# iAssociate 3 — user reviews

> 145 indexed App Store user reviews of iAssociate 3 by Animoca Brands Limited, rated 4.40/5 from 1,514 ratings.

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iassociate-3/id1437596462/reviews
- App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/iassociate-3/id1437596462.md
- Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,012 · 4★ 283 · 3★ 74 · 2★ 31 · 1★ 114

## What do users think of iAssociate 3?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 👍 Fun game
- 🚀 Challenging and brain-stimulating
- 💡 Unique concept and gameplay

**Cons**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🤔 Overly simplified compared to previous versions
- 💰 Monetization tactics like timers and in-app purchases
- 🤯 Frustrating loss of progress and saved data

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Levels not properly completing
- Screen zooming and UI issues when switching between app and other tasks
- Inconsistent and incorrect information in clues and answers

**Most requested features**

- Bring back the original iAssociate 2 gameplay
- Add an option to disable hints and letter choices
- Improve accessibility for visually impaired users
- Fix persistent bugs and glitches

## Newest reviews (18 of 145)

### 2/5 — Bad

*2025-05-15, version 1.2.4*

Not as good as the original from Ticbits. Pity they’ve disappeared from the App Store.

### 4/5 — Fun but bring back the OG

*2025-03-25, version 1.2.4*

This is fun, but I wish the letters weren’t there and you had to think of it for yourself. iAssociate2 was soooo great! I wish it was still available! There’s no other game like it! I’ve looked everywhere

### 3/5 — Not as good a iAssociate2

*2024-09-21*

I really liked iAssociate2 because you didn’t have to wait for a timer for the next level to open. Why make us wait when each additional level cost more and more keys? I think it’s a ploy to try to get you to spend money on the game. A level should open immediately after unlocking it. I had to wait 20 minutes for the last one on the easy level. Lord knows what it will be on the medium level. Associate was enjoyable. This one not so much even with the cute animations.

### 4/5 — Good Game

*2024-06-11*

I would rate it 5 Stars if you could play it in landscape mode. Also I really liked iAssociate2. It had a lot more subjects and levels. But I do like some of the new aspects of iAssociate3. Like the offer of the letters. What I don’t like that you have lives and you need to buy crystals to buy hints. But it seems that most games are this way now. I hope iAssociate2 is still supported. I haven’t played all the levels yet. But all in all keep em coming. It is a unique and entertaining game.

### 3/5 — I wish they didn’t change the original

*2024-05-08, version 1.2.4*

Wish there was a way to play the original iassociate, where it was a large growing web that all stemmed from a single word. Now you get the letters to choose from. Bring back the original!!!!!

### 1/5 — Sad replacement for iAssociate 2

*2024-05-03, version 1.2.4*

I was initially delighted to see that there was still a version of iAssociate available. iAssociate 2 is one of my all-time favorite games. When they stopped releasing new levels for it, I was disappointed. 

Unfortunately, iAssociate 3 is a sad, microtransaction-riddled, error-laden, dumbed-down piece of garbage. Instead of just letting you guess the words directly, it’s combined gameplay with another old Ticbits game, Word Strike, providing you with a selection of letters to choose from. (The daily challenge appears to be straight Word Strike, using four-word clues instead of associations.) This makes the game too much easier, in my view. 

The worst change is how you open levels. In iAssociate 2, you simply bought level packs outright, and unlocked new levels with the keys you got from completing the previous level. In version 3, you still need and get the keys, but you also have to either wait an amount of time that increases as levels get harder, or spend gems to open them immediately. You get gems when you complete a level, but not fast enough to open all levels without waiting. The idea, obviously, is to encourage the player to spend money on gems. 

This proliferation of in-game currencies being needed to advance through a game has absolutely ruined far too many puzzle games. I have no objection to purchasing level packs or puzzle packs. I do object to being pushed into spending additional money or forced to wait for arbitrary amounts of time to keep playing levels I otherwise have already paid for. I want the puzzle challenge, not the stupid ancillary gamification. 

And as for errors, the puzzles are filled with them. This may be the most frustrating part of all. The errors range from simple obvious typos (ALWAYS PROOFREAD EVERYTHING when you’re making word puzzles!) to sometimes-significant errors of fact. (For example, in one puzzle I just completed, a clue linked to “Hulk” asked for the character played by Bill Bixby in the ‘70s TV show. It was also linked to “Bruce”, indicating that the answer being sought was the name of Hulk’s human alter ego in the comics (and MCU), Bruce Banner. But in the show (and in this show alone, of all productions featuring The Hulk), the name was changed to David Banner, making the provided clue blatantly incorrect.) 

Repetition is also everywhere in this game. Certain link chains seem to pop up in almost every puzzle. If you get “cat”, it’s absolutely certain that it will link to “dog”, which then almost always leads to “boxer” and then something else related to the sport of boxing. “Berry” always leads to “Halle Berry” which always leads to “Storm”. Knowing that half the words in any given level are going to be connected in the same links as in already-completed levels makes the game less challenging and less interesting. I’ll grant that this was common in previous versions as well, but here it’s one more annoyance on top of several others.

