# Blackbird! — user reviews > 168 indexed App Store user reviews of Blackbird! by R. Don Wilson, rated 4.70/5 from 6,950 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackbird/id563960217/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackbird/id563960217.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 5,851 · 4★ 703 · 3★ 212 · 2★ 57 · 1★ 127 ## What do users think of Blackbird!? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Fun game - 👍 Customizable rules - 👍 Accurate to real Rook game - 👍 Great for practicing Rook skills - 👍 Brings back nostalgic memories **Cons** - 🐛 Partner AI plays poorly - 🐛 Opponents seem to have unfair advantage - 🐛 Inability to continue saved games - 🐛 Rook card not played correctly - 🐛 Buggy multiplayer experience **Commonly reported bugs** - Forced to take bid even when undesirable - Inability to reverse trump or discard mistakes - Inconsistent card dealing - Multiplayer crashes and glitches - Themes and settings not working as expected **Most requested features** - Multiplayer mode to play with friends - Option to call your own partner - Ability to shoot the moon - Customizable nest size - More rule variations ## Newest reviews (15 of 168) ### 3/5 — Too many bids *2026-06-05, version 1.8.0* Players are not supposed to be able to submit more than one bid per round. ### 4/5 — Only thing missing… *2026-05-30, version 1.8.0* Is the ability to play other players rather than cpu ### 4/5 — I would pay for multiplayer *2026-05-22, version 1.8.0* Amazing game. I love the ability to make custom rule sets. Just wish I could play with family. ### 4/5 — Needs update *2026-05-14, version 1.8.0* Would be nice to play online. Also would be nice if there were different levels of difficulty. If you play enough you can see the computers pattern. ### 3/5 — 3 stars *2026-03-16, version 1.8.0* I gave it 3 stars because they mentioned “multiplayer” years ago and still no option for it. Would love to play human players as the computer players are predictable. I love the game it’s fun to play! I would have given 5 stars if there were multiplayers. Fix the game to allow that option!! ### 4/5 — Review *2025-12-30, version 1.8.0* There needs to be an online option. ### 4/5 — Love it, but… *2025-06-01, version 1.8.0* …I can’t seem to “Continue” a game anymore. I really love having this app; it’s a game I used to play with my grandma. I just wish I could continue my games again! 🙏🏽 ### 5/5 — Lost game of rook *2025-03-07, version 1.8.0* I remember as a kid playing this with my grandparents. My sister, her husband and myself are the only ones that really know how to play this game around us. Being able to play on this app has been a joy. I wish it was live and you were able to play with other players and not just the computer. ### 5/5 — Could be better *2025-02-05, version 1.8.0* I enjoy playing but it’s plain that whoever programmed doesn’t know the games ins and outs ### 3/5 — Used to be a 5star rating *2025-02-03, version 1.8.0* Game has changed and anytime you lead game it starts over. It used to remember where you were in the game and restart where you stopped. I don’t play nearly as much since it has changed. ### 4/5 — App fixed! *2025-02-01, version 1.8.0* New rule options are great! ### 5/5 — Beau passe-temps *2025-01-11, version 1.8.0* Je joue au Rook depuis 50 ans mais peu de personnes savent y jouer. Je peux maintenant y jouer seule. Je préfère qu’il n’y ait qu’une carte dans la mise, mais cela ne semble pas une option possible. Mais j’adore y jouer quand même. ### 4/5 — Awesome game - no multiplayer *2025-01-06, version 1.8.0* This is the only Rook app I can find that will let you play Red 1 as trump which is great but would love to enjoy multiplayer with friends and family. The app has an achievement to unlock when you play multiplayer but there is no option to do so. ### 3/5 — Please fix! *2024-12-28, version 1.8.0* I love the app and it would be a 5 star from me if they would update the rules to where trump cannot be played until Trump is broke! ### 5/5 — good game to play but why was multiplayer was removed *2024-12-24, version 1.8.0* Love the game!! But PLEASE BRING BACK MULTIPLAYER ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Won’t let me play multiplayer *2026-07-22, version 1.8.0* Idk where it’s but I can’t see to find the multiplayer mode on this game. ### 1/5 — Keeps freezing. *2026-07-01, version 1.8.0* I don’t normally pay for games but figured why not? Now I know. Please fix. ### 1/5 — Don’t play *2026-05-10, version 1.8.0* Can’t win ### 1/5 — Computer cheats for itself *2025-03-02, version 1.8.0* It’s incredibly frustrating how the computer cheats for itself. It obviously knows the cards in your hand and plays to set you. For instance, it leads with the Rook. And since it always knows what your weak suit is, it next will play the 14 in that very suit, forcing you to follow with that color. Then guess what? Its partner has the 10 and just like that, two cards into the game, you’re set. I literally screamed in frustration the third time that happened today. ### 1/5 — Love it, but multiplayer please! I’ll even pay for it! *2025-01-19, version 1.8.0* Multiplayer please! Multiplayer please! Multiplayer please! Multiplayer please! Multiplayer please! Multiplayer please! Multiplayer