Customer Reviews (500)

Gamesxs • 2025-03-23T19:38:53-07:00

Deleting this piece of S. This game breaks its own rules. It’s supposed to bring a tile in whenever there is a match.. Randomly it’ll just decide to bring the tile in and another piece of the board. And then it’ll decide suddenly that all of the next tiles are going to be all red or all blue. It’s not random. It is rigged to make you lose. I enjoy it, but I hate it. Because this game decides you know it decides that you’re going to lose. At least in chess there are rules that you can understand. With this game, there’s no understanding. When the game decides that you are going to lose, you will lose. I just got done playing a game with reds that came out in a row. The more achievements that you ever earned on the game, the harder it gets to play from the beginning eventually, it’ll give you five red tiles in a row. It’s not only exponentially harder as you make matches, it is exponentially harder on newer games. I imagine we will find out in the future that it is AI driven to make you lose

TheSwansong • 2025-03-02T06:04:12-07:00

I have played this game for many years. All of a sudden Game Center sign in was required. No reason no benefit. If I turn Game Center off, the app nags me ever time I launch it. No way to disable it at all

Laydiebugs • 2025-01-25T13:33:02-07:00

Calibration of how quickly to increase difficulty is awful. After *one* time getting 20k amidst a sea of 3000s, it drastically changed the way it throws new blocks in making precious strategies unusable. If you derive satisfaction from developing a strategy and refining it, and seeing ever increasing scores, it won’t work with this game. I started playing threes ages ago when it was new. It was one of my favorites. The last few times I’ve reached for it though, I have one fun game and then it’s completely frustrating.

Summary of Key Insights

Threes! is a highly regarded puzzle game with enduring appeal. The reviews show overwhelmingly positive sentiment, with users praising its simple yet challenging gameplay, charming design, and lack of in-app purchases. However, some users have reported issues with recent updates, including crashes, performance problems, and changes to gameplay mechanics that make the game less enjoyable. A significant concern revolves around unwanted Game Center integration and a merchandise page that disrupts the user experience. While the core game is beloved, addressing these technical and design issues is crucial for maintaining its positive reputation.

  • Overall Rating: High (based on review distribution)
  • Key Strengths: Addictive gameplay, charming design, lack of IAPs, simple mechanics with strategic depth.
  • Key Weaknesses: Recent updates causing crashes and performance issues, unwanted Game Center integration, disruptive merchandise page, perceived AI rigging, occasional misreads of swipes.
  • Overall Sentiment: Positive, but with increasing frustration related to recent changes.
  • Score Distribution: 5-star: 73.6%, 4-star: 4.2%, 3-star: 6%, 2-star: 5.2%, 1-star: 11%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews span several years, with a higher concentration of recent reviews likely reflecting responses to recent updates.
  • Analysis Methods: Manual sentiment analysis, keyword extraction to identify recurring themes, and categorization of user feedback into strengths, weaknesses, feature requests, and pain points.

