Bendy and the Ink Machine

4.2500 reviews analyzedPositive sentiment

Rating breakdown

5★
281
4★
136
3★
35
2★
16
1★
32

TL;DR

- Bendy and the Ink Machine receives generally positive reviews, with many users praising its storyline, graphics, and overall gameplay experience. However, a significant number of users report encountering bugs and glitches, which detract from their enjoyment and hinder progression. The app's last update was several years ago, and many users are requesting a new update to address these issues and potentially add new content, such as Bendy and the Dark Revival on mobile. Performance issues, especially lag, are also a concern, particularly on older devices. Despite these flaws, the game holds nostalgic value for many players and remains a cherished experience.

Customer Reviews (500)

Ronery084 • 2025-03-21T11:21:27-07:00

It’s a great game. It won’t be on par like the on other platforms looking mind blowing or anything, but it looks good. There are performance issues even on low settings. It’s quite annoying. It causes looking around laggy and finicky which can mess you up. Doubt it will get patched. With the shapes of the iPhones now, the game’s icons need to be readjusted. The cog icon for settings need to be moved to the right a bit. Or leave it. It’s fine. Sometimes whilst tapping jump or grab or melee, your screen will move a bit. This can mess you up. Maybe our fingers are too big for these little icons. Too bad we cant move the buttons to our liking, and increase their size. Too bad there are no achievements like the PC version, or five or twelve of them.

daf1154 • 2025-03-15T21:02:53-07:00

I absolutely loved the game, the only issues were the bugs. When we talk to Joey Drew in the end, his face glitches out and stretches. As well as, which I’m not sure if this is a bug, in chapter 4 when you’re tossing the balls at the bottles, sometimes the ball doesn’t throw hard, and just goes up in the air. Everything else was great, though. I loved the Beast Bendy fight in the end.

Aaron the fnaf fan • 2025-03-08T18:16:10-07:00

On chapter 3 when I had to get 5 ink hearts I got them all but for some reason it won’t even let me put them in the deposit thing which makes it so I can never progress through the game unless I select chapter but still fun which is why I give it 4 stars

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews span a considerable time, with some mentioning events as far back as 2017-2019 and up to 2024. However the date on the reviews show the current time.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment analysis (qualitative assessment of positive, negative, and neutral opinions).
    • Keyword extraction (identification of frequently mentioned issues and features).
    • Categorization of issues by type (bugs, performance, feature requests).

Key User Pain Points

  • Bugs and Glitches:
    • Game crashes, especially during specific events (e.g., dying in boss fights, entering ink tunnels, completing chapter 3).
    • Progress loss due to crashes and lack of reliable save functionality.
    • Elevator malfunctions (getting stuck, doors not opening).
    • Falling through the floor or map.
    • Control issues (disappearing buttons, duplicated joysticks, unresponsive controls).
    • Quest progression blockers (items not collectable, objectives not updating).
    • Joey Drew's face glitching at the end of the game.
  • Performance Issues:
    • Lag, especially during intense scenes or when near enemies.
    • Low frame rates (FPS), making the game difficult to play.
  • UI/UX Issues:
    • Button placement and size on mobile devices.
    • Lack of customizable controls.
    • Inability to save progress reliably.
  • Chapter Specific Issues
    • Chapter 4 carnival games being too difficult.
    • Chapter 2 music puzzle not triggering event.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Bendy and the Dark Revival (BATDR) Port: Overwhelming demand for the sequel to be released on mobile.
  • Bug Fixes and Updates: General request for the game to be updated and bugs to be fixed.
  • Saving Slots: Multiple save slots to avoid losing progress.
  • Controller Support: Enhanced gameplay experience with external controllers.
  • Adjustable Graphics Settings: More granular control over graphics quality to improve performance on lower-end devices.
  • Achievements: Integration of achievements like the PC version.
  • Bendy Nightmare Run Return: Nostalgic request to bring back the spin-off game.
  • FPS Adjustment: Setting to increase the framerate of the game.
  • Alpha/Beta Versions: Option to play older versions of the game.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Engaging Storyline: The narrative and mystery surrounding the game are highly praised.
  • Unique Art Style: The cartoonish, vintage aesthetic is well-received and considered a defining characteristic.
  • Nostalgic Appeal: Many users have fond memories of playing the game and related titles in the past.
  • Character Design: The characters, especially Bendy, Boris, and Alice Angel, are popular and well-designed.
  • Atmosphere and Immersion: The game's atmosphere creates a creepy and immersive experience.
  • Challenging Puzzles: The puzzles provide a satisfying level of difficulty.
  • Mobile Portability: Being able to play the game on mobile devices is appreciated.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Bug Fixing: Address the most frequently reported bugs and glitches that prevent game progression (e.g., elevator malfunctions, falling through the floor, game crashes, quest progression blockers).
  • Performance Optimization: Improve performance, particularly on older devices, by optimizing graphics and reducing lag.
  • Saving System Improvement: Implement a reliable save system and multiple save slots to prevent progress loss.

Medium Priority:

  • BATDR Port: Prioritize the development and release of Bendy and the Dark Revival for mobile devices.
  • Controller Support: Add controller support for a better gaming experience.
  • UI/UX Improvements:
    • Allow customization of control placement and size.
    • Improve button responsiveness.
  • Graphics Settings: Provide more detailed graphics settings to allow users to adjust performance.

Low Priority:

  • Achievements: Add achievements to increase replayability.
  • Bendy Nightmare Run Return: Consider bringing back the spin-off game if resources allow.
  • New Content: Explore the possibility of adding new chapters or content in the future.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Mobile Game Optimization Service: A service that analyzes mobile games and provides optimization recommendations to developers to improve performance and reduce bugs.
  • Nostalgia-Focused Mobile Game Subscription: A subscription service that provides access to a curated collection of classic and nostalgic mobile games, optimized for modern devices.
  • Mobile Game Bug Reporting and Testing Platform: A platform that connects mobile game developers with testers to identify and fix bugs before release.

Trends and Observations

  • Language Preference: Predominantly English reviews, with some reviews in Chinese and Russian.
  • Recurring Patterns:
    • Bug reports are consistent across different device types, suggesting the issues are related to the game's code rather than specific hardware.
    • Positive sentiment is often followed by a "but" statement describing a bug or performance issue.
  • Shift in Sentiment: While initial reviews might have been more positive, the accumulation of unresolved issues has led to increasing frustration among players.

Conclusion

Bendy and the Ink Machine is a well-loved game with a strong narrative and unique art style, but its mobile port suffers from significant technical issues that detract from the user experience. Addressing these issues through bug fixes, performance optimization, and a reliable saving system is crucial to maintaining the game's positive reputation and attracting new players. The demand for Bendy and the Dark Revival on mobile represents a significant opportunity for the developers to capitalize on the game's popularity and generate additional revenue. It is strongly recommended that the developers prioritize these improvements and consider a new update to address these concerns.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bendy-and-the-ink-machine/id1437669537?uo=2

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