Customer Reviews (100)

judson antu • 2025-03-25T05:13:08.910Z

cool addictive game.

Alexander Williamson • 2025-03-20T20:49:05.937Z

Amazing casual game - well worth the small cost.

Ben Wah (Haha) • 2025-03-20T04:05:18.441Z

pretty fun time suck!

Summary of Key Insights

Mini Metro enjoys overwhelmingly positive sentiment, with users praising its addictive gameplay, simple yet strategic design, and lack of ads or in-app purchases. The game is considered a great time-killer and a relaxing puzzle experience. However, some users experience glitches, desire more content (new cities/levels), and request features such as an undo button and more creative mode options. There are also complaints that the game can become too difficult too quickly and that the randomness can be frustrating. Overall, Mini Metro is a well-received game with a strong core experience, but addressing user-reported issues and adding requested features could further enhance its appeal.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating: Highly positive, skewed towards 5-star reviews.
  • Score Distribution:
    • 5-star: 81%
    • 4-star: 6%
    • 3-star: 9%
    • 2-star: 1%
    • 1-star: 3%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 100 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not specified, but presumably recent based on the context of the reviews (e.g., mentions of specific phones/years).
  • Analysis Methods: Manual sentiment analysis, keyword extraction (identifying frequently used words and phrases related to positive and negative aspects of the app).

Key User Pain Points

  • Glitches/Bugs: Some users report glitches, such as trains not picking up passengers or the game freezing. One user mentioned a clock menu opening under the exit button, making it unusable. (Severity: High - can break gameplay)
  • Difficulty Curve: Several users mention the game becoming too difficult too quickly, leading to frustration. (Severity: Medium - impacts enjoyment)
  • Accidental Actions: A user mentioned accidentally grabbing and moving trains or lines, ruining their run and wished for an "undo" button. (Severity: Medium - impacts gameplay)
  • Randomness/Lack of Control: Some users find the randomness of city growth and station types frustrating, particularly when it leads to unavoidable failure. (Severity: Medium - impacts enjoyment)
  • Sensitivity of Controls: One user mentioned that it's hard to select the right thing when moving lines or switching trains from one line to another because the screen is very sensitive. (Severity: Medium - impacts usability)

Frequently Requested Features

  • More Content (New Cities/Levels): Many users express a desire for new cities or levels to play.
  • "Undo" Button: Users want an undo button to correct accidental actions.
  • Map Editor/Community Maps: Some users requested a map editor to build their own maps and share them with the community.
  • Creative Mode Enhancements: Requests for features in Creative Mode like automatically added stations, fast trains, and integrated stations.
  • Mini Motorways Port: A recurring request is to port the developer's other game, Mini Motorways, to Android.
  • Pixel 9 Pro XL Support: A user specifically requested support for the Pixel 9 Pro XL to take advantage of the screen.
  • Weekly Upgrade Map Preview: A user suggested allowing players to look at the map before deciding during the weekly upgrade.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Addictive Gameplay: Many users describe the game as "addictive," "engrossing," and a "time sink."
  • Simple Yet Strategic Design: The game is praised for its simple premise and deep gameplay, requiring strategic thinking and planning.
  • No Ads/In-App Purchases: Users appreciate the absence of ads and in-app purchases.
  • Relaxing/Calming Experience: Many users find the game relaxing and calming, despite its challenges.
  • Unique and High-Quality: The game is described as "unique," "extremely quality," and a "master class in design."
  • Good Value for Money: Users feel the game is worth the purchase price.
  • Excellent for Short Bursts: Users find it great for passing short periods of time.
  • Responsive Soundtrack: The Disasterpeace soundtrack is appreciated.
  • Offline Play: The ability to play offline (e.g., in airplane mode) is valued.
  • Challenging without Frustration: One user highlighted that the game is challenging without being frustrating.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

  • High Priority:
    • Fix Glitches/Bugs: Address reported glitches, such as trains not picking up passengers or the game freezing. This directly impacts gameplay and user experience.
    • Add an "Undo" Button: Implement an undo button to mitigate the frustration of accidental actions.
  • Medium Priority:
    • Balance Difficulty Curve: Adjust the difficulty curve to prevent the game from becoming too difficult too quickly. Consider implementing difficulty options or a more gradual increase in challenge.
    • Improve Controls: Address the sensitivity of the controls to prevent accidental selections.
    • Implement New Content (Cities/Levels): Introduce new cities or levels to keep the game fresh and engaging for long-term players.
    • Reduce Frustrating Randomness: Examine the impact of randomness on gameplay and consider ways to provide players with more control or predictability.
  • Low Priority:
    • Creative Mode Enhancements: Add requested features to Creative Mode.
    • Consider Mini Motorways Port: Evaluate the feasibility of porting Mini Motorways to Android based on user demand.
    • Optimize for New Devices: Ensure compatibility and optimal performance on newer devices, such as the Pixel 9 Pro XL.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Procedural City Generation SDK: Create an SDK based on Mini Metro's city generation algorithm for other game developers.
  • Educational Version: Develop an educational version of Mini Metro for teaching urban planning or network design.
  • Mini Metro Merchandise: Create physical merchandise based on the game's minimalist design (e.g., posters, t-shirts).
  • Mini Motorways Expansion Pack for Mini Metro: Create an expansion pack that combines elements of Mini Motorways into Mini Metro, creating a more complex transportation planning experience.

Trends and Observations

  • Strong Positive Sentiment: The overwhelming majority of reviews are positive, indicating a high level of user satisfaction.
  • Desire for More Content: A recurring theme is the desire for more cities and levels, suggesting that users are engaged with the core gameplay loop but want more variety.
  • Technical Issues Impact User Experience: Reports of glitches and bugs, even if infrequent, can significantly detract from the user experience.
  • Requests for Similar Games: The consistent requests for a Mini Motorways port suggest a strong interest in similar gameplay experiences from the same developer.
  • Language Preferences: A review in Spanish ("Mini Metro es un juego increíblemente adictivo y bien diseñado...") indicates the game has international appeal and may benefit from further localization. A review in Polish ("Jedna z najlepszych gierek") also indicates the game has international appeal.

Conclusion

Mini Metro is a highly successful and well-regarded game with a strong core experience. By addressing user-reported glitches, balancing the difficulty curve, and adding requested features such as new content and an undo button, the developers can further enhance the game's appeal and ensure continued user satisfaction. The consistently positive sentiment and desire for more content suggest a loyal player base that is eager for further development and expansion of the Mini Metro universe.

Overall Recommendation: Address the high-priority issues (glitches and undo button) immediately. Then, focus on adding new content and balancing the difficulty to retain existing players and attract new ones.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nz.co.codepoint.minimetro