Key User Pain Points

  • Crashes and Performance Issues: Many users report crashes, freezes, and performance degradation, particularly after recent updates. This significantly impacts usability and enjoyment.
  • Unwanted Game Center Integration: Users find the constant prompts to sign in to Game Center annoying and disruptive.
  • Disruptive Merchandise Page: The placement of a merchandise page after each game, especially where the "restart" button used to be, leads to accidental clicks and frustration.
  • Perceived AI Rigging: Some users believe the game is rigged to make them lose, citing patterns of unfavorable tile spawns.
  • Swipe Misreads: Users report that the game occasionally misinterprets their swipes, leading to unintended moves.
  • Sound Issues: Some users are experiencing sound effect issues.
  • Loading Issues: Several users report the game getting stuck on a black screen.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Undo Button: Many users request an "undo" button to correct accidental moves.
  • Dark Mode Customization: Users want the game to automatically switch between light and dark themes based on device settings.
  • Restart Button Improvement: Users want an easier way to start a new game without having to navigate through extra steps or accidentally clicking the merchandise link.
  • More Granular Statistics: Some users would like more detailed statistics tracking and the ability to download their game data.
  • Keyboard Support: Users want to be able to play the game using the arrow keys on external keyboards.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Addictive Gameplay: Users consistently describe the game as addictive and engaging, providing hours of entertainment.
  • Simple Mechanics with Strategic Depth: The game is easy to learn but offers surprising depth and strategic possibilities.
  • Charming Design: Users appreciate the game's cute graphics, endearing characters, and heartwarming soundtrack.
  • No In-App Purchases (IAPs): The "buy-once-play-forever" model is highly valued by users.
  • Offline Play: The ability to play offline is a significant advantage for users who travel or have limited internet access.
  • Relaxing and Calming: Many users find the game relaxing and helpful for managing anxiety.
  • Good Time Killer: Users find the game to be a great way to fill short gaps of time during the day.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Fix Crashes and Performance Issues: Thoroughly test updates on various devices and iOS versions to prevent crashes and performance degradation. (Impact: High, Frequency: High)
  • Address Game Center Integration: Provide an option to completely disable Game Center integration to avoid annoying prompts. (Impact: High, Frequency: High)
  • Remove or Redesign Merchandise Page: Reconsider the placement and intrusiveness of the merchandise page. Consider moving it to a separate section of the app or making it less prominent. (Impact: High, Frequency: High)
  • Investigate Perceived AI Rigging: Analyze the game's tile generation algorithm to ensure it is fair and random. Consider providing transparency about the algorithm to reassure users. (Impact: Medium, Frequency: Medium)

Medium Priority:

  • Implement Undo Button: Add an "undo" button to allow users to correct accidental moves. Consider disabling leaderboard submission for games where the undo feature is used. (Impact: Medium, Frequency: High)
  • Improve Swipe Recognition: Optimize swipe gesture recognition to reduce misinterpretations and improve responsiveness. (Impact: Medium, Frequency: Medium)
  • Dark Mode Customization: Implement automatic switching between light and dark themes based on device settings. (Impact: Low, Frequency: Medium)
  • Address Sound Issues: Fix the issues causing sound effects to stop working for some users. (Impact: Low, Frequency: Low)
  • Address Loading Issues: Fix the issue causing the game to get stuck on a black screen. (Impact: Medium, Frequency: Low)

Low Priority:

  • More Granular Statistics: Consider adding more detailed statistics tracking and the ability to download game data. (Impact: Low, Frequency: Low)
  • Keyboard Support: Explore the possibility of adding keyboard support for users who prefer to play with external keyboards. (Impact: Low, Frequency: Low)

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Personalized Puzzle Game Difficulty: A puzzle game engine that dynamically adjusts difficulty based on user skill and preferences, providing a consistently challenging and engaging experience.
  • Mobile Game Analytics Dashboard: A service that provides mobile game developers with detailed analytics on user behavior, including swipe patterns, decision-making processes, and frustration points.
  • Adaptive Soundtrack for Puzzle Games: A music engine that generates dynamic soundtracks for puzzle games, adapting to the player's progress and emotional state.

Trends and Observations

  • Negative Sentiment Surge After Updates: A pattern of negative reviews spiking after updates suggests that updates are often introducing new issues or changing gameplay mechanics in ways that users dislike.
  • Enduring Appeal: Despite the recent issues, the game has maintained a loyal following for many years, indicating a strong core gameplay loop.
  • Nostalgia: Many users mention playing the game for years and rediscovering it, suggesting a strong nostalgic connection.

Conclusion

Threes! remains a beloved puzzle game with a strong foundation and loyal fanbase. However, recent updates have introduced issues that are negatively impacting the user experience. Addressing these technical and design issues is crucial for maintaining the game's positive reputation and preventing users from abandoning it. By focusing on fixing crashes, improving performance, addressing unwanted Game Center integration and the merchandise page, and implementing frequently requested features, the developers can ensure that Threes! continues to thrive for years to come.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/threes/id779157948?uo=2