# Kernel King

> Addictive idle game where players tap to make popcorn and upgrade their popping capabilities. (iPhone/iPad app by Blake Eckert.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kernel-king/id1072806976 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Blake Eckert](https://appshunter.io/developer/1031112881)
- Category: Games, Casual, Simulation
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.39/5 from 41 App Store ratings · 113 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 8.0 · 46 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2016-05-15
- Data updated: 2026-07-04
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kernel-king/id1072806976/reviews.md

## What is Kernel King?

Tap to make popcorn! 

In this super simple yet insanely addicting game you'll be making more popcorn than you'll know what to do with. Tap to make popcorn in a meeting, during class, on the bus, waiting in line. Once you start popping you won't be able to stop. Your friends and family start to worry about when they haven't seen you in days. You are up to your eyes in popcorn. You begin to dream in popcorn. You only take breaks from popping popcorn to eat popcorn. There is only one goal. Become the Kernel King.

Kernel King features:
-Simple game mechanics - Tap to make popