Review Insights · App Store
Gossip Harbor®: Merge & Story
Microfun Limited · 175,130 ratings · ★ 4.6
4.6
★★★★★
175,130 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"
37 negative reviews mention this · 71% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Not what was advertised. Saw an advertisement stating that this is one of those games you see in the advertisements that is real and exactly the same as it is when you download it an it is NOT AT ALL THE SAME GAME" - Lizhayes211
2
"nothing"
16 negative reviews mention this · 31% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Liars!. It’s a trap! The game is nothing like the ads! The woman & girl never have snow falling on them, you never have to fix up a room so they can sleep -just like so many other games, this is false advertising. The merging part is fun, but it’s …" - MeSherriG
3
"play"
11 negative reviews mention this · 21% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Liars!. It’s a trap! The game is nothing like the ads! The woman & girl never have snow falling on them, you never have to fix up a room so they can sleep -just like so many other games, this is false advertising. The merging part is fun, but it’s …" - MeSherriG
4
"advertised"
10 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Not what was advertised. Saw an advertisement stating that this is one of those games you see in the advertisements that is real and exactly the same as it is when you download it an it is NOT AT ALL THE SAME GAME" - Lizhayes211
5
"energy"
10 negative reviews mention this · 19% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Slow Paced. I do enjoy this game but it’s sooo drawn out with how little energy you’re given. I understand that’s how you make money, but the game should function enjoyably without having to actually pay for stuff all the time. On the fence about dele…" - Heydaniellee
6
"money"
9 negative reviews mention this · 17% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Slow Paced. I do enjoy this game but it’s sooo drawn out with how little energy you’re given. I understand that’s how you make money, but the game should function enjoyably without having to actually pay for stuff all the time. On the fence about dele…" - Heydaniellee
7
"spend"
7 negative reviews mention this · 13% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Don’t play unless you want to spend money. This game could be fun- but you never can earn enough to keep playing, unless you want to spend money. The challenges end quicker than an average person can keep up. They never give you what you need to be able to meet the challenge goals. …" - megleg814
8
"download"
6 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Not what was advertised. Saw an advertisement stating that this is one of those games you see in the advertisements that is real and exactly the same as it is when you download it an it is NOT AT ALL THE SAME GAME" - Lizhayes211
9
"fake"
6 negative reviews mention this · 12% of all complaints
★★★★★ "Not at advertised. All you do is merge things. You don’t get to play a storyline where you get to choose what to fix next or help the family out in any way. Very misleading and fake." - Nickname not shown
📋 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").
Not what was advertised
Saw an advertisement stating that this is one of those games you see in the advertisements that is real and exactly the same as it is when you download it an it is NOT AT ALL THE SAME GAME
Liars!
It’s a trap! The game is nothing like the ads! The woman & girl never have snow falling on them, you never have to fix up a room so they can sleep -just like so many other games, this is false advertising. The merging part is fun, but it’s never pieces of repair items-it’s always other stuff. And the energy you need runs out way too quickly, so you must buy more to continue to play. There is no way to finish challenges unless you purchase energy! Very expensive to play, but they get you by trying to sell you inexpressive packages first. They start at 99 cents, but then they end up being $15 or more to get enough energy to finish packages! No way I can afford $50 a day, every day, to play this game. I wish these developers weren’t so greedy!
Ads
The game still has ads when you Guys say it is ads free
I’m supposed to be saving lives…
This game is not at all what it portrays in the ads. The amount of energy it takes to complete basic tasks is crazy. What you see in the ads is why most people are downloading this game only to find out that you have to complete so many levels and have crazy distractions throughout the game to even get to that point. I downloaded it once and then deleted it. I downloaded it a second time just because I wanted to see if anything changed and it hadn’t.
Not like the ads advertised
The game is the same. Much didn’t change this is like my 3rd time downloading it.
Don’t play unless you want to spend money
This game could be fun- but you never can earn enough to keep playing, unless you want to spend money. The challenges end quicker than an average person can keep up. They never give you what you need to be able to meet the challenge goals. I’ve spent almost $40 on trying to succeed and I’m still not meeting goals before the events are over. I’ve been playing for about a month- and this is too much money and time to spend to try this hard. At this point, I’m ready to delete the game.
Gossip Harbor
Subconsciously and consciously this ad for this game is so sickening and horrible. I’ve reported this homeless mother and child ad so many times. I would never play this game. I see why granny use to say “ phones are the D E V I L S tools “! Technology is so horrible. This endless cycle. I just hope one day this game is forgotten about and is over. Smh.
This game is impossible to progress without paying to play.
Sure, it’s a beautiful game and the gameplay is for the most part fun. But after you play for a while, the “customers” start requesting items that take so many merges, you can’t even fill a single order per 100 merge points.