Finally, it’s clear that the game has been completely abandoned by the developers. If you follow the link her in the App Store for support, you are sent to the developer’s web site, which not only has no links for support for any of their games, but also does not list iAssociate as one of their titles. Emails sent to the only email address I found on the site have so far gone unanswered. This is, in my view, the worst offense a developer can commit: failure to acknowledge feedback and support requests. Setting up an autoreply for support emails is trivial; if you can’t be bothered to do even that little bit, you have no business asking people to give you money for anything related to your software. 

I sorely miss the old Ticbits company. I have several of their games still installed, passed down from device to device via the old iTunes library on my Mac (from before Apple stopped letting you archive iOS apps on a Mac), and I will keep them as long as they are playable. Sadly, as there are no more puzzles for iAssociate 2, once you’ve finished all the ones that were released, you’re done. It appears that iAssociate 3 will suffer the same fate, as the lack of development (no updates in the last five years) and lack of developer response to email dooms this game to the abandonware void. 

If you’re a fan of the first or second versions of iAssociate, DO NOT download this one. You WILL be disappointed.

### 3/5 — Liked iAssociate 2 better

*2024-04-24, version 1.2.4*

I don’t like timers or that it gives you letters to select from. Not the same.

### 2/5 — Poor upgrade

*2024-04-01*

No where near as good and enjoyable as iAssociate2. I really miss that game and although this should be a better version, it’s lost all the aspects of 2 that made it so enjoyable. Now it’s just a money grabbing game.

### 4/5 — A great word association game!

*2024-03-28, version 1.2.4*

Lots of brain challenging games plus a daily puzzle. The previous issues are not present so you can stop and return to the home menu or other puzzles. Great for utilising general knowledge as well as word association. I play everyday!

### 1/5 — Not as good at iAssociate22

*2024-03-10, version 1.2.4*

The older versions iAssociate were better, and were my favourite game. This one version has too much blingy awards which aren’t necessary, the graphics are too much. It’s boring. The levels are too short and the clues are too easy and it didn’t keep my attention long enough to continue on til it gets harder or until the board gets larger. 

Just give me back the original game with the simple screen to work through each of the themes and packages. Sorry but you’ve failed us on this game design.

### 1/5 — Bring back the original

*2024-02-13, version 1.2.4*

This iassociate3 gives too many ways to solve. The first iassociate game was clever and original. It really made you think and even made you go away and come back later to look at the puzzle from another angle. This current version should be labelled iassociate jr as I believe it was created with a much younger audience in mind.

### 2/5 — The fun is gone

*2024-01-11, version 1.2.4*

I loved the challenge of iassociate 2. Now you get clues for every bubble that pretty much tell you what the word is and the supplied letters to guess from. It used to be a game that would take a while to play and really make you think outside the box. Some of the puzzles would take days to complete. It’s too easy now.

### 1/5 — Bring back the difficulty

*2024-01-10, version 1.2.4*

I played I-Associate 2 and love the difficulty this new style is far too easy and has taken the challenge and fun out of the original. Please go back to the old format

### 1/5 — Not as fun as the previous version

*2023-12-24, version 1.2.4*

Ads, keys, unlocking things.  This game is now boring and pointless. 

Not challenging and a waste of time.

### 1/5 — Where did all the levels go?

*2023-11-24, version 1.2.4*

All of a sudden when I open the game all the levels have disappeared

### 3/5 — Good , but some issues

*2023-11-11, version 1.2.4*

Love the game, but there are spelling errors in the game for some answers. Also, I completed some levels, but it is shown to be 99.9% complete.

### 2/5 — Miss the previous versions

*2023-10-25, version 1.2.4*

Is the iAssociate 2 available to install?! That version was 100x better than this one.

### 1/5 — Where have all the games gone!?

*2023-09-19, version 1.2.4*

I’ve been playing this for some time and have completed several levels but now they’ve all DISAPPEARED! The ones I’ve completed and the ones that I haven’t! Can you fix the problem?

## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated)

### 1/5 — Less than meh

*2026-01-23, version 1.2.4*

I was so hoping for iassociate2. I can’t even play this one. It’s so disappointing. I miss the connection maps and the challenge. This is like all the basic word games out there except this one reminds you of what could be yet isn’t. Hopefully one day someone will bring back iassociate 2

### 1/5 — Can no longer access older versions

*2025-12-18, version 1.2.4*

I associate was a great game, challenging with lots of great levels available. 
Unfortunately the only version downloadable now is this, stuffed full of currency and timers and not good.
The earlier, far better, versions have been removed from the app store so cannot even be re-downloaded.

