# Circulous — user reviews > 80 indexed App Store user reviews of Circulous by Chain Reaction Games LLC, rated 4.20/5 from 184 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circulous/id1468310817/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/circulous/id1468310817.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 124 · 4★ 13 · 3★ 18 · 2★ 13 · 1★ 16 ## What do users think of Circulous? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 🧩 Creative and clever puzzles with good difficulty balance - 💡 Innovative in-game smartphone interface and mechanics - 📖 Engaging mystery storyline that captivates players - 🎵 Well-designed audio and music elements - 👨‍💼 Responsive developer support and helpful hints system - 🎮 Addictive gameplay that holds attention for extended periods - 🔍 Observation-based puzzle design requiring attention to detail - ⭐ High-quality production value and unique game concept **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and game freezes throughout gameplay - 🐛 Persistent bugs in Act 2 and later chapters - 👀 Small text and UI elements difficult to read on mobile devices - ⏳ Excessive real-time waiting mechanics (11+ hours to progress) - 🔄 Unresponsive controls and laggy app switching - 📱 Screen rotation and orientation detection issues - 🎯 Overly obscure puzzles requiring external knowledge (Morse code, nomolid) - 💰 Limited content relative to price point **Commonly reported bugs** - Game crashes when entering shifty.com/invisible or shifty.com/door/15 - Ryde app shows 'no routes available' preventing progression - Text message reply interface fails to display responses - Cloud save reloads prevent continuing gameplay - Computer/app windows fail to open or display properly - Screen becomes blurry or frozen when navigating between scenes - Magnifying glass and mailbox clickable elements unresponsive - Inventory locked preventing item placement - Game crashes when rotating device to access phone interface - Crashes when opening specific messages (HR rep email) - Decoder grid displays empty with missing elements - Keyboard remains on screen after typing, blocking puzzle content - File names overlap and display incorrectly - Game hangs with background music continuing after exit - Compatibility issues with iOS 14 memory allocation - Bird box combination numbers too small to read accurately - Puzzle solutions don't work despite correct answers - Game crashes on first puzzle when placing items in box **Most requested features** - In-game hints and walkthrough system accessible without Discord or email - More frequent content updates and new chapters - Skip or difficulty adjustment options for challenging puzzles - Ability to disable music - Improved hint system with escalating difficulty levels - Larger, more readable text and UI elements - Reduced real-time waiting mechanics ## Newest reviews (17 of 80) ### 3/5 — Unfortunate *2026-05-11, version 2.1.1* Amazing game, but still only 2 out of the promised 12 chapters out and that is disappointing for a game that has been out for 5 years now. Quite misleading to promise all 12 chapters for the price when it seems like I’ll get to chapter 11 on my deathbed at this rate. Please take this game off the back burner!! ### 3/5 — Unfinished years later *2026-05-03, version 2.1.1* This is an incredible game! Don’t get me wrong but I bought this game over 5 years ago with the promise of 12 chapters… and there is still only two which is very disappointing. I love this game so much but we paid for a full game! ### 3/5 — I like it so far but it’s really buggy *2025-12-30, version 2.1.1* Interesting and creative puzzles with a good level of difficulty. I like the mystery vibe. I’m stuck because I can’t send a reply to a text message and the cloud save is too recent. It’s about a dna sample and I in the middle of responding I checked my (actual) email. And when I came back it reloaded and would not display any responses. There have been bugs/glitches in nearly every scene, from glitching backgrounds to requiring entering the settings before a phone rotation is registered. This is a pretty streamlined game with very few options so having so many bugs is extra frustrating. ### 2/5 — My eyes hurt 🤓😳 *2025-12-22, version 2.1.1* 1) The game is glitchy. 2) Don’t even bother if you don’t have great eyesight. ### 2/5 — Crashing *2024-11-04, version 2.1* Crashing. Was 2024 too late to buy this puzzle? I solved the delivered box easily but get an empty grid with a dot and arrows on the interceptor, and the decoder has now vanished. I want to finish this game but it has to work. ### 3/5 — Great game but no update *2024-01-14, version 2.1* Amazing game but have been waiting a long time for more chapters ### 4/5 — great game but minor bugs *2023-03-18, version 2.1* i really do like this game but i’ve run into a few annoying bugs. sometimes when i try to open the computer, nothing pops up and my screen gets blurry, then i have to exit the game. this happened mostly during act 1 scene 1. when i try to go to shifty.com/invisible, i get there, but i’m forced back to the title screen when i look around, or when the door opens, or my game puts me inside the computer that says error and i can’t see anything, then again forced back to the title screen. huge bummer ### 4/5 — New Chapters! *2022-11-16, version 2.1* Hi! I really really love this game, I was wondering if there’s any intention of releasing the other chapters since it’s been over a year since the last one was dropped! I believe there’s supposed to be 12? Thanks! ### 3/5 — Act 1 is great *2022-09-23, version 2.1* I really enjoyed Act 1, but it appears I will have to wait 11 real-time hours to leave the coffee shop at the beginning of act 2 (and actually more like 23, since I won’t be playing it first thing in the morning.) This seems like an awfully bad design choice. ### 3/5 — Love game but stuck due to crash *2022-05-06, version 2.1* I absolutely love this game so far. It is fun and holds my attention, which is hard due to severe ADHD. It is absolutely a 5-star game but I’m hesitant to give it due to one issue. The issue is that I’m now stuck at one point in the game due to it crashing. It crashes at the same spot for the past 24 hours (each time I try to open the message from the HR rep.) I really wish this would be fixed so I can continue to play. ☺️ ### 4/5 — Some issues *2021-09-12, version 2.1* Hi there, I’ve loved the game and have finished act 1, but when I try to go to shifty.com/invisible the game freezes. I was waiting for the recent update hoping it would change but that hasn’t been the case. I’d love to give 5 stars once I can get past this issue. ### 3/5 — Great game, usually buggy *2021-08-20, version 2.0.3* As others have mentioned, I am stuck at the cafe at the beginning of Act 2. Ryde app doesn’t appear on my phone. After entering that virtual world, the screen goes gray/freezes, I have to restart, and I end up in the same spot. The latest update did not fix this problem. Incidentally, I tried to report this separately on your website, but that’s also buggy and wouldn’t permit it. ### 4/5 — Issues *2021-08-16, version 2.0.3* Hi, I’m using an iPad Air 2. I can’t open the app Shifty.com/door/15. Every time I try I get kicked out of the game. Also, I can’t book the Ryde app to the first location. I’m excited to play this chapter and hopefully you can fix these issues! Thx 🙂 ### 2/5 — Crashes *2021-08-15, version 2.0.3* It’s a good game, but it crashes so often that it’s not playable. I was stuck at the end of act 1 for well over a month, because the game would repeatedly crash. Today, I was able to play for about 15 minutes and now it’s crashing repeatedly again at the shifty.com part in act 2. ### 3/5 — Awesomely creative, frustratingly buggy *2021-08-12, version 2.0.3* I played the first episode a few weeks ago and loved it. There were some hiccups but I managed to work around the bugs like sudden crashes by restarting. The ‘end’ of that episode was very abrupt and I wasn’t sure if it was the real end or a crash. Now that episode II is out I was very excited but the bugs are back full force very early on. I know I need to leave the cafe via Ryde but it says there are no routes in the Ryde app. So I’m stuck there and going into the shifty.com sites also crash when I’m at the alternate reality part. Trying to go back to the cafe now gives a blurry screen. T_T Guess I wait for future updates that fix these issues. ### 3/5 — Irritating wheels *2021-08-11, version 2.0.3* This was fun until I hit those super irritating rotating wheels. I just don’t have the patience. ### 3/5 — Frustrated *2021-08-07, version 2.0.3* I would have given this game a 5 star rating after I played the first act, however, I just started ACT 2 and everything was going great until I got to the end of the shifty.com part. My game continues to crash when I try to enter shifty.com/door/15 I believe is the answer but when I enter it the whole game crashes!!!! It’s so frustrating. If you can fix this problem I will amend my review. Thanks ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Five stars for Act one. Negative Four stars for Act Two *2024-07-17, version 2.1* Why oh why would the developers make you wait to catch a taxi. I played Act One which was challenging and fun. But I didn’t play it for long periods of time. In Act Two, you have to wait for a certain time to take a taxi. Every time I came back to check on it, it wasn’t the right time. Lame and a waste of my time. I am deleting it! ### 1/5 — Help!!! *2022-07-25, version 2.1* I love this game but ever since I started act 2, I am stuck at the cafe. I have the ryde app downloaded but every time I try to go on the phone in the game and go to the virtual world, it crashes at the computer screens, and exits the game. I don’t know what to do. Plus the ryde app says there’s no routes available. One star because I don’t know what to do .. ### 1/5 — Garbage! *2021-11-28, version 2.1* A total waste of a dollar. Makes no sense even with clues. ### 1/5 — Bugs! *2021-08-09, version 2.0.3* I bought the game earlier and there’s already bugs. I can’t access her mailbox. I started my game over and couldn’t use the magnifying glass. I thought the developer would have fixed these by now since the game’s been out for awhile. ### 1/5 — So slow *2021-02-15, version 1.2.5* Froze a lot. Dont buy if you dont have computer skills! ### 1/5 — Keeps shutting down but so fun! *2020-12-10, version 1.2.5* I had the app shut down multiple times and it’s really slow on my iPhone XR. It shuts down completely and won’t move beyond when she’s picked up by the car after the lap so I can’t finish the game at all. I am so bummed, I was really enjoying it despite the lagging in gameplay and shutting down! I hope it’s fixed soon! Will definitely rate higher if the technical issues can be fixed! ### 1/5 — Buggy and slow *2020-11-28, version 1.2.2* Infuriatingly buggy and very slow to switch between “apps” in the game. Waste of money ### 1/5 — Buggy *2020-11-22, version 1.2.1* I like the game but very buggy. Currently it crashes everytime I turn it upright to get the cell phone to come up so I can’t continue playing. I just upgraded to iOS 14.2 so maybe it’s not compatible? ### 1/5 — Where’s the next update??? *2020-10-07, version 1.1.3* I bought this game because it promised monthly updates and added content. Nothing has been added and it has been well over a month. Hey developer, it’s better to under promise and over deliver than to over promise and under deliver. You’d be wise to save your money until you see if they actually add any updates. Right now, it feels like a giant money grab! ### 1/5 — Boo!! *2020-09-26, version 1.1.3* I don’t know how this game got high stars but that’s the LAST time I spend money on ANY game! It’s starts out ok. Takes some thinking but you can do it...then a hint or two. Then it just becomes ridiculous! Do you know what a nomolid is? I don’t but this game wants you to look it up (cause the link is broken) learn how to do it, then reverse apply it to another puzzle....excuse you? I kept going using ALL the hints but now I’m at the point of...I have literally no earthy idea what to do....no game should be this difficult. I thought maybe I need to work my brain more. NO! This is pure nonsense! Click on a box and lock something to rotate something so a piece can come out then another piece can slide🤦🏾‍♀️ HEADACHE! FRUSTRATING!! I wish I could get my $5 back!!😡 ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Hints please *2025-02-11* Please please put the game hints on the game! I don’t have discord & I sometimes need help, there is no walk through online & I appreciate the devs help but I have to email them every time, can you plz make hints on the game even suggestions!!! I still haven’t finished this game I bought 5 years ago :( **Developer response:** Sorry you’re having trouble — email me at help@chainreactiongames.org and I can help you! ### 5/5 — I love the game but 1 problem *2024-11-09, version 2.1* I love ❤️this game, but whenever I’m in shifty void and the second computer turns on it kicks me out! Please fix this issue. But everything else is fine. Perfect for all ages. I’m so addicted. TANKS FOR MAKING THIS INCREDIBLE GAME. ### 5/5 — Perfect game! *2023-06-30, version 2.1* What a clever, fun and full of surprises game. An interesting story with great logical puzzles. Great job Team! ### 5/5 — AMAZING! *2023-06-13, version 2.1* I absolutely love this game, and its grown to be one of my favorites. When I got stuck in act 2, I emailed and I received some good help too! This game and everything that comes with it (the music 🤗) is sososososososo good and I love this game to death! The puzzles aren’t too hard (until act 2) and it’s the right mix of clever and challenging. ### 5/5 — I'm not happy *2022-10-05, version 2.1* I paid for this game & I really like it a lot, however some of the puzzles are to hard for me.. which is fine, but I would really love it if the developers would put helps for the second part of the game! They keep telling me what to do over email, but that takes months at a time, and by then I don't even remember what I played! I can't get on Discord it's not so helpful to me.. please please put the game hints on the game! **Developer response:** Sorry you’re having trouble — email me at help@chainreactiongames.org and I can help you! ### 5/5 — An absolute blast to play *2022-04-11, version 2.1* Clever, delightful puzzles in an engaging mystery storyline. This is weird, but I get the impression from the tone of the game that these devs are highly intelligent, but also fun to hang out with. Note that basic science literacy is helpful for solving some puzzles ### 5/5 — I need help *2021-11-06, version 2.1* I am stuck on the part when the power goes out. I have no idea what to do. ### 5/5 — Second chapter issues *2021-08-12, version 2.0.3* I loved the first chapter (hence 5 stars) and was super excited when I saw that there has been another added! However, I just started the second chapter, and every time I go into the ’invisible’ (?) space the screen crashes and takes me back to the main menu. When I press play again, I’m back in the café and have to start the scene again with the same results. Is this part of the game? Am I missing something?? If not there are some serious bugs that need ironed out with this new update. UPDATE: Thanks for the response! I have updated the game to the latest version, and am in the cafe, but when I try to book a Ryde to the hospital it says no routes can be found and to try again later?? ### 5/5 — An amazing game! *2021-08-08, version 2.0.3* I love this game so much. You get such good support from the developer too! I would highly recommend it! ### 5/5 — Crash Fixed - Back to 5 Stars *2021-08-07, version 2.0.3* The Labs/Ryde crash was fixed, so my complaint was resolved. Therefore, with everything working, I am amending my rating from 4 to 5 stars. Great game. Thanks for the quick fix! --- *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 2026-08-25.*