# Able Black — user reviews > 360 indexed App Store user reviews of Able Black by Scott Leach, rated 4.90/5 from 3,667 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/able-black/id1085908608/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/able-black/id1085908608.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 3,445 · 4★ 175 · 3★ 22 · 2★ 9 · 1★ 16 ## What do users think of Able Black? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🌟 Immersive story - 🧠 Challenging puzzles - 🎨 Atmospheric design - 🤖 Thought-provoking themes - 🎁 Free to play **Cons** - 🕰️ Short gameplay length - 📝 Occasional typos - 🤔 Some puzzles too difficult **Commonly reported bugs** - Puzzle solutions not always registering correctly **Most requested features** - Longer story/more content - Difficulty options for puzzles - Ability to save progress ## Newest reviews (16 of 360) ### 5/5 — Masterpeice *2023-06-11, version 4.0.1* Its a very creative story that faces a few ethical dilemmas, well still telling a story through puzzles. An absolutely wonderful experience and 9/10 would recommend i just wish it was a little bit longer. The discord server has a lovely community and there are ways to unlock the time sensitive levels (holiday levels) without changing your clock. An absolute masterpiece. ### 5/5 — This game made me have an existential crisis *2023-05-11, version 4.0.1* I have replayed this game at least four times. I love it so much. It tells a story through puzzles... if you are reading this please download Able Black you will not regret it ### 5/5 — ABSOLUTE MASTERPIECE. *2023-04-22, version 4.0.1* So i was looking for a story game to play, and i scrolled past this and said 'well, it's free, why not' and i was compLETELY BLOWN AWAY. GET IT GET IT GET IT. The story is genius, the puzzles are tricky and fun, and the emotions are so deep and relatable. i almost cried. It also isn't just one of those stories or games you use to get away from the real world, which are way too common today. Oh not at all, this makes you really think about your life, and what it actually means to live. It's beautiful. The only thing is that i wish it was longer. this is as close to a perfect game as anyone is gonna get, so seriously, GET. THIS. GAME. ### 5/5 — Absolutely beautiful *2023-02-27, version 4.0.1* It was different than I expected the game to be. Genuinely one of my favorites I’ve ever played. So much went into the story and the whole vibe was just so cool. The game really made me think too. I wish I could give it higher than a five star rating. To say it exceeded my expectations is an understatement by far ### 5/5 — This Game is amazing *2023-01-09, version 4.0.1* I give this game a full Five-Star review. I love it with EVERYTHING!! I love how it makes you think hard and gives you hints, and it helped me with sharpening my mind. You know what? I hope the developers of this game will create a sequel game to Able Black. Honestly, I’m actually really curious on what’s going to happen afterwards. But being the Writer I am, writing short stories in my drafts on an app, I was inspired to write one based on this. Who knows? Also, I’m sorry if this is copyright but I WILL give credits to the original. I swear I will. Though again, It’s gonna be an online book, Though I probably won’t publish it just yet till I finish and I’m sure I wanna publish it. Anyways, KEEP IT UP!!! ### 5/5 — =) *2023-01-06, version 4.0.1* I loved it. ### 5/5 — Loved it *2023-01-04, version 4.0.1* There is just something about this that stands out from every other app game I’ve played. 1000% recommended to play, you read the story line so make sure you have time and silence to play properly, it’s well worth your time. ### 5/5 — Absolutely stunning *2022-12-31, version 4.0.1* Definitely one of the best games I’ve ever played; the amount of depth the main character has makes it easy to relate to them it’s a wonder to me that someone could write a story so interesting yet depressing and joyful at the same time and still have any gameplay to it. Which brings me to the next part of my review, the puzzles are the perfect medium between complicated and easy enough that you won’t be stuck on a puzzle for several days the poems are great themes for the puzzles and the art is amazing. Overall I would recommend this game too anyone and everyone it’s beautiful and I haven’t found any game that even compares to it. ### 5/5 — awesome *2022-12-23, version 4.0.1* so good ### 5/5 — This is amazing *2022-11-13, version 4.0.1* This game draws you in with the story. It has puzzles that can be difficult but you can figure them out if you look from another angle. I love this game so much. I feel like a lot of people want to be free like able black was but feel chained. I love the story the puzzles everything! Good job on this amazing piece of a game! ### 5/5 — One of the best game I’ve ever played so far *2022-11-05, version 4.0.1* Please I need more chapters, and can someone turn this into a movie, it’s absolutely phenomenal. A standing ovation on my part. ### 5/5 — Well Done *2022-09-29, version 4.0.1* I haven’t yet completed the game as I have a few more things to unlock. However, I thought I’d go ahead and write a review. It’s strange to me to see so many critical reviews, though I imagine they must be from a time when the game had some bugs to work out. The game was absolutely frustrating but that’s kind of the point. Spelling errors aside, this is a very well-executed