned
I’ve been playing Empires and Puzzles for several years, and while it is a fun and engaging game, it has some deeply concerning, nefarious aspects that players need to be aware of. Let me explain why I believe this game deserves a 1-star rating despite its enjoyable mechanics.
First, the game continuously introduces new heroes that are vastly stronger than previous ones, making older heroes obsolete. This tactic pressures players to spend money constantly in order to keep up with the power creep. It’s not just about enjoying the game; it’s about survival. Without the newest heroes, your chances of competing in PvP are drastically reduced.
Now, let's talk about the cost. Acquiring and fully upgrading a single 5-star hero can take years, unless you’re willing to spend thousands of dollars. Here's a breakdown:
- Summoning a 5-star hero alone can cost between $100 and $1,000 USD due to the game’s low drop rates. You might have to pull hundreds of times to get the hero you want.
- Leveling and ascending that hero requires rare materials, some of which can cost another $100 to $500 USD, depending on the packs offered.
- Finally, boosting the Talent Grid of a hero, which is crucial for maximizing their potential, can easily add another $100 to $200 USD.
In total, fully upgrading a 5-star hero could cost you anywhere from $500 to over $2,000. This is outrageous for a single hero, especially considering how frequently the game introduces new, overpowered heroes.
What's worse is the matchmaking system. You’re constantly paired against players who somehow have the newest, most powerful heroes maxed out within days of their release. How are they acquiring these heroes and leveling them so fast? It raises suspicions about the game’s practices and whether there is some manipulation behind the scenes to push players to spend even more money.
Despite the fun aspects of the game, the developers' blatant, outrageous exploitation of players to increase profits has turned me off. I don’t mind spending money on games-if the game is fair-but Empires and Puzzles feels like they are stealing from their loyal player base.
In conclusion, while Empires and Puzzles is an enjoyable and engaging game, I cannot recommend it in good conscience. The tactics used to drive profits are manipulative, and the costs associated with upgrading heroes are unreasonable. I urge potential players to stay away unless they are prepared to spend excessive amounts of money or face being left behind.
First, the game continuously introduces new heroes that are vastly stronger than previous ones, making older heroes obsolete. This tactic pressures players to spend money constantly in order to keep up with the power creep. It’s not just about enjoying the game; it’s about survival. Without the newest heroes, your chances of competing in PvP are drastically reduced.
Now, let's talk about the cost. Acquiring and fully upgrading a single 5-star hero can take years, unless you’re willing to spend thousands of dollars. Here's a breakdown:
- Summoning a 5-star hero alone can cost between $100 and $1,000 USD due to the game’s low drop rates. You might have to pull hundreds of times to get the hero you want.
- Leveling and ascending that hero requires rare materials, some of which can cost another $100 to $500 USD, depending on the packs offered.
- Finally, boosting the Talent Grid of a hero, which is crucial for maximizing their potential, can easily add another $100 to $200 USD.
In total, fully upgrading a 5-star hero could cost you anywhere from $500 to over $2,000. This is outrageous for a single hero, especially considering how frequently the game introduces new, overpowered heroes.
What's worse is the matchmaking system. You’re constantly paired against players who somehow have the newest, most powerful heroes maxed out within days of their release. How are they acquiring these heroes and leveling them so fast? It raises suspicions about the game’s practices and whether there is some manipulation behind the scenes to push players to spend even more money.
Despite the fun aspects of the game, the developers' blatant, outrageous exploitation of players to increase profits has turned me off. I don’t mind spending money on games-if the game is fair-but Empires and Puzzles feels like they are stealing from their loyal player base.
In conclusion, while Empires and Puzzles is an enjoyable and engaging game, I cannot recommend it in good conscience. The tactics used to drive profits are manipulative, and the costs associated with upgrading heroes are unreasonable. I urge potential players to stay away unless they are prepared to spend excessive amounts of money or face being left behind.
Don’t let it fool you
Been playing this for years. Game is trash now. They just want you to spend money on heroes and power ups. If you have a mono team or a team missing certain colors, all they give you are trash boards with the colors of the heroes you don’t have. Game is flawed. I only play because of the alliance I’m with. Those people make it worth it to stay. Other than that, don’t waste your time on something that will make you hate video games
Terrible
If you’re reading this you probably already know it’s rigged to take money. The ai according to support is random but give it a chance they will take advantage of you.
Fun but expensive
As fun as this game is, it’s nothing but a cash grab. Don’t do it.
Inconsistent game play
Why even have stats if they are not even remotely accurate. 45% dodge for opponents is more like 75% and for you it’s 25%. Hit an opponent and do 600+ tile damage one time and less than 200 the next. The list can go on and on. Not to mention the continual over powering of new hero’s. That’s a great way to take the loyal players that have played for years and chase them away.
Fun Game, Too Much “BUY THIS!”
Firstly, the game is fun.
However, there are now 10 icons on the Base screen for purchasing items and such. It looks quite ridiculous that they take up an enormous portion of the screen.
However, there are now 10 icons on the Base screen for purchasing items and such. It looks quite ridiculous that they take up an enormous portion of the screen.
Fun
The game has been fun over the years. I got hooked when I had my stroke. I’ve been playing for some time. However I find the game has started noticeably cheating.
Just a game i got it quit or play. But after while you still try and climb the ladder and don’t want to quit. I send reports to their support just asking for fair game play. Never asking for anything in return. Usually the same response and little action.
Just watch the game and your $$$. The last answer I got back from customer service I was spamming them and my last warning. Obvious I hit a nerve and maybe some truth.
Again enjoy the game and have fun. Watch for cheats favoring your opponent. I enjoy the game not the issues
Just a game i got it quit or play. But after while you still try and climb the ladder and don’t want to quit. I send reports to their support just asking for fair game play. Never asking for anything in return. Usually the same response and little action.
Just watch the game and your $$$. The last answer I got back from customer service I was spamming them and my last warning. Obvious I hit a nerve and maybe some truth.
Again enjoy the game and have fun. Watch for cheats favoring your opponent. I enjoy the game not the issues
🙄
Почему у Саломеи поменялись характеристики?
Сначала повышала здоровье всех союзников на 1300, и могла превышать максимум, а сейчас 50%. Фигня какая-то
Сначала повышала здоровье всех союзников на 1300, и могла превышать максимум, а сейчас 50%. Фигня какая-то
Cluttered interface, no tutorials
I found this game very confusing. The main screen is cluttered with all kinds of icons for various things. There is no tutorial and I have to admit that I rarely had any idea of what I was doing.
I’ll admit I have never played this kind of game before but in the small amount of time I played it I was not engaged by it enough to try and figure it out.
I’ll admit I have never played this kind of game before but in the small amount of time I played it I was not engaged by it enough to try and figure it out.
Relaxing but Lengthy Ads
A relaxing game that will help put you to sleep before bed. Unfortunately though, the progress is painfully slow and the ads are painfully long. For that reason, I have to quit it.
Rip Off Vibes!
It feels like a rip off when you offer new summons at a higher cost or having to use special tokens but you still have the regular summons listed as a possibility. I don’t feel encourage to play it expend when I keep seem the same summons at different cost.
Sentiment summary
93%
Positive (4-5★)
2%
Neutral (3★)
5%
Negative (1-2★)