Customer Reviews (100)

marianna cornejo • 2025-03-25T04:32:48.547Z

had it for maybe a week before i got bored of it. now i keep receiving their stupid ads about it.

Allison Allaire • 2025-03-25T03:52:12.169Z

Wow much better! Last time I tried this game a few years ago it was all ads all the time... interrupting game play, in between every level, it was obnoxious. Not to mention, you started out on so-simple levels it wasn't even fun. Downloaded it again out of curiosity; I haven't seen a single ad yet and it's exactly how the ad shows on other games- fun, engaging levels. Thanks for improving this!

Garland Settles • 2025-03-25T01:18:31.979Z

Great Game

Summary of Key Insights

  • All in Hole is a generally well-received game with a fun and addictive core mechanic similar to Katamari Damacy. However, it suffers from issues related to aggressive monetization, glitches, and performance problems, particularly at higher levels. While many users praise the game for being true to its advertisements and offering a relaxing experience, a significant number express frustration with pay-to-win mechanics, excessive ads (even after purchasing ad removal), and technical issues that hinder gameplay. The overall sentiment is mixed, with a large contingent of 5-star reviews balanced by a substantial number of 1-star reviews highlighting serious concerns.

  • Strengths: Addictive gameplay, simple mechanics, visually appealing graphics, and initially relaxing experience. Some users appreciate that the game resembles its advertisements.

  • Weaknesses: Aggressive monetization/pay-to-win, excessive ads (even after paying to remove them), glitches (freezing, disappearing items, unresponsive controls), performance issues (lagging), and difficulty spikes at higher levels.

  • Overall Rating: The average rating is skewed upwards due to a high volume of 5-star reviews, but the significant number of 1-star reviews indicates underlying problems. The score distribution is:

    • 5-star: 55%
    • 4-star: 4%
    • 3-star: 12%
    • 2-star: 11%
    • 1-star: 18%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 100 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not specified, but assumed to be recent based on the version number (3.11.0).
  • Analysis Methods: Primarily qualitative analysis based on manual review of user comments, focusing on identifying recurring themes, sentiment, and specific issues. Keyword extraction (implicit) was used to identify frequently mentioned topics.

Key User Pain Points

  • Aggressive Monetization/Pay-to-Win: Many users complain that the game becomes excessively difficult at higher levels, requiring the use of boosters that cost in-game currency. They feel pressured to spend real money to progress.
  • Excessive Ads (Even After Paid Removal): A significant number of users report that they continue to see ads even after purchasing the "no ads" package, leading to frustration and a sense of being cheated.
  • Glitches and Freezing: Several users experience glitches, such as the game freezing, items disappearing, or the hole becoming unresponsive. Bombs causing freezes are specifically mentioned.
  • Performance Issues/Lagging: Some users report lagging, particularly on certain devices, which negatively impacts the gameplay experience.
  • Difficulty Spikes: Users mention sudden and significant difficulty increases at certain levels, making them feel impossible to complete without spending money.
  • Timer Issues: The timer is often perceived as too short, adding unnecessary stress and pressure to the gameplay.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Untimed/Relaxing Mode: Users want a mode without a timer or bombs to simply enjoy the core gameplay loop without pressure.
  • Adjustable Hole Speed: Some users would like to be able to adjust the speed of the hole's movement.
  • Cloud Save/Syncing Across Devices: Users who play on multiple devices want their progress and purchases to sync seamlessly.
  • Better Coin/Reward System: Users feel that the rewards are not sufficient to progress without spending money.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Addictive Gameplay: The core mechanic of swallowing objects with a black hole is considered highly addictive and satisfying.
  • Simple Mechanics: The game is easy to learn and play, making it accessible to a wide audience.
  • Visually Appealing Graphics: Users appreciate the bright and colorful graphics.
  • Relaxing (Initially): Many users initially find the game relaxing and enjoyable.
  • Faithful to Advertisements: Some users commend the game for accurately representing its advertised gameplay.
  • Responsive Developers: Some users reported that the developers responded promptly to their issues.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Fix "No Ads" Purchase Issue: Immediately address the issue where users who have paid to remove ads are still seeing them. This is a critical issue that damages trust and violates purchase agreements.
  • Address Glitches and Freezing: Investigate and resolve the reported glitches, particularly those that cause the game to freeze or become unplayable. Focus on the bomb-related freezes first.
  • Rebalance Difficulty and Monetization: Re-evaluate the difficulty curve and monetization strategy. Make it possible to progress without feeling forced to spend money. Consider reducing the cost of boosters or increasing rewards.
  • Improve Performance/Reduce Lag: Optimize the game's performance to reduce lag, especially on lower-end devices.

Medium Priority:

  • Implement Untimed/Relaxing Mode: Add a game mode without a timer or bombs to cater to users who want a more relaxing experience.
  • Implement Cloud Save/Syncing: Allow users to sync their progress and purchases across multiple devices.
  • Improve Customer Support: Ensure that customer support is responsive and helpful in addressing user issues.

Low Priority:

  • Adjustable Hole Speed: Add an option to adjust the speed of the hole's movement.
  • Improve Coin/Reward System: Rebalance the coin and reward system to make it more rewarding to play.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Relaxing Puzzle Games: Create a suite of puzzle games focused on relaxing gameplay, minimal monetization, and no forced ads. Focus on creating a genuinely enjoyable and stress-free experience.
  • Transparent Mobile Game Monetization: Develop a mobile game with a completely transparent monetization model, clearly communicating to players how the game is funded and avoiding predatory pay-to-win mechanics.
  • Mobile Game Bug Reporting Platform: Create a platform that allows mobile game developers to easily collect and manage bug reports from users, facilitating faster and more efficient bug fixing.

Trends and Observations

  • Negative Sentiment at Higher Levels: The negative sentiment tends to increase as users progress to higher levels, indicating that the game's problems become more pronounced over time.
  • Polarized Reviews: The review distribution is polarized, with a large number of 5-star reviews and a significant number of 1-star reviews, suggesting that the game either delights or frustrates users.
  • Inconsistent Experience: Some users report a positive experience with minimal ads, while others complain about excessive ads even after paying to remove them, suggesting inconsistencies in the ad implementation.

Conclusion

All in Hole has the potential to be a highly successful and enjoyable game, but it is currently being held back by issues related to aggressive monetization, glitches, and performance problems. Addressing these issues is crucial to improving the user experience and increasing long-term player retention. The developers should prioritize fixing the "no ads" purchase issue, resolving glitches, and rebalancing the difficulty and monetization strategy. By focusing on creating a fair and enjoyable experience, All in Hole can reach its full potential.

Overall Recommendation: The game needs significant improvements to address monetization and technical issues. Until these are resolved, it is difficult to recommend the game wholeheartedly.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.homagames.studio.allinhole