# Companions — user reviews > 117 indexed App Store user reviews of Companions by Smuttlewerk Interactive UG (haftungsbeschrankt), rated 4.80/5 from 13 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/companions/id418974698/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/companions/id418974698.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 11 · 4★ 1 · 3★ 1 · 2★ 0 · 1★ 0 ## What do users think of Companions? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 🎮 Deep tactical combat system with strategic pause mechanic - 📖 Engaging story with humor and character development - 🎨 Quality graphics and visual presentation - 👥 Unique multi-character control with diverse class options - ⚔️ Challenging gameplay that rewards careful planning - 🏆 Excellent value for the price point - 🎯 Well-designed character building and progression system - 🛡️ Good variety of equipment and loot - 🎪 Nostalgic D&D and Baldur's Gate-like experience - 💾 Generous save system with autosaves **Cons** - 🎮 Awkward and fiddly touch controls - 📱 Difficult multi-character management during combat - ⏱️ Restrictive tactical pause timer creates frustration - 🗺️ Limited camera/map controls and no minimap - 🐢 Slow character movement through dungeons - 🎨 Repetitive dungeon environments throughout game - 💀 Unforgiving difficulty with instant death mechanics - 🎯 Small hit boxes and input misinterpretation issues - 🔄 Low replayability after initial playthroughs - 🎵 Lack of music and audio options **Commonly reported bugs** - Game crashes on startup or when party members die - Freezing at loading screen on iPad 2 - Characters unable to interact with destructible objects in certain rooms - Characters getting stuck during pathfinding - Mages unable to cast area spells in some situations - Double-tap potion system unreliable during combat - Game crashes when exiting and returning to campaign - Characters not responding to commands as intended - Incompatibility with certain device region formats **Most requested features** - Minimap or map overview feature - Single-finger screen panning instead of two-finger requirement - Turn-based mode option for combat - Group movement and formation commands - Longer or unlimited tactical pause timer - More complex tactical options and additional skills - Expanded item customization system - Varied environments beyond dungeons - Objective markers or quest guidance system - Music and background audio - Universal app support (not iPad-only) - Multiplayer functionality - Game shop to sell and upgrade equipment - Additional content and expansion updates ## Newest reviews (16 of 117) ### 4/5 — Ol skoola *2014-11-15, version 1.40* Great game. Good RPG well worth investing some time into even if the learning curves a little steep. Use the tactical pause! ### 4/5 — Good *2013-07-10, version 1.39* Sweet game. Use the pause button ### 4/5 — Good game so far *2013-06-13, version 1.39* Enjoying it so far- good controls and enjoyable story. ### 4/5 — Review *2013-05-27, version 1.39* Challenging and involved. Great story. ### 4/5 — Interesting RPG *2013-04-29, version 1.39* Slow and challenging but seems to have potential! ### 4/5 — Fun *2013-02-23, version 1.39* Decent strategy, fun story. Worth the $ to play the campaign. ### 4/5 — Good, potentially great *2012-12-07, version 1.39* Well worth the few quid, engrossing and funny storyline, plenty of action, a few things could be added to improve like putting in an 'objective' button to point out which direction you need to go or what you need to do to progress if you accidentally skipped through the talks bit. Have just finished the first part and can't wait for the next update! ### 5/5 — Fun game *2012-09-16, version 1.38* This is quite a fun RPG. Similar to PC titles that cost much more. ### 3/5 — Ok strategy rpg - some fun but repetitive and annoying in places *2012-09-08, version 1.38* This game is a great homage to turn based RPGs like Baldur's Gate (one of my favorite games of all time). Decent story (though occasionally slightly awkward text), good enough graphics (isometric would have been nicer and easier to differentiate characters), interesting audio (character voices actually sound like foreign languages), good gameplay mechanics, and a decent UI (a couple things could have been streamlined, like making the inventory bag be the inv/char button as well). Picking up the controls takes bit of practice, but the tutorial is pretty good. My main complaint is with the pause timer. Games like this are meant to be paused for setting up tactics. Forcing the player to hurry through these decisions doesn't make sense - you don't get extra points or anything (except an achievement, but that's only if you play with the short timer). If it was multiplayer that would be different. For the long timer mode, there shouldn't be a timer at all. Otherwise