Ads are ridiculously annoying
I enjoy the game, but in the last couple months (minimum), they’ve started having ads that are so intrusive, they open the App Store and/or web pages without any human interaction with the screen. I can set my phone down for a moment, come back, and web pages/App Store are open, *even when a different ad is playing at the moment.* I don’t know what has changed, but I’m about ready to toss this game in the trash because of how annoying this is.
Since there is no paid/ad-free version, I’m fine with those banner ads at the bottom, but for god’s sake, STOP OPENING OTHER PAGES!! 🤬🤬🤬
I’m only giving two stars, even though I really like the puzzles, and I’ll change that if they’ll just fix the problem they’ve created!!
Since there is no paid/ad-free version, I’m fine with those banner ads at the bottom, but for god’s sake, STOP OPENING OTHER PAGES!! 🤬🤬🤬
I’m only giving two stars, even though I really like the puzzles, and I’ll change that if they’ll just fix the problem they’ve created!!
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Safari ads
When you’re in the middle of the game, it automatically opened your Safari to send you to a website for an ad. Game ads are one thing but to take you out into another whole app is not right
It Opens Ads In My Web Browser
Be wary of this game. While I am playing it, the game randomly redirects to my Web browser, and whatever ad they are displaying appears on my web browser. It is very invasive!! I thought I might be randomly touching something to take me to the advertised product in my browser, but no! Like I said, VERY INVASIVE
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Love It
This game relaxes me. I play it every evening to calm down before bed. Try it, you’ll love too!!!
SHEIN Ads Launch External Browser Automatically During Gameplay By Default
Review Update 7/14/26:
Developer update 1.1.9 did not address this issue.
They focused on ensuring the Daily Puzzle in-app badge notification showed up for everyone - so, thanks for that, I guess..
Top work, team.
——————
App deploys non-compliant ad scripts executing unsolicited external Safari routing without user interaction in violation of App Store Guideline 5.1.1.
This automated browser invocation occurs exclusively during SHEIN banner impressions, executing at stochastic intervals varying between 5 and 60 seconds and, often multiple times during a single banner placement window.
Public reviews have documented this precise telemetry failure for weeks absent developer remediation.
Application update 1.1.8 did not address this issue.
*Updated review to reflect one star rating
——————
I get it, ads are to be expected in free games.
Banners - fine.
Autoplay after every couple of games/boards - the frequency is annoying, but sure.
But, one brand launching itself into a new external browser tab at seemingly frenetic intervals in the middle of gameplay - beyond the pale.
If I click on an ad —intentionally or otherwise— and it takes me out of the game and to their website, that’s on me, I sent me there.
If your devs code that action into the app, that’s on you, you sent me there - exactly nobody wants to deal with that, and y’all know that.
At best, it’s utterly infuriating, at worst, it’s arguably predatory.
Now, if perhaps this ‘feature’ is a moment-of-brilliance “I figured out how to make people pay to remove ads bottom-line gamify value-add captive audience blah blah blah” brainchild unilaterally foisted upon the team by an over-caffeinated divorced-from-reality C-Suite paper tiger during a Monday-morning stand up meeting, please, show them this review. Show them the other reviews piling up addressing this.
This was not a good idea.
This isn’t how you fold users into your revenue stream - this is how you drive users away.
It’s an ad-supported free game. It’s a pretty darn enjoyable one, too. Really, it is.
But, it’s still just an ad-supported free game. And, as good as it is, every ounce of enjoyment is evaporated by this SHEIN foolery.
Three stars for an otherwise five-star app.
If y’all remove —not “I have a better idea” fix— the SHEIN thing, it’s back to the five-star rating it deserves.
Developer update 1.1.9 did not address this issue.
They focused on ensuring the Daily Puzzle in-app badge notification showed up for everyone - so, thanks for that, I guess..
Top work, team.
——————
App deploys non-compliant ad scripts executing unsolicited external Safari routing without user interaction in violation of App Store Guideline 5.1.1.
This automated browser invocation occurs exclusively during SHEIN banner impressions, executing at stochastic intervals varying between 5 and 60 seconds and, often multiple times during a single banner placement window.
Public reviews have documented this precise telemetry failure for weeks absent developer remediation.
Application update 1.1.8 did not address this issue.
*Updated review to reflect one star rating
——————
I get it, ads are to be expected in free games.
Banners - fine.
Autoplay after every couple of games/boards - the frequency is annoying, but sure.
But, one brand launching itself into a new external browser tab at seemingly frenetic intervals in the middle of gameplay - beyond the pale.
If I click on an ad —intentionally or otherwise— and it takes me out of the game and to their website, that’s on me, I sent me there.
If your devs code that action into the app, that’s on you, you sent me there - exactly nobody wants to deal with that, and y’all know that.
At best, it’s utterly infuriating, at worst, it’s arguably predatory.
Now, if perhaps this ‘feature’ is a moment-of-brilliance “I figured out how to make people pay to remove ads bottom-line gamify value-add captive audience blah blah blah” brainchild unilaterally foisted upon the team by an over-caffeinated divorced-from-reality C-Suite paper tiger during a Monday-morning stand up meeting, please, show them this review. Show them the other reviews piling up addressing this.
This was not a good idea.
This isn’t how you fold users into your revenue stream - this is how you drive users away.
It’s an ad-supported free game. It’s a pretty darn enjoyable one, too. Really, it is.
But, it’s still just an ad-supported free game. And, as good as it is, every ounce of enjoyment is evaporated by this SHEIN foolery.
Three stars for an otherwise five-star app.
If y’all remove —not “I have a better idea” fix— the SHEIN thing, it’s back to the five-star rating it deserves.
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