Customer Reviews (500)

LincWhit86 • 2025-03-27T23:18:15-07:00

In the beginning, the game was ok. As time progressed the game went in a lot of different directions. You have a lot of “islands” with different characters. It kept it interesting in the beginning. Then around the tenth level it introduced a constellation storyline to merge on the main Alice In Wonderland board. That was fine but it didn't benefit the Alice in Wonderland overall game level yet used the energy from the Alice board. The beginning of the game moved quickly and was faster-paced. The levels after ten take too long to achieve and become pretty pricey when you have to continually buy gems, coins, and energy bars in order to achieve objectives. You can earn a few coins and gems but have to go through a cycle of ads and a multi-cycle card game in order to get energy bars without paying for them.

Rinna_that girl • 2025-03-27T06:41:17-07:00

Very fun game

Blazearron89 • 2025-03-26T20:01:45-07:00

It’s a great time passing game

Summary of Key Insights

  • Alice's Dream ： Merge Games is generally well-received, with a high percentage of 5-star reviews, suggesting users find the game enjoyable and engaging. However, there are recurring complaints about aggressive monetization tactics (excessive pop-ups and expensive in-app purchases), energy limitations, and occasional technical issues. The Alice in Wonderland theme is a significant draw, and the game's variety keeps players entertained. The game is praised for being relaxing and a good time-killer. The major weaknesses are the pushy in-app purchase prompts, energy constraints, and issues with purchases not being properly credited.

  • Overall Sentiment: Positive, with many users describing the game as "fun," "addictive," and "relaxing."

  • Overall Rating: Based on the score distribution, the estimated average rating is approximately 4.2.

  • Score Distribution:

    • 5-star: 67% (335/500)
    • 4-star: 15% (74/500)
    • 3-star: 10% (50/500)
    • 2-star: 4% (18/500)
    • 1-star: 4% (23/500)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews appear to span from late 2024 to late 2025, based on review dates provided (e.g., 3/26/2025, 12/19/24).
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment analysis based on review text and star rating.
    • Keyword extraction to identify frequently mentioned topics, issues, and features.
    • Categorization of reviews based on identified themes.

Key User Pain Points

  • Excessive Pop-ups for Purchases: Many users complain about the overwhelming number of pop-up ads encouraging in-app purchases. This disrupts gameplay and creates a feeling of being constantly pressured to spend money.
  • Energy Limitations: The limited energy supply and the high energy cost of actions restrict playtime and push users towards purchasing energy refills.
  • Expensive In-App Purchases: Users feel that the game is expensive to progress in, especially without spending real money. The cost of items and energy is perceived as too high.
  • Glitches and Purchase Issues: Some users have reported problems with purchases not being credited to their accounts, leading to frustration and distrust.
  • Lack of Diversity: Several reviewers expressed a desire for more diverse character representation.
  • Complicated Gameplay and Tutorials: Some new players find the game overwhelming and difficult to understand initially, despite the tutorial.
  • Bugs and Loading Issues: A few reviews mention game crashes, loading problems after updates, and lost progress.
  • Lengthy and Unskippable Ads: Ads that are too long or cannot be skipped are a major source of annoyance.
  • Lack of Storage: Some users desire a storage option in Wonderland.

Frequently Requested Features

  • More Diverse Characters: A request for greater representation in character design.
  • Magnet Functionality: The ability to attract items automatically.
  • Storage Option: A way to store items in Wonderland to manage the board.
  • Sort/Organize Button: A feature to help organize and sort the items on the merge board.
  • More Energy: Increased maximum energy capacity or faster energy regeneration.
  • More Rewarding Side Quests: Users would like side quests to offer rewards that are more helpful for progressing in the main game.
  • Story Book/Refresher: A way to review past story events.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Engaging Gameplay: Many users find the merge mechanics addictive and enjoyable.
  • Alice in Wonderland Theme: The theme is a major draw, with users appreciating the familiar characters and settings.
  • Variety and Content: The game offers a variety of tasks, islands, and events, keeping players entertained.
  • Relaxing and Time-Killing: Users describe the game as a good way to relax and pass the time.
  • Good Graphics: Many reviewers praise the game's visuals and design.
  • Easy to Learn (Eventually): While some find it confusing at first, many users find the game easy to pick up and play after the initial learning curve.
  • Unique Spin: The quest, graphics, and character interactions are cited as making the game more unique than other merge games.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Reduce Pop-up Ads for Purchases: Implement a less aggressive monetization strategy. Reduce the frequency and intrusiveness of pop-up ads. Consider offering a one-time purchase option to remove ads.
  • Address Purchase Issues: Improve the reliability of in-app purchases and provide better customer support for resolving purchase-related problems.
  • Increase Energy Capacity or Regeneration: Adjust the energy system to allow for more sustained gameplay. Increase the maximum energy capacity or speed up energy regeneration.
  • Fix Bugs and Loading Issues: Prioritize bug fixes and performance improvements to address crashes, loading problems, and lost progress.

Medium Priority:

  • Implement Sort/Organize Button: Add a button to sort the merge items when the board is full.
  • Introduce More Diverse Characters: Add characters with diverse backgrounds and appearances.
  • Improve Tutorials and Onboarding: Simplify the initial tutorial and provide clearer guidance for new players.
  • Balance Difficulty and Cost: Re-evaluate the cost of items and energy to make progression more accessible without excessive spending.
  • Offer Storage Option: Add a storage option in Wonderland to manage the board.

Low Priority:

  • Add Magnet Functionality: Implement the ability to attract items automatically.
  • Enhance Side Quest Rewards: Offer rewards that are more helpful for progressing in the main game.
  • Add Story Book/Refresher: Provide a way to review past story events.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Merge Game with Ethical Monetization: A merge game that prioritizes player experience over aggressive monetization, offering a fair and enjoyable gameplay loop.
  • AI-Powered Merge Board Organizer: An AI tool that automatically organizes merge game boards, optimizing space and item placement for efficient gameplay.
  • Diverse Character Design Studio for Games: A service offering diverse and culturally relevant character designs for game developers, addressing the need for better representation.

Trends and Observations

  • Monetization Complaints Increase Over Time: Older reviews (if dates are accurate) show fewer complaints about monetization, suggesting the issue has worsened recently.
  • Positive Sentiment Driven by Theme and Core Gameplay: The Alice in Wonderland theme and the core merge mechanics are consistently praised, indicating they are strong points to build upon.
  • Energy System a Common Frustration: The energy system is a recurring point of contention, suggesting it needs careful re-evaluation.
  • Some Evidence of Paid Reviews: A few reviews mention getting paid to play, raising concerns about the authenticity of the review data.

Conclusion

Alice's Dream ： Merge Games has a solid foundation with its engaging gameplay, charming theme, and appealing graphics. However, the aggressive monetization tactics and energy limitations are significantly detracting from the user experience. By addressing these issues and implementing the requested features, the developers can improve player satisfaction, increase retention, and foster a more positive reputation. The game has great potential, but it needs to strike a better balance between monetization and player enjoyment.

Overall Recommendation: Focus on improving the player experience by reducing aggressive monetization, addressing technical issues, and incorporating user feedback. This will lead to higher ratings, better retention, and a more sustainable business model.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/alices-dream-merge-games/id6444907010?uo=2