Also, one of the most annoying parts about this game is the supposed rewards for gifts to the characters. I’m sorry, but a vignette or moment is not a reward.
Also, one of the most annoying parts about this game is the supposed rewards for gifts to the characters. I’m sorry, but a vignette or moment is not a reward.
Not lik the reklam
I don’t like the game because it’s not like the recklam
Scam
This app is NOTHING like it advertised. Awful. Don’t waste your time downloading.
NOTHING LIKE THAT ADDS
I wanted the game with the freezing mother and u help them and this is just merging the most boring game ever
Not even like the game ad
It isn’t even like the ad and it’s not for me.
This game is nothing like what it looks like in the ads
This is not at all all how it is advertised. There are none of the scenario of us in the game that there are in the ad. It’s basically another merge type game.
Not as advertised
The game advertises it’s the exact same as the clips but so far I’m not matching to repair anything. I’m matching to give people food and things. Not the same at all.
Too many small games within the game
I used to play this game and decided to re-download and play again. However, 2 minutes in and I’m still getting pop ups about the games with in the games and all I want to do is start the game. Pop up intro of this mini-game/challenge. Pop up explaining this one, where to click how to play, that one’s done and yet another one with another challenge and where to click. I just re-deleted and on top of that it’s nothing like the ads.
ads are all lies
started playing because the ads showed the game being a way of helping a woman and children but it’s been nothing but designing a cafe .. disappointed
this game has some gall to advertise like it does
nothing like the ads, no "heartbreaking story" its just kinda plain and boring
NOT A GAME, IT’S A SCAM
First of all, this is not a game, it’s a scam. It’s not a game because there’s no strategy involved. It’s a scam for several reasons: 1) it’s nothing like the ads. 2. They put a timer on things and make you wait forever, unless you pay to speed it up. 3) there is nothing about this that could be considered challenging. You just sit there in the kitchen all day poking at items until they turn into other items. I guess money must be nice for you guys. You can afford to purchase 100,000 fake reviews. No one in their right mind would leave you a positive review. This is not a game, it’s a scam
Abuse of minors as entertainment?
Cosplaying poverty and dying children? These videos are disgusting and whoever greenlit these needs to be on a watchlist.
False advertising.
False promises. Nothing like the ads, not ad free, etc. Uninstalled.
Pls read this
This is not the real deal it’s fake don’t download at all I did and it’s horrible the others are bots pls I’m begging don’t download
Misleading
Ad is nothing like the game, which is ironic because they claim that the game is how it is in the ad. Just annoying af, and the games super boring.
Not like the ad
Game was not like the ad I played it never let me renovated the homes like on the ad it made me fix food for kids by taping and making bread boringgggggggg
Lie
Download the game and it’s not true, it’s totally different from what the advertisement says.
The ads
This game says in its ads no ads, blah blah blah. The game isn’t like the ads either . Liars no thanks
Psychological manipulation
Absolutely disgustingly unethical. The game intentionally manipulates you to spend money. You only get to make 100 finger movements (taps) and you have to pay real money to do any more than that. They intentionally make the items you are trying to create take more taps than they offer to get you to spend money. But don’t worry, they have multiple evil techniques to extort you: they start by charging you $1 for taps and you think hey what’s a dollar going to do? Then they increase it more and more over time and before I knew it I spent $500 in 3 months. And I’m no idiot. I am a masters student at an Ivy League university. So the manipulation can happen to anybody. Another way they pressure you is constant pop ups that they make it so you are likely to click purchase by accident. I mean seriously you can’t get lower than these demons. This app boasts being ad free, yeah they don’t need ads when they can just steal all your hard earned money for freaking “taps!” I mean it’s absolutely disgusting. The developer will respond saying they are sorry I feel this way. How about you refund the money you extorted from me and thousands of others instead? Regardless of your reply, I want you to know that ANYONE who works at your company will absolutely not make it into heaven.
Storyline Problems
I was enjoying the game right up to the point when the creators thought it was necessary to introduce a gay character. Not interested in have Liberal game makers normalizing sinful morality. So I promptly deleted the game.
Not satisfied
I downloaded this game and never got the game as show on the Ad.
Angry
The adds are fake absolutely hate
Dumb
Bs
Dynamic Pricing
The gameplay is fun, no question. Unfortunately if you wish to complete special events and quests, you have to be prepared to spend money. Sounds reasonable to a degree, right? The catch is that if you spend money, then they raise the prices on future purchases AND the game then sets up orders requiring vast amounts of energy. This is not like other games where skill and patience still allows for fluid gameplay.
The game that doesn’t really WANT you to play it.
The energy regeneration is so low you only get to play a few minutes until it runs out. Unless you want to spend tons of real money. The price might seem low but the rate you burn through the energy is so fast. GREEDY!