### 1/5 — Totally inaccessible

*2025-12-13, version 1.2.4*

Just tried it again today after several years.  No improvement.  Bring back i associate 2 and more puzzle packs, at least it was accessible and fun at the same time

### 1/5 — Too easy and busy

*2025-11-05, version 1.2.4*

This version is too flashy and stupidly easy. Very disappointed. Please bring back the original versions.

### 1/5 — Used to love this

*2025-04-25, version 1.2.4*

I wanted to play this game with my kids now that they are getting older.  But the new game, while easy enough for them to understand, is terrible!!!  It’s got that awful Vegas style play and the levels are weird—just as you get started it moves you to a different level.  What a disappointment.  :(

### 1/5 — I don’t like this game

*2025-03-23, version 1.2.4*

The puzzles most time don’t make any sense and no clue except you buy the clue/help with real money. The time to unlock new levels too doesn’t make sense. I most likely will end ip deleting this game.

### 1/5 — REVERT BACK TO IASSOCIATE2

*2024-12-22, version 1.2.4*

No where near as challenging and enjoyable as iAssociate2. I really miss that game and although this should be a better version, it’s lost all the aspects of 2 that made it so enjoyable. Now it’s just a money grabbing game.

### 1/5 — Ruined.

*2024-08-08, version 1.2.4*

Why?! This once was a time diverting excellent game. It was probably simple to develop too. If the entire alphabet doesn’t pop up than it’s just an anagram with clues. And keys. And rewards. Fluff, fluff, fluff! All the bells and whistles do not hide that is a very dumbed down version of what was once a top notch game.

### 1/5 — I wish this game was accessible like I associate two

*2024-07-15*

I wish this game was accessible with the Apple's voiceover feature like your last game, which was I associate two.
But sadly it is not and it is a shame because I associate two was a very very good game. Spent a lot of money on that game. It was fine because I enjoyed the puzzles but I wish that this game I associate three was accessible to play.

### 1/5 — Too Easy!!!

*2024-05-29, version 1.2.4*

I loved the stimulating game this used to be.  This one is not even challenging at all.  I was hoping the medium and hard levels would be more like I associate and I associate 2 but still far too easy.  It’s probably going to be deleted.  We don’t want super easy games just because the majority of the world has decided they’d rather be dumb; some of us want to be challenged.  PLEASE BRING BACK THE CHALLENGE!  You could even make turning on letter choices a an option.  The new graphics are cool but I’d still rather the old game!!!

## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated)

### 5/5 — Fun game

*2025-02-18, version 1.2.4*

I’ve been a fan of the iAssociate series since the first one. It’s a great brain workout, and I love that I can unlock new levels without spending cash, you just need patience. I would love a iAssociate 4!

### 5/5 — No saved progress

*2024-06-13, version 1.2.4*

This game is awesome! If you like the old board game Tribond, you will like this game! I only wish is that it would have a save progress option. I got a new tablet and had to restart the whole thing! I lost a lot of keys and jewels.

### 5/5 — Agree with Tom Stitzer

*2023-01-11, version 1.2.4*

The old red game was the bomb.  None of the flashy and dumbed down vanna white stuff.

### 5/5 — Hooked again

*2022-10-06, version 1.2.4*

Very enjoyable game, I loved the concept of previous iterations in the past, and this one is just as good and refreshed graphically.

### 5/5 — pepperonis

*2022-09-07, version 1.2.4*

Great game just wish I could use my keyboard

### 5/5 — Addictive

*2018-12-11, version 1.0.4*

This game is very entertaining. I like that it offers ads as a way to get gems to speed up unlock time. Just challenging enough to stay interesting 👍🏼

### 5/5 — I love it

*2018-12-06, version 1.0.4*

I love it, it’s one of the games I play before I go to bed. However, the app lately has been werid in-game I can’t get to the buttons on the top or bottom of the screens, almost like it’s zoomed in. Please fix, I love this game and how it makes me think.

### 5/5 — Great game needs bug fixing

*2018-12-03, version 1.0.3*

Loving the game, gets the brain working. Just needs some bug fixes. A lot of the time you can’t go back to previous screen. Sometimes the option is there at the top but others you’re stuck in whatever page or level you’re on with no information about progress or ability to go back into the menu from within a level. It happens quite frequently so if that could be fixed it would be almost perfect I’d say.

### 5/5 — Fun!

*2018-12-02, version 1.0.3*

Love this game! I was excited when a new game was coming out. Different than the previous games, but I still enjoy it. 
There is a spelling error however - in the Premium level, Kids in Fiction, one word should be Futurama but has been spelled FuRturama (associated with future, cartoons, and The Simpsons).

### 5/5 — Love this game!!! Please keep on adding more levels!!

*2018-11-29, version 1.0.3*

Thank you for making this game, a lot more fun than the other iassociate games :)
Wish there’s an option to earn the gems by time or purchase a game pack instead of gem packs.

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*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 2026-06-10.*
