Customer Reviews (500)

its ok but… • 2025-03-21T21:07:42-07:00

I love this game but you should add cars, a workshop,more characters, and a multiplayer option in the main menu of the game!!

Koreysgaming610 • 2025-03-21T20:51:09-07:00

I play this almost every day and I never get bored so I would recommend playing this to everyone if I could

ari@2016 • 2025-03-21T20:47:54-07:00

Do NOT spawn too many entities or game will crash.

Summary of Key Insights

Melon: Sandbox is a popular sandbox game with a strong emphasis on user creativity and modding. The app enjoys a largely positive sentiment, evidenced by a high percentage of 5-star reviews. However, several recurring issues detract from the user experience, primarily excessive advertisements, glitches/crashes, and limitations in the modding system. Users are also eager for new content, particularly vehicles, characters, and expanded modding capabilities. While the game is appreciated for its freedom and entertainment value, addressing these pain points is crucial for continued success and growth. The user base appears very young, leading to requests regarding age ratings and content appropriateness.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews collected up to the present date (as of the time of analysis).
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment analysis based on star ratings and review text.
    • Keyword extraction to identify frequently mentioned issues, features, and sentiments.
    • Qualitative analysis of review content to understand user needs and pain points.

Key User Pain Points

  • Excessive Advertisements: This is the most frequently cited complaint. Users report ads appearing too often (every few minutes), disrupting gameplay and role-playing experiences.
  • Glitches and Crashes: Many users experience crashes, especially when spawning numerous entities or using specific items. Glitches also affect sound, saving, and object interactions.
  • Modding System Limitations: Users express frustration with the mod workshop moderation (rejections for "low quality"), the cost of mods (Mel coins), and the lack of certain modding features (pixel editor, importing issues).
  • Lack of Content: There are repeated requests for more vehicles (cars, planes, boats), characters (fruits, humans, animals), weapons, maps, and items.
  • Sound Issues: Many users have reported that after an ad plays, the sound in the game stops working.
  • Update Delays on iOS: iOS users consistently complain about delays in receiving updates compared to Android.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Multiplayer Mode: A highly desired feature to enable collaborative gameplay.
  • More Vehicles: Specifically cars, planes, boats, bikes, and military vehicles.
  • More Characters: Requests for new fruits, humans, animals, and customizable characters.
  • Expanded Modding Capabilities: Pixel editor, easier importing, more freedom in creating mods.
  • New Weapons: Chainsaw, lightsaber, more guns, melee weapons.
  • More Maps: New and diverse map themes (e.g., cloudy, water, lava, farm).
  • Temperature Control: Ability to change the temperature to freeze or boil water.
  • Improved AI: Request for more realistic NPC behavior and autonomous interactions.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Creative Freedom: Users appreciate the open-ended nature of the game and the ability to create their own scenarios and stories.
  • Entertaining Gameplay: The game is considered fun, engaging, and a good way to pass time.
  • Realistic Physics: The realistic animations and physics engine are praised.
  • Modding Community: The availability of mods adds depth and variety to the gameplay experience.
  • Regular Updates: Users appreciate the ongoing development and new content additions.
  • Simple Mechanics: The game is easy to understand and play.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Reduce Advertisement Frequency: Implement less intrusive ad formats or reduce the frequency of ads significantly. Consider offering a more affordable ad-free option.
  • Address Glitches and Crashes: Prioritize bug fixes and performance optimization to improve stability and reduce crashes. Focus on issues related to spawning entities and using specific items.
  • Improve Mod Workshop Moderation: Review moderation policies and provide clearer feedback to mod creators regarding rejections.
  • Expedite iOS Updates: Streamline the update process to ensure timely releases for iOS users.
  • Fix Sound Glitch: Investigate and resolve the sound glitch that occurs after ads.

Medium Priority:

  • Expand Content Library: Add new vehicles, characters, weapons, maps, and items based on user requests.
  • Enhance Modding System: Implement requested features like a pixel editor and easier importing.
  • Explore Multiplayer Feasibility: Investigate the technical challenges and potential implementation of a multiplayer mode.
  • Implement Temperature Control: This is a highly requested feature that would add a new dimension to gameplay.
  • Add More Syringes: Empty syringe to take blood samples, syringes with different effects.

Low Priority:

  • Add New Languages: Consider adding Chinese language support.
  • Improve AI: Explore options for enhancing NPC behavior and interactions.
  • Add Small Details: Backpacks, gore, specific items (e.g., a cut tool, organs).

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Sandbox Game with Advanced AI: Develop a sandbox game with advanced AI for NPCs, allowing for more realistic and dynamic interactions.
  • Modding Platform with Fair Monetization: Create a modding platform that offers fair compensation to creators and affordable options for users.
  • Mobile Game Optimization Service: Offer a service that helps mobile game developers optimize their games for performance and stability.

Trends and Observations

  • Strong Demand for User-Generated Content: The modding community is a key driver of engagement and content creation.
  • Prevalence of Young Users: Many reviews suggest a young user base, highlighting the need for age-appropriate content and moderation.
  • Monetization Concerns: Users are sensitive to aggressive monetization strategies and prefer affordable options.
  • Desire for Realism: There's a notable interest in more realistic physics, animations, and item interactions.
  • Version Confusion: Many users are confused about the latest version and update status, especially regarding iOS.

Conclusion

Melon: Sandbox has a solid foundation and a dedicated user base. By addressing the key pain points related to advertisements, glitches, and modding limitations, and by focusing on content expansion and feature enhancements, the developer can significantly improve the user experience and drive continued growth. Balancing monetization with user satisfaction is crucial for long-term success.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/melon-sandbox/id1610874732?uo=2