You only get 100 free energy points like every few hours and then it stops. Then the other nasty trick they do is to bubble your merges, after you have already spent the energy to get it, forcing you to pay rubies to unbubble it or forfeit the item. Ugh! I’m seriously considering deleting it.
You only get 100 free energy points like every few hours and then it stops. Then the other nasty trick they do is to bubble your merges, after you have already spent the energy to get it, forcing you to pay rubies to unbubble it or forfeit the item. Ugh! I’m seriously considering deleting it.
Me
Not what it’s advertised to be. Too much matching, and then sent to conversations at a restaurant? Worse game ever. I never get to play what is advertised. Boring game.
DO NOT PLAY!!!!! FRAUDULENT!
This game has been illegally ripping me off! Charging two-and-a-half times the amount that I approve!! These people should be put in jail!
Not like advertised
Repetitive
Ad don’t match the game.
Please stop showing these pitiful fake ads. They’re nothing like the game
Not like the ads
Very disappointing, only built a restaurant.
Fake
Nothing like the ad!
Not as advertised
Disappointed
Slow Paced
I do enjoy this game but it’s sooo drawn out with how little energy you’re given. I understand that’s how you make money, but the game should function enjoyably without having to actually pay for stuff all the time. On the fence about deleting it.
What are the ads about?
I can't for the life of me understand why they have ads that are absolutely NOTHING close to what this app is. It's so genuinely strange and misleading. What is the purpose of this? To trick people or...? I'm trying to come up with another reason that could be.
Not at advertised
All you do is merge things. You don’t get to play a storyline where you get to choose what to fix next or help the family out in any way. Very misleading and fake.
Scam
This game is nothing like the ads. When I first downloaded the game I was excited about it. Expecting puzzles to help a mother and daughter out of the freezing cold.But it’s just a random story line that has absolutely nothing to do with the girl in cold. You are helping them with a restaurant or cafe. If you see the advertisement.DO NOT DOWNLOAD THIS GAME
I mean its alright
The game itself is pretty generic but nothing like the adds show and just like every other game, theres adds every time you click a button. Wouldn't really recommend nor did it really stand out.
Improvement
This game is nice but the events are always extremely short. Reality is, most people won’t be playing this game 24/7. So no one ever gets the satisfaction of finishing an event, not even a single time. It’s hard to keep playing when there is no ‘point’ to it. Please lengthen them, for the people who are busy and yet still want to play.
You won’t get far without spending real $…
I love this game *BUT* if you want to get anywhere you have to spend a ridiculous amount of real money to buy energy to complete tasks and progress in the story. Unfortunately the story is addictive and I’m embarrassed to say I’ve spent hundreds!!! I’m about to delete the app because it takes soooo much energy to complete tasks, and they want such a ridiculous amount of money for the energy packages now.
I refuse to spend anymore money and now the game moves at a snails pace and it’s just no fun anymore. It was more reasonable at first but today they’re asking $39.99 for a meager amount of energy and gems. It goes so fast! I feel like the more you buy, the more they charge for the same packages.
I’m on level 99 and very little of the story has been revealed thus far. Just more tangents to waste coins on.
**You will not enjoy this game for long without spending real money, period.
I refuse to spend anymore money and now the game moves at a snails pace and it’s just no fun anymore. It was more reasonable at first but today they’re asking $39.99 for a meager amount of energy and gems. It goes so fast! I feel like the more you buy, the more they charge for the same packages.
I’m on level 99 and very little of the story has been revealed thus far. Just more tangents to waste coins on.
**You will not enjoy this game for long without spending real money, period.
Not as advertised
Had an ad asking me to buy a package for 4.99. There was supposed to be none of that in this game. Found the restaurant boring . Thought this game was about the mother and daughter in the freezing cold.
Disappointed
I did like this app. But, now it takes forever to finish anything. I am not able to pay for anything, and it seems this is the only way anyone can achieve the goals. It really is a shame.
Could have potential if makers weren’t so greedy.
The amount of energy needed to complete a single item is insane. Also the game is nothing like the preview I played that made me download it. Tons of pop ups. Disappointed.
Be prepared to spend $$
While I loved playing this at the beginning it has now become a money trap. You get no energy unless you pay with diamonds which you have to pay for. Surely you can give so many for each order you complete and replenish every time you level up. It takes forever to get back up to 100. You can fly through 100 and still not have one item you need to complete an order. There is also too many things going on at once that you need to decide which is a priority meaning which gives the best rewards and try to complete just that goal. I sure hope you can do better with giving energy and not make a player feel like they need to buy so they can complete tasks. It is suppose to be relaxing but this is far from it. I will continue playing but definitely not spending as much money as I have.
+ 2 more in the clipboard copy
Sentiment summary
90%
Positive (4-5★)
4%
Neutral (3★)
6%
Negative (1-2★)