game. ### 5/5 — Splendid *2022-09-23, version 4.0.1* Typos aside, this is a really cool game and a wonderful concept. It’s the kind of thing I would eagerly learn more about if it was a book. Wonderfully done. ### 5/5 — amazed *2022-09-14* that’s beautiful. i’m amazed and grateful for being able to play this game. hey skot, you’re awesome. ### 5/5 — Love it *2022-08-20, version 4.0.1* This was a joy to play. There was lots of relatability as well as mystery. There’s even more secrets after the main gameplay. I love every aspect of this game. ### 5/5 — A Shocking and Amazing Game *2022-07-15, version 4.0.1* I've played so many games like this. Stories and puzzles, and I've gotten attached to so many different characters, but none have made me question everything like this game has. I'm astounded at the fast-paced storyline that they've managed, and the puzzles that are just the right amount of challenging and fun. I review a lot, but this game is amazing and though it sounds dramatic, makes me think of all the other possibilities and points of view that could be. I hope the creator makes more games, because I'll be waiting for them. Skot, thank you. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Kept charging even when app deleted and subscription cancelled *2023-10-29, version 4.0.1* Not recommended to download this app they don’t reply to emails and you can’t mange subscription at all. They’ll keep charging even after app is cancelled 😡 had to go to bank to dispute transactions! ### 1/5 — Dumb in the end *2021-06-23, version 4.0.1* At first I was enjoying the game. Some of the puzzles are a bit pointless unless you use hints to explain wth to do. The story was ok though so I played it. Your exams are essentially asking you questions that don’t really matter, solving the puzzles, and then getting your results. Was still enjoying it somewhat and continued playing. Then your final exam comes about; mind you you won’t realize it’s your final one bc it’s very shortly into the game. Your biggest decision is then made for you by the game and badaboom story wraps up and it’s over. Instant delete ### 1/5 — Design flaws *2020-06-06, version 3.0* Most puzzles are not thematic and going through all the alphabet to find a letter is annoying. Bad UX experience. ### 2/5 — interesting if only the puzzles actually made sense *2023-01-21, version 4.0.1* with most puzzles you would NEED a hint unless you cheat and look it up. maybe have a couple play testers because i couldn’t even finish the game because when i found out the puzzles the solution was STUPID. ### 2/5 — Didn’t like the story, puzzles were okay *2022-02-25, version 4.0.1* After all the 5 star reviews, I figured this must be a pretty universally satisfying game. It wasn’t. So I thought I should write a quick contrary review. I can see that some love was put into the puzzle creation, but it’s one of those games where you have to guess what the designer thinks the puzzle answer is, rather than what will necessarily be like a satisfying answer. (“I’m reversing the order of each word in the sentence, so does that mean the designer thinks I should also reverse the order of the entire sentence?”) The story was a little depressing, and I didn’t feel like pushing through it any further. If you actually read the story, you’ll probably spend more of your time reading than doing puzzles. In between the story and puzzles, there are psychological questions, and at the end of each chapter the game will pass judgment on you, which is also annoying. (“Too optimistic,” “too ungrateful,” “a wanna-be martyr,” etc.) If you miss a puzzle, the game’s judgment might be “The subject has trouble with poblem-solving” [sic] Yes, in the midst of being judgmental, the game also has typos which makes you question whether you can trust the thoughtfulness of its puzzles. I wouldn’t mind a streamlined cruise through some of the game’s puzzles, which again look like some love was put into them. But you can’t do the puzzles without the other elements, the proportions were wrong, and I did not enjoy the overall effect. ### 2/5 — couldn’t get into it *2020-08-30, version 3.0* I found it a little hard to follow and I just ended up getting bored. Not for me personally but I’m sure there’s people who do like this sort of stuff ### 3/5 — It was fun..at first. *2022-07-05, version 4.0.1* Then I began getting questions I couldn’t think to answer, and had to google for the answers. At that point I deleted the game, because that defeats the purpose. ### 3/5 — Okay, I have a problem *2021-02-04, version 4.0.1* I am unable to get the upside down M thing to unlock. I’ve gone through the game, getting it all right on the first try without hints, and it won’t unlock. I’ve done this before, because I did it in the past before you added all the new secrets. I had deleted before that and redownloaded it because of the update and I’m sad I can’t get it to unlock. ### 3/5 — Minuscular game *2016-03-13* This is an incredible game, awesome story, and very hard puzzles, but it is extremely short! Please, add an update where Able has more challenges, and that cliffhanger at the end is simply cruel. Still, add a couple of levels and I will add a couple of stars. 