fun game so far (only in the second level - I'm hoping the environments vary more after getting out of the dungeon). [Update] Got to the level with the dragon (not sure if it's the end?) and I've now lowered my rating for two reasons. One, the tile set never changed - always the dungeons. After a while it gets old. And second, the fight with the dragon is annoying. When he gets low on health, he keeps teleporting back and forth between two locations, making it next to impossible to kill him. I spent probably 30-45 minutes fighting him and never killed him. It's not hard, it's just annoying as hell. I'm done with the game. Besides Baldur's Gate comes out in a couple weeks - no reason to have this mediocre game anymore. ### 5/5 — Great game *2012-08-16, version 1.38* It is worth buying. ### 4/5 — Pretty good! *2012-07-31, version 1.38* After reading a couple comments about the game on a forum by the games designer I bought it to support him, the game has not disappointed although it is hard to get used to. But hey what isn't thats worth playing. Would highly recommend!!!!!!! ### 5/5 — Good challenge *2012-07-29, version 1.38* Tricky to start with but very good challenge recommend pressing the i button bottom left hand corner on all screens so you know what's what.... ### 5/5 — Wonderful dungeon crawler strategy game *2012-07-18, version 1.38* This is a wonderful gem of a strategy game, the controls are very responsive and easy to use. I found myself wishing some battles were turn based as opposed to rts but have to admit the rts gives the game more of a challenge that actually keeps me on my toes. I haven't gone through the whole game but the story so far is just right, doesn't bog down the game but the characters are unique and I find myself intrigued and wanting to know more. Story and fun gameplay makes it a win ### 5/5 — Like *2012-06-26, version 1.38* Good rts ### 4/5 — Fun app *2012-06-17, version 1.38* But a bit too hard at low levels ### 4/5 — fun game *2012-06-12, version 1.38* Fun game with few flaws. Waiting for new expansion. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Companions *2018-09-09, version 1..42* The graphics are great but with the awkward controls, choppy movements and having to zoom out to fit the rooms on the screen because you cannot slide the room over like most other games takes all the fun out of a potentially awesome game seriously disappointed 😞 ### 1/5 — Controls are way too awkward *2012-10-24, version 1.38* It's nearly impossible to get your units to do what you want in real time. The developers know this which is why they added this "tactical pause" thing. Unfortunately I find that hack much too annoying. ### 1/5 — I'm sad *2012-04-19, version 1.37* I bought this before realizing it's iPad only. Make it universal and I will change my score. ### 1/5 — Disappointing *2011-07-12* Game showed slot of promise...but a bug in one of the rooms where you have to destroy tombs to continue makes the game a one star. My characters can stand right in front of the 2 tombs left, but they do nothing. When I try to shoot arrows and spells at the tomb, nothing happens. So I am stuck in a locked room and can't go any further, the Dwarf has walked the entire perimeter of the room, so if there was a tunnel it would have opened up, (unless that's the bug), in any case, the game is over for me before it really got started. I can't export my characters or saved game and try a reinstall. Even if I start over, there is no guarantee I won't run into the same bug after a few hours. It's fun while it last, but the bug makes it a very short game. I hope other developers take note of this game and create a multiple character game that you can be played from beginning to end. ### 2/5 — Needs Work On Controls *2012-04-01, version 1.37* The basic premise of this game is frankly delightful - a squad of dudes of the basic archetypes going out and bashing some skulls. There's quite a lot of detail present here in the little workings of the game, and it's mechanically impressive with each squad member being quite unique in how they work and support the others. Where it gets frustrating is in trying to control all your guys. They have different mechanics - e.g., the "engineer" type will build traps and emplacements. There is a "tank" type as well, designed to taunt enemies onto it, a healer/dps type, and so on. So where's the frustration? Simply in that each archetype must be individually controlled, so you spend a lot of time frantically flailing about at your iPad's screen trying to get each dude to do what you want. Repositioning them at the same time is maddening, as they need to face certain directions. The game has a sort of dynamic pause, but this is a very short timer. The game would work pretty perfectly if there was either a way to issue sensible group commands (tank, protect