please! Multiplayer please! Multiplayer please! ### 1/5 — Will not deal cards evenly. *2024-12-07, version 1.8.0* My partner bids with no way of making bid. It starts us out in the hole every time. I have played 4 full games and never drew the bird. ### 1/5 — Poor players *2024-11-12, version 1.8.0* Can’t go back to a saved game. What the heck. ### 1/5 — ai *2024-10-30, version 1.8.0* the AI isn’t great. they will hold a point card, like a 14, when playing it would set u and instead throw off. and that’s when u know their partner is gonna win the trick. they will hold best cards to the end, so if u have bid and already shown u have greens as an off suit and by the last trick the 13 is the boss. the will throw away the 13 on the 2nd to last trick and keep a 1 or 14 of another suit Even though u have already trumped that suit. there needs to be a way u can make your partner bid. the game can be on the line and they will fold at a low bid. the computer will keep a 10 (point card) and discard a 9 of their off suit and then lose the 10 during play. when they could just discard the 10 and win the last trick and get it. it’s keepingt it safe that way. discard points into the widow to not lose them. there’s a lot more but it’s ok game. can set your own rules. ### 1/5 — You better like losing!!! *2022-12-09, version 1.7.7* I love this game, but I gave it one star because I like so many others get so frustrated because the game is completely stacked against you. Rarely do you ever get good hands whereas the opponents get them almost every hand. Second, your team mate bids like a complete idiot betting the moon with only the rook and no 1 or 14 in trump. No real player is going to bet that high with that hand. Third, you better like losing because you will nearly every hand. If there is a hand where the opponent over bids, their partner will be able to cover them almost every time which completely unrealistic. Also, you know you're playing a computer because they play hands a way a normal person could not possibly know. For instance, your opponent will win the bid and the very first trick they play of the hand they don't throw trump, but it just so happens to be the only color their partner doesn't have and can trump you. That is impossible to know in real life. Developers please start reading these reviews and fix the game. It isn't like only one comment, almost every review has the same complaint. ### 1/5 — Questionable *2021-12-24, version 1.7.7* It seems obvious the computer often cheats. The opposing team often has the cards needed. Like if the bidder doesn’t have many trump their partner will have the needed trump, and high cards. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — D’hanis TX ROOK MAFIA WILL ACCEPT ALL CHALLENGERS *2026-07-08, version 1.8.0* Look, I know this game has some pretty funky rules, but the makers did a really good job of allowing you to modify. If you are reading this, then you no doubt understand how to play this game. But unless you’re from Medina County Texas, you have no right to consider yourself even an average rook player. I’ve heard this game is played all over the United States, but ain’t nobody out there more diabolical, strategic, or savvy enough to challenge the ancient German Rothe/Rath/Zinsmeyer/Cosgrove/Christopher/Bader/Long/(you aughta catch my drift by now) bloodlines that pass this game down with as much pride as Grand Pappy’s chili recipe. So consider this an open invitation for any of you northern hippies to come try your luck against the true champions. If you accept this invitation called the Pico Gas Station in D’hanis, Texas. Leave your name and phone number, and ask them to put it on the community bulletin board with the simple phrase “Rook Game Wanted” and we will answer the call. ### 5/5 — Love it *2026-07-06, version 1.8.0* Love playing this game! ### 5/5 — Crappie *2026-06-24, version 1.8.0* Loved this game from my childhood. ### 5/5 — Hello *2026-02-26, version 1.8.0* I love rook and Blackbird is most like the original I just wish there was a multiplayer option. I have distant family and with multiplayer option we could play together and have family tournaments and such. ### 5/5 — Best Rook App I’ve been able to find *2025-11-30, version 1.8.0* I’m learning to play and want to get better fast and this helps a lot. The people I play with have house rules I wish I could have control over in the settings to make it better practice for me. 1. Person left of dealer begins bidding 2. One card of widow is shown to all players before bidding begins 3. Nine card widow, rather than five 4. Aggressive/Brave bidding (no bids under 130 in my group) 5. Whoever takes the bid/widow leads first trick ### 5/5 — Pretty good *2025-10-14, version 1.8.0* It’s pretty close ### 5/5 — Red 1 *2025-09-17, version 1.8.0* Make it online please ### 5/5 — I’m really enjoying this app! *2025-08-05, version 1.8.0* I love the customization behind this app and you can play so many different Rook variations. My favorites are 1-High Partnership and The Red 1. ### 5/5 — Fun game *2025-08-03, version 1.8.0* What happened to multiplayer? Are you going to bring it back? ### 5/5 — Great *2025-03-28, version 1.8.0* Great game. Any plans for a multiplayer version? --- *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 2026-09-01.*