😀 ### 4/5 — Enjoyed it but… *2024-03-18, version 4.0.1* The game is simple with a very intriguing story. I enjoyed playing. But it says it will reward you for making it through all of the puzzles without using any hints. I completed my first playthrough without using a single hint, but couldn’t figure out what the reward was. Eventually, I tried looking it up online and realized that the option that’s apparently supposed to unlock if you don’t use any hints still was not unlocked for me? I even tried playing the puzzles over again to see if that unlocked it, but it still didn’t work. I was really getting into the story and want to see what’s beyond this locked option, but can’t get it to unlock for me despite never having used a single hint. I also wonder if the story is imcomplete. It just feels as though it drops off at a cliff hanger, leaving so much left to be told. I hope for more of this story in the future and maybe a fix for it not unlocking what it supposed to. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — My only issue with the game is something people would see is a plus *2026-05-05, version 4.0.1* Hey, so this game wasn’t long, but it was surprisingly poignant. The riddles are clever, but it was the storyline that really impressed me. It was simple, yet somehow the emotions this game inspires are surprising in their depth. The soundtrack was unobtrusive but really added to the game’s overall feeling. Now to my one issue: I have NEVER, and I mean NEVER, paid money for an app (Side note: This isn’t because I’m cheap, or don’t think that developers deserve it. I just happen to be exceedingly broke). But at the end of the game I was so impressed that I actually wanted to leave a tip, even if it was insignificant in its size. I wanted to show my appreciation for this game. I’m so grateful to people who create things like this, whether it is games, books, films, or really any form of art that can be shared with people in some way. But when I tried to use the “Tip” button, both at the end of the game, AND when I actively sought it out from the menu, the button wouldn’t work. Note: Everything else in this game worked flawlessly, so a part of me did wonder if this was another test from “Mother.” Whew, That was waaaaay longer than I thought it would be. Thanks again for the great game. ### 5/5 — LOVE THIS GAME *2025-09-09, version 4.0.1* Thank you for this. I was immersed in the story - it was *magical*. Xoxo ### 5/5 — Free game, No ads, beautiful story *2025-04-15, version 4.0.1* I’ve been playing a lot of mediocre iPhone games before I stumbled on this. When I saw it was free to play, I expected a mess of ads. The dev mentions accepting tips at the very end, but that’s the closest it gets. The play experience is uninterrupted. Once I got to the end I felt more feelings that I have from most stories in a while. This is one of those games that you don’t want to look up answers, just risk it and take the puzzles as they come. So I bought the steam version to contribute in some way. ### 5/5 — Amazing! *2024-08-09, version 4.0.1* It is the perfect mix of philosophy, horror and puzzles! Absolutely amazing and I need more!! ### 5/5 — Absolutely love this! However I haven’t finished it yet… *2023-11-26, version 4.0.1* It had me really excited in places where the puzzles were genuinely individual and interesting, reminds me of about a decade ago when I was playing games like The room, sword and sworcery and machinarium. I was looking for a new indie game to try and this really surprised me and I’m so glad I tried it. Honestly smth I would’ve expected to pay for, however I haven’t finished it yet so I’m not sure how long it’ll last I hope it continues as good as it seems to far (time to start 3) ### 5/5 — Great so far!! *2023-10-22, version 4.0.1* The game’s been amazing so far. It’s creative, has an interesting plot, phenomenal character development, puzzles that challenges you just the right amount, and is just overall a great game! ### 5/5 — One of a kind *2023-10-19, version 4.0.1* This game felt odd in the beginning and I’m glad I kept going. The story is captivating and after a second chapter I wanted to pause to dwell on it a little bit. It made me think about ethical issues, morals and how AI fits into our lives. It’s a great game with a sincere and touching story. Unforgettable really ### 5/5 — Thank you *2023-07-09, version 4.0.1* this just reminds me how amazing life is and makes me greatful not only that I wanted to start reading more to get smarter and this is a perfect start and the puzzles are so fun and amazing they fascínate me ### 5/5 — Inspiration at its Core. *2023-06-20, version 4.0.1* I’m an artist and writer who loves indie games, and it’s difficult to find indie games that stick with me. It’s usually a quick play and then delete app routine. Yet, after playing this game, I will never delete it. It exceeded my expectations by lengths and inspired me in ways I cannot describe. The story was enthralling and thoughtful. It made me take a step back to think upon the way I view our world. I was put into the shoes of someone inhuman, that understood humanity more than I did. After playing the main story and finding some secrets, my mind has been tap dancing around, making connections and finding new points of views to explore this game with. And no other indie game has made me feel this way. I am more than grateful to have had the opportunity to play this game. Thank you. ### 5/5 — peak *2023-06-16, version 4.0.1* lkterally so good i wish i knew it was so short before i decided to search up answers to questions i didn’t want to spend more than a minute on --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-05.*