Customer Reviews (500)

By Jose Anaya 2 • 2025-03-22T20:06:08-07:00

I don’t have to say anything. The only thing I have to say is the controls. But still this game is perfect.

Kaebarril • 2025-03-20T05:44:16-07:00

This game is very fun but it’s not my favorite game. My favorite game is Minecraft. It’s way better than this game. But it’s very annoying because you keep dying I’m so angry😡😡😡😡🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

volreeed • 2025-03-19T11:01:58-07:00

I paid $5 for this but I’m not allowed to leave any honest feedback. Reporting the store and developer to the FTC for removing reviews. When you try to deceive consumers it’s called fraud. Do I need to mention how nobody can read the text in this game or that it runs like garbage? This game isn’t any good. Developers are trash.

Summary of Key Insights

Terraria on iOS is a highly popular game, praised for its extensive content, replayability, and engaging gameplay. However, the mobile port suffers from significant control issues, particularly after recent updates. Many users express frustration with the complex and unintuitive controls, making the game difficult to play. While some adapt, a substantial portion of the user base finds them unplayable and long for the original, simpler controls. Multiplayer connectivity issues are also a recurring problem. Despite these drawbacks, the core gameplay loop, the depth of content, and the overall Terraria experience remain highly valued.

Overall Sentiment: Mixed. While the underlying game is loved, the mobile port's execution receives considerable criticism.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating (based on limited data): Leans positive, but skewed by the core game's reputation.
  • Score Distribution: 5-star (54.6%), 4-star (15.8%), 3-star (7%), 2-star (6%), 1-star (16.6%). A significant portion of negative reviews indicates serious problems needing attention.
  • A relatively high percentage of 1-star reviews (16.6%) compared to the number of total reviews (500) signals potential issues that need addressing.

Key Strengths: Depth of content, engaging gameplay, replayability, lack of in-app purchases, no ads.

Key Weaknesses: Controls (complexity, unintuitive design, screen clutter), multiplayer connectivity issues, lack of cloud save functionality.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not specified, but likely represents recent reviews given the mentions of current updates (1.4.4.14) and control changes.
  • Analysis Methods: Manual sentiment analysis, keyword extraction, and thematic analysis to identify recurring issues, requests, and positive aspects.

Key User Pain Points

  • Control Issues: The most prominent complaint revolves around the controls. Users find them complex, unintuitive, and difficult to customize. Many feel the new controls are a poor adaptation of the PC version and are unsuitable for touchscreens. This leads to frustration, difficulty in combat and building, and a desire for the original control scheme.
  • Multiplayer Connectivity Problems: A significant number of users report issues with connecting to multiplayer games, both locally and online. This includes problems with servers not showing up, connection timeouts, and general difficulty in establishing a connection with friends.
  • Lack of Cloud Save Functionality: Users express concern about the absence of cloud saves, leading to potential data loss if the app is deleted or the device is reset.
  • Lost Progress: Multiple users reported losing all of their progress in the game for unknown reasons.
  • Bugs and Glitches: Occasional reports of bugs, such as the inability to open certain chests, world generation issues, and sound problems.
  • Lack of Language Support: Several users, particularly Chinese speakers, request language localization.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Option to Revert to Old Controls: The most common request is the ability to switch back to the original, simpler mobile controls.
  • Cross-Platform Multiplayer: Users desire cross-play compatibility with PC and console versions.
  • Mod Support: A frequently requested feature, especially for mobile users who want to experience content like the Calamity mod.
  • Cloud Saves: Implementation of a cloud save system to prevent data loss.
  • Chinese Language Support: Addition of Chinese language localization.
  • More Post-Moon Lord Content: Some users desire more challenging content after defeating the Moon Lord.
  • Creative Mode: A separate creative mode that allows building without resource constraints.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Extensive Content: Users consistently praise the game's vast amount of content, including items, enemies, biomes, and bosses.
  • Engaging Gameplay: The core gameplay loop of exploration, combat, building, and crafting is highly addictive.
  • Replayability: The game offers high replayability due to its open-ended nature and different difficulty settings.
  • No In-App Purchases/Ads: Users appreciate the one-time purchase model with no additional microtransactions or intrusive advertisements.
  • Faithful Port (Content-wise): The mobile version is generally considered a faithful adaptation of the PC version in terms of content.
  • Customizable UI (Potentially): While controls are criticized, some users mention the ability to customize the UI. However, this is often overshadowed by the control issues.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Control Issues: This is the most critical issue. Implement an option to switch between the new and old control schemes, or significantly improve the customizability and intuitiveness of the current controls. Conduct user testing to gather feedback on potential control improvements.
  • Fix Multiplayer Connectivity Problems: Investigate and resolve the reported issues with multiplayer connectivity, both locally and online. Provide clear troubleshooting steps for users experiencing these problems.

Medium Priority:

  • Implement Cloud Saves: Add a cloud save system to protect user progress and data.
  • Add Chinese Language Support: Prioritize language localization, starting with Chinese, to cater to a broader audience.
  • Improve Tutorial/Onboarding: Enhance the tutorial to better explain the complex controls and game mechanics, especially for new players.

Low Priority:

  • Explore Mod Support (Long-Term): Investigate the feasibility of adding mod support for mobile, recognizing the technical challenges involved.
  • Add More Post-Moon Lord Content: Consider adding more endgame content to extend the game's longevity for experienced players.
  • Implement Creative Mode: Potentially add a creative mode for players focused on building.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Mobile Control Scheme Customization Tool: A standalone app that allows users to design and share custom control schemes for mobile games, including Terraria.
  • Terraria Companion App: An app that provides detailed information on items, crafting recipes, enemy stats, and other game-related data, along with a control scheme guide and troubleshooting tips.
  • Multiplayer Connection Assistant: A tool that simplifies the process of setting up and troubleshooting multiplayer connections for mobile games, including Terraria.

Trends and Observations

  • Control Scheme Divide: A clear division exists between users who prefer the original controls and those who have adapted to the new ones.
  • Nostalgia: Many users express nostalgia for earlier versions of the game.
  • "Minecraft vs. Terraria" Comparisons: The comparison to Minecraft is frequent, although often used to highlight Terraria's unique strengths.
  • Update Dependency: User satisfaction is heavily tied to the frequency and quality of updates.
  • Desire for PC Features: Mobile players often desire features available on the PC version, such as mod support and cross-platform play.

Conclusion

Terraria on iOS remains a highly popular game thanks to its core gameplay loop and extensive content. However, the current control scheme and multiplayer issues are significantly detracting from the user experience. Addressing these issues, particularly the controls, is crucial to retaining existing players and attracting new ones. Implementing cloud saves and exploring cross-platform play would further enhance the game's appeal. The developers should prioritize addressing the high-priority issues to ensure that the mobile port lives up to the quality of the core Terraria experience.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/terraria/id640364616?uo=2