the engineer, etc.) or if the dynamic pause had a much longer timer. It's a shame - the potential is huge in this, I really want to like it more, but find myself not wanting to fire it up for fear of putting a finger through the glass screen of my 'pad. ### 2/5 — Good idea, bad execution *2011-12-22, version 1.36* My favorite type of game but the implementation is such that any minor mistake and you lose a party member. You then lose and have to start over. Would have been better turn based. ### 2/5 — could have been something *2011-06-15, version 1.0* I was excited at the prospect of this game, but was disappointed by its gameplay mechanics and graphics. Obviously its worth the couple of bucks, but its not the best game out there, by any stretch. ### 2/5 — Needs adjustments and save. *2011-05-27* Ok it's a five star game with one star issues. First off and worst no auto save nor menu save. It only saves at major plot points and the game doesn't support multitasking. Which means you must sit down for long periods of time. Please add a menu save or auto save so this is grab and go play. Second. The setting easy least isnt easy. I keep dying because there are no monster drops ever and no potions to be found. Make easy more easy dude! Third there is no music. Really? Add some darn music the sounds are lame and I can't even play my own music. I'd rather have good game music. All that said. Lots of combinations of characters and gameplay. Playing four at once is clumsy but at least it's a new idea to me. Love the detail and story. Make the fixes above I'll give you five stars all the way and all my friends and family will Purchase also! ### 3/5 — Update *2014-07-27, version 1.40* I've really enjoyed this game, but after the second or third play through it gets stale very quickly. If there's no update soon I may just delete this app due to its low replayability. ### 3/5 — Great at first, but amazingly annoying later *2012-10-29, version 1.38* Really good fun to start with, with great visuals and clever levels. But then it becomes confusing and annoying, with the fiddly real time controls not reacting quite as you hope and characters off the screen letting themselves die. A limitless pause pause option, or just making the game turn based, would have helped. I don't know how far through the game I am, but I give up. It is just too annoying. Still, as I bought it for a dollar, I have had several hours of fun, so it is good value! ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Cool *2019-01-02, version 1..42* Interesting and fun action rpg. You can pause combat, but for a limited period to give commands, so it isn't too full on. The controls and layout are quite fiddly and takes a while getting used to bit it's not too bad after that. Only got through a few levels so can't comment on the whole game but well worth a try if you like rpgs, dungeon crawlers or tactical combat. Could do with a mini map or a map overview though and I'd much prefer to move the screen with one rather than two fingers. ### 5/5 — One of the best from the golden age of the App Store *2018-06-18, version 1..42* So great to see it resurrected. Too bad they felt it needed to be free (truly free, not free-to-play) because I’d love to see an updated version of this baby. One that costs a few bucks up front, after which you can play forever. Why so many mobile players prefer to rent their games via consumable IAPs is beyond me... To Developer: Thank you for the response! Yes, that was me back in the day. Always a big fan of your work. Best of luck navigating these new freemium-filled waters. ### 5/5 — So far so good *2017-01-08, version 1.40* It is fun so far ### 5/5 — Great game! *2014-06-03, version 1.40* Lots of options in tactics, albeit the tactics could use more complexities. Maybe it is due to the game being so small, but that should be no excuse to hinder today's Apps. More skills and item customization, it would have easily become be of the best strategy RPG on iOS. ### 5/5 — Well done *2013-11-30, version 1.40* A bit clunky, but overall good. ### 5/5 — Great game *2013-10-05, version 1.40* Not your average dungeon crawler game. Quality character building system with a great variety of classes to choose from. Lots of magical weaponry and spells. Great time killer. ### 5/5 — Well worth it! *2013-07-06, version 1.39* A different take on the typical iPad game with a Fun and often humorous story. So far I haven't seen any bugs or problems. This one has my undivided attention! ### 5/5 — Good Game *2013-04-01, version 1.39* Not really lacking in anything. This game is worth the admission price. ### 5/5 — Great game so far *2012-11-18, version 1.38* Quality ### 5/5 — cool game *2012-10-20, version 1.38* cool game really worthwhile and easy to play --- *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 2026-06-09.*