Customer Reviews (500)

slr47 • 2025-03-23T02:01:37-07:00

All too many times on my iPhone and iPad does this game gors black. If I turn off my iPhone or iPad to reset, it has no effect on the game and it’s still black. I enjoy this game a lot, but this black screen is very frustrating. And I never know when I’m going to be able to play the game again. What’s with these new ads that are so big they are in the playing field!!! Please get rid of them!!!

Marcia Girl • 2025-03-22T07:39:57-07:00

Fast moving challenging game!

coconutpistachio17 • 2025-03-21T16:23:02-07:00

Fun & entertaining

Summary of Key Insights

Wordscapes Solitaire is a generally well-received game, praised for its engaging gameplay that blends word puzzles and solitaire. The main strengths are its addictiveness, the mental stimulation it provides, and the relaxing experience. However, the overwhelmingly negative feedback centers on the excessive and intrusive advertising, which significantly detracts from the user experience. Many users also report technical issues such as freezing, glitches, and sound problems. The high cost of ad removal (a monthly subscription) is also a major point of contention. While the core gameplay is appreciated, the monetization strategy and technical stability are major weaknesses.

  • Overall Rating: Based on the score distribution, the average rating is approximately 4.08 stars.
  • Sentiment: Mixed. Positive sentiment towards gameplay, negative sentiment towards ads and technical issues.
  • Score Distribution:
    • 5-star: 43.2% (216/500)
    • 4-star: 17% (85/500)
    • 3-star: 15.6% (78/500)
    • 2-star: 8.6% (43/500)
    • 1-star: 15.6% (78/500)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Reviews likely span the period since the app's release, up to the date of the analysis (October 27, 2024 - based on the review dates provided in the context).
  • Analysis Methods: Keyword extraction (identifying frequently used words and phrases), sentiment analysis (categorizing reviews as positive, negative, or neutral), and frequency analysis (counting the occurrences of specific issues and feature requests).

Key User Pain Points

  • Excessive and Intrusive Advertising: This is the most significant and frequently mentioned pain point. Users complain about:
    • Ads after every level.
    • Long and unskippable ads.
    • Ads popping up during gameplay.
    • Banner ads that obstruct the game interface.
    • Ads with sound playing even when the phone is on silent.
    • Ads leading to scam websites or inappropriate content.
  • High Cost of Ad Removal: The $9.99 monthly subscription for ad removal is perceived as too expensive, especially since it doesn't remove all ads (banner ads remain). Many users would prefer a one-time purchase option.
  • Technical Issues:
    • Freezing and crashing.
    • Sound disappearing after ads.
    • Game progress not being saved.
    • Slow performance and lag.
    • Black screen issues.
  • Inappropriate Ads: Users report seeing ads with sexually suggestive or otherwise inappropriate content, making the game unsuitable for children.
  • Lost Progress: The game does not always save progress, causing frustration when the app crashes or is closed.

Frequently Requested Features

  • One-Time Purchase for Ad Removal: A permanent, one-time purchase option to remove all ads (including banner ads).
  • Cloud Save/Account Sync: The ability to save game progress and sync it across multiple devices.
  • More Challenging Difficulty Levels: Some users find the game too easy, especially in the early levels, and would like more challenging options.
  • Clearer Instructions: More detailed explanations of game mechanics and strategies.
  • Ability to Choose Wild Card Letter: When using a Wild Card, the ability to select the letter it represents.
  • Option to Opt-Out of Tournaments: Users who don't have time to compete in tournaments want the option to opt-out without being penalized.
  • Access Library During Gameplay: The ability to view the Library of Lost Words while playing a level.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Addictive Gameplay: Users find the game engaging and fun to play.
  • Mental Stimulation: The game is perceived as a good way to keep the mind sharp and improve vocabulary.
  • Relaxing Experience: Many users find the game relaxing and stress-free (when not interrupted by ads or technical issues).
  • Unique Blend of Word and Card Games: The combination of word puzzles and solitaire is seen as innovative and refreshing.
  • Appealing Graphics and Music: The game's visuals and audio are generally well-received.
  • Wordsworth the Owl: The cute owl character is a nice touch.
  • Learning New Words: The game helps users learn new words and their definitions.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Reduce Advertising Frequency and Intrusiveness: Significantly decrease the number of ads, especially those that interrupt gameplay. Consider showing ads only after multiple levels or offering non-intrusive ad formats.
  • Implement a One-Time Purchase Option for Ad Removal: Offer a permanent, one-time purchase option to remove all ads, including banner ads.
  • Address Technical Issues: Fix the freezing, crashing, sound, and performance problems reported by users. Thoroughly test updates before release.
  • Review Ad Content: Ensure that ads are appropriate for all age groups and do not lead to scam websites or offensive content. Implement a system for users to report inappropriate ads.
  • Implement Cloud Save/Account Sync: Enable users to save their game progress and sync it across multiple devices.

Medium Priority:

  • Offer More Challenging Difficulty Levels: Introduce difficulty settings or more challenging game modes for experienced players.
  • Provide Clearer Instructions: Add a tutorial or help section to explain game mechanics and strategies.
  • Allow Wild Card Letter Selection: Enable users to choose the letter represented by a Wild Card.
  • Implement Opt-Out for Tournaments: Give users the option to opt-out of tournaments without being penalized.
  • Provide Access Library During Gameplay: Allow users to view the Library of Lost Words while playing a level.
  • Improve Coin Economy: Adjust the number of coins earned and spent to make the game more balanced and less reliant on in-app purchases.

Low Priority:

  • Offer more visual customization options for the library.
  • Consider language options, if not already implemented.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Ethical Mobile Gaming Ad Network: An ad network that focuses on providing non-intrusive, relevant, and age-appropriate ads for mobile games, with a strong emphasis on user experience and transparency.
  • Mobile Game Ad Removal Subscription Service: A subscription service that allows users to pay a single monthly fee to remove ads from multiple mobile games, rather than having to pay for each game individually.
  • Mobile Game Progress Backup and Sync Service: A service that automatically backs up and syncs game progress across multiple devices, ensuring that users never lose their data.
  • Mobile Game Difficulty Customization Platform: A platform that allows game developers to easily implement customizable difficulty settings in their games, catering to a wider range of player skill levels.

Trends and Observations

  • Ad Complaints Increase Over Time: Many users initially report minimal ads but later complain about the increasing frequency and intrusiveness of ads as they progress through the game. This suggests a deliberate strategy to monetize users after they become invested in the game.
  • Technical Issues Persist: Technical problems such as freezing and sound issues are recurring themes in the reviews, indicating that these problems have not been adequately addressed over time.
  • Inconsistent Ad Experiences: Some users report very few ads, while others are bombarded with them. This suggests that the ad experience may vary depending on factors such as user demographics or device type.

Conclusion

Wordscapes Solitaire has a strong foundation with its engaging gameplay and unique blend of word and card games. However, the excessive and intrusive advertising, combined with technical issues and a high cost for ad removal, is significantly detracting from the user experience. To improve user satisfaction and retention, the developers should prioritize reducing advertising frequency and intrusiveness, addressing technical problems, and offering a more reasonable ad removal option. Addressing these issues will allow the core strengths of the game to shine and attract a wider audience. Overall recommendation: Focus on improving the user experience by addressing the negative feedback related to ads and technical issues.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wordscapes-solitaire/id6452119853?uo=2