Customer Reviews (500)

drewmanfoo2334 • 2025-03-21T22:16:10-07:00

I thoroughly enjoy this game.. but you guys need to do a better job at cracking down on the cheaters. It’s no fun with all of them in here. Highly recommend a “report” button. Other than that, I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun playing a mobile game… well done!

domogogo • 2025-03-21T19:03:01-07:00

Addicting!

Cohen_Jacob • 2025-03-21T15:22:41-07:00

You have to have insane luck to get far in this game or enough money to balance out the luck by buying gems. Company can kick rocks

Summary of Key Insights

Archero 2 receives mixed reviews, with players praising its addictive gameplay and improvements over the original, but also heavily criticizing its aggressive monetization and pay-to-win aspects. A significant portion of the negative reviews highlight the difficulty in progressing without spending money, particularly in later stages and in the Sky Tower. The game's strengths lie in its engaging gameplay loop, improved graphics, and the availability of content without requiring purchases (though progress is slowed). However, the aggressive monetization strategies and resulting imbalance in gameplay are major weaknesses.

  • Overall Rating: Based on the score distribution, the app has an approximate average rating of 3.6 stars.
  • Sentiment: Mixed, with a significant polarization between players who enjoy the core gameplay and those frustrated by the pay-to-win elements.
  • Quantitative Metrics:
    • 5-star: 50.8% (254/500)
    • 4-star: 14% (70/500)
    • 3-star: 8.2% (41/500)
    • 2-star: 6% (30/500)
    • 1-star: 21% (105/500)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but based on version number (1.0.14), reviews are likely from the recent launch period and ongoing updates.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment analysis (manual assessment based on review text)
    • Keyword extraction (identifying frequently mentioned words and phrases related to user experience, monetization, and features)
    • Frequency analysis (counting the occurrences of specific issues and feature requests)

Key User Pain Points

  • Aggressive Monetization/Pay-to-Win: The most prominent complaint. Players feel pressured to spend money to progress, especially in later stages, events, and Sky Tower. Overpriced packs and multiple subscription options are frequently mentioned.
  • Sky Tower as a Progression Blocker: Many users dislike that progress in the main campaign is tied to completing levels in the Sky Tower, which they perceive as overly difficult and pay-to-win. Limited attempts per day further exacerbate this issue.
  • Difficulty Scaling: Some users find the difficulty curve to be unbalanced, with enemies dealing excessive damage and making progression feel impossible without spending money.
  • RNG Manipulation/Scripted RNG: A significant number of users suspect that the game manipulates the random number generator (RNG) to make it harder to get good skills and gear without paying.
  • Energy System: The energy system limits playtime, causing frustration for players who want to play more.
  • Lack of Cross-Server Play: Friends are often placed on different servers, making it impossible to play together.
  • Bugs and Glitches: A few users reported bugs, such as the snake boss getting stuck, sound issues, and problems with purchased items not being delivered.
  • In-Game Ads: While some appreciate the option to watch ads for rewards, others find them intrusive, particularly pop-up ads for MTX.
  • Too Much Clutter on Screen: A few reviews mention that with many upgrades and enemies, it's hard to distinguish projectiles and see what's happening.

Frequently Requested Features

  • More Weapon Types/Customization: Players want more variety in weapons and gear, as well as more customization options.
  • Cross-Server Guilds/Play: A common request is to allow players to form guilds and play with friends on different servers.
  • More Stamina/Better Stamina Replenishment: Players want more stamina or a faster way to replenish it.
  • Option to Decline Upgrades: Some players want the ability to decline unwanted upgrades during gameplay.
  • Controller Support: Some players would like to use a controller to play the game.
  • Infinite Levels/Survivor Mode: A few players suggested an endless mode for those who want a continuous challenge.
  • Account Transfer: A request to transfer accounts between different operating systems (Android to iOS)
  • Guild Mail/Better Guild Communication: Suggestion to add a guild mail feature for better communication between guild members.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Addictive Gameplay: Many players find the game highly addictive and fun.
  • Improvements over Archero 1: Some users feel that Archero 2 is an improvement over the original, with better graphics and gameplay.
  • Engaging Content: Players appreciate the variety of content and the feeling of constant progression.
  • No Forced Ads: Many users appreciate that ads are not forced upon them and are only shown when they choose to watch them for a reward.
  • Good Graphics: Many reviewers praised the graphics.
  • F2P is Possible (but Slow): Some users note that it is possible to progress without spending money, although it takes more time and effort.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Rebalance Monetization: Drastically reduce the pressure to spend money by lowering the prices of packs and subscriptions, and increasing the rewards for free-to-play players. This is the most frequently cited issue and has the biggest impact on user satisfaction.
  • Rework Sky Tower: Decouple campaign progression from Sky Tower completion, or significantly reduce the difficulty of the Sky Tower. Consider making Sky Tower tickets more accessible.
  • Address RNG Concerns: Implement a more transparent RNG system to alleviate player concerns about manipulation. Ensure that free-to-play players have a reasonable chance of getting good skills and gear.

Medium Priority:

  • Increase Stamina/Improve Replenishment: Increase the amount of stamina or reduce the time it takes to replenish it.
  • Implement Cross-Server Play: Allow players to form guilds and play with friends on different servers.
  • Add More Weapon Types/Customization: Expand the variety of weapons and gear, and provide more customization options.
  • Fix Bugs and Glitches: Address reported bugs, such as the snake boss getting stuck and sound issues.

Low Priority:

  • Add Option to Decline Upgrades: Allow players to decline unwanted upgrades during gameplay.
  • Implement Controller Support: Add support for external controllers.
  • Add Infinite Levels/Survivor Mode: Consider adding an endless mode for those who want a continuous challenge.
  • Improve Visual Clarity: Address the issue of too much clutter on the screen by making projectiles more distinguishable.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Transparency-Focused Mobile Game Development: A game studio could differentiate itself by being completely transparent about its monetization strategies and RNG mechanics, building trust with players.
  • Fair-to-Play Mobile Game Subscription Service: A subscription service that offers access to a library of mobile games with no in-app purchases or ads, focusing on skill-based progression and fair gameplay.
  • Mobile Game Review Platform with Monetization Ratings: A review platform that specifically assesses the monetization practices of mobile games, helping players make informed decisions about which games to play.
  • AI-Powered Mobile Game Difficulty Balancer: A tool that uses AI to analyze player data and dynamically adjust the difficulty of mobile games, ensuring a challenging but fair experience for all players.

Trends and Observations

  • Language Preferences: The majority of reviews are in English, but there are also a significant number of reviews in other languages, such as Russian and Chinese, indicating a global player base.
  • Shift in Sentiment Over Time: It's likely that early reviews were more positive, with the negative sentiment increasing as players progressed further into the game and encountered the pay-to-win aspects.
  • Comparison to Archero 1: Many reviews compare Archero 2 to the original Archero, with some praising the improvements and others lamenting the increased monetization.
  • Recurring Themes: The themes of pay-to-win, Sky Tower frustration, and RNG manipulation are consistently repeated across many reviews.

Conclusion

Archero 2 has the potential to be a great game, but its aggressive monetization strategies are currently hindering its success. By addressing the key user pain points and implementing the prioritized action recommendations, the developers can create a more balanced and enjoyable experience for all players. A shift towards a more fair and transparent monetization model would likely improve player satisfaction and long-term engagement.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/archero-2/id6502820653?uo=2