Customer Reviews (500)

CThornhill • 2025-02-21T13:29:22-07:00

I downloaded this game because my teacher said it helps a lot and I downloaded and I rarely used it but when I used it for like 4 hours I knew where all my states were! I recommend this game . Also no ads. This game is much fun and educational

har pers • 2025-01-05T11:44:59-07:00

I love this game and play it a lot. Although this game is really awesome and I love the variety of things you can learn about, I would change one thing. I don’t need to know the flags or the landmarks, I only study the capitals. So it would be really cool if there was a feature that was same stacking dynamic but was specific to the states and their capital. Once again love the game, play it every day and love how many game modes there are but would add this one. Thanks for reading and please take my suggestion in to consideration Harper

DrGoodVibes605 • 2024-12-20T22:52:19-07:00

i’ve played this game ever since i was a little boy it has helped me with geography and it’s just a great game

Summary of Key Insights

Stack the States® is a highly-rated educational app that effectively teaches US geography in a fun and engaging way. The app's strengths lie in its educational value, engaging gameplay, lack of ads, and offline accessibility. However, users have identified areas for improvement, including the need for more content, updated information, audio narration for younger users, and bug fixes. The overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with many users citing the app's effectiveness in helping them and their children learn about the states.

Key Strengths:

  • Educational Value: Users consistently praise the app's ability to teach state capitals, shapes, locations, flags, and other facts.
  • Engaging Gameplay: The combination of stacking mechanics and trivia questions makes learning enjoyable.
  • No Ads: The absence of advertisements is a significant advantage, providing an uninterrupted learning experience.
  • Offline Accessibility: The app's functionality without Wi-Fi is highly valued.

Key Weaknesses:

  • Repetitive Questions: Some users find the questions repetitive after prolonged use.
  • Outdated Information: A few reviews mention the need for updated flags and landmarks.
  • Lack of Audio Narration: Parents of younger children request audio narration for questions and answers.
  • Occasional Bugs: Some users have reported minor bugs or glitches.

Overall Sentiment: Overwhelmingly positive.

Quantitative Metrics:

  • Overall Rating (Implied): High (based on score distribution)
  • Score Distribution: {"1":30,"2":8,"3":17,"4":70,"5":375}
    • 5-star: 75%
    • 4-star: 14%
    • 3-star: 3.4%
    • 2-star: 1.6%
    • 1-star: 6%

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not explicitly stated, but the reviews span several years, indicating long-term user feedback. The dates of some of the reviews suggest the data includes reviews from 2023.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Assessing the overall positive, negative, or neutral tone of the reviews.
    • Keyword Extraction: Identifying frequently mentioned words and phrases related to features, issues, and user experiences.
    • Thematic Analysis: Grouping related comments to identify recurring themes and patterns.

Key User Pain Points

  • Repetitive Questions: Many users, especially those who have played the game for a long time, report that the questions become repetitive, reducing engagement.
  • Inaccuracies/Outdated Information: Some reviews mention inaccuracies in the game, such as incorrect state borders or outdated landmarks. This undermines the app's educational value.
  • Difficulty for Young Children: The lack of audio narration makes it difficult for pre-readers to play independently.
  • Occasional Bugs/Glitches: Some users experience minor bugs or glitches, such as states getting stuck in the Puzzler game or issues with the "Map It" mini-game accuracy.
  • Lack of Updates/New Content: Several reviews express a desire for more content and updates to keep the game fresh and engaging.
  • Unexpected Game Reset/Loss of Progress: Some users reported losing their progress unexpectedly, which is highly frustrating.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Audio Narration: A read-aloud feature for questions and answers, catering to younger children and those with reading difficulties.
  • More Content/Updates: New questions, landmarks, and challenges to keep the game engaging for long-term users.
  • Difficulty Levels: More granular difficulty settings to cater to different age groups and skill levels.
  • Multiplayer Mode: The addition of a multiplayer mode for competitive play.
  • Inclusion of DC and Territories: Some users want the District of Columbia and US territories included in the game.
  • Cloud Save/Account Sync: The ability to sync progress across multiple devices.
  • More Mini-Games: Expansion of the number and variety of mini-games.
  • Puzzler Improvement: Addressing issues with states getting stuck in the Puzzler game.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Educational Value: The app effectively teaches US geography in a fun and engaging way.
  • Engaging Gameplay: The combination of stacking mechanics and trivia questions makes learning enjoyable.
  • No Ads: The absence of advertisements is a significant advantage.
  • Offline Accessibility: The app's functionality without Wi-Fi is highly valued.
  • Nostalgia: Many users have fond memories of playing the game in their childhood.
  • Simplicity: Users appreciate the simple and straightforward gameplay.
  • Effective Learning Tool: Many users reported that the app helped them or their children improve their geography knowledge and ace tests.
  • Multiple Game Modes: The variety of mini-games provides different ways to learn and stay engaged.
  • Customization: Users appreciate the ability to create multiple profiles and choose avatars.
  • Proportional State Sizes: Some users noted that the states being proportionally sized enhanced the learning experience.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Content Update: Add new questions, landmarks, and facts to address the issue of repetitive content.
  • Bug Fixes: Address reported bugs and glitches, particularly in the "Map It" and "Puzzler" mini-games.
  • Data Integrity: Implement robust save mechanisms to prevent unexpected game resets and progress loss.
  • Audio Narration: Implement an optional audio narration feature for questions and answers to cater to younger players and those with reading difficulties.

Medium Priority:

  • Difficulty Levels: Introduce more granular difficulty settings to cater to different age groups and skill levels.
  • Information Accuracy: Regularly review and update information to ensure accuracy, including state borders, landmarks, and flags.
  • User Profile Enhancements: Allow users to change their name and state icon after profile creation.
  • Puzzler Improvement: Adjust the Puzzler game to prevent small states from getting stuck behind larger states.

Low Priority:

  • Multiplayer Mode: Explore the feasibility of adding a multiplayer mode.
  • Territory Inclusion: Consider including the District of Columbia and US territories.
  • New Mini-Games: Develop additional mini-games to enhance variety.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Educational App Suite: Expand the "Stack the..." series to cover other subjects, such as science, history, or math.
  • Personalized Learning Platform: Develop a platform that adapts to the user's skill level and provides personalized learning content.
  • Gamified Geography Curriculum: Create a comprehensive geography curriculum that incorporates game-based learning principles.
  • AR/VR Educational Games: Develop immersive AR/VR games that bring geography to life.
  • Subscription-Based Educational Content: Offer a subscription service with regularly updated educational content and features.
  • AI-Powered Learning Assistant: Integrate an AI-powered learning assistant that can answer questions and provide personalized feedback.

Trends and Observations

  • Longevity of Appeal: The app has maintained its popularity over several years, suggesting a strong core gameplay loop.
  • Parental Involvement: Many parents play the game with their children, indicating a shared learning experience.
  • Nostalgia Factor: Several users mentioned playing the game in their childhood, suggesting a strong brand identity.
  • Word-of-Mouth Marketing: Many users were introduced to the app by teachers, friends, or family members, highlighting the importance of word-of-mouth marketing.

Conclusion

Stack the States® is a successful educational app with a strong reputation and a loyal user base. By addressing the identified pain points and implementing the suggested improvements, the developers can further enhance the app's appeal and ensure its continued success. The overwhelmingly positive sentiment and the numerous requests for new content and features demonstrate a strong demand for more from this brand. A focus on content updates, bug fixes, and accessibility enhancements will be key to maintaining and growing the app's user base.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stack-the-states/id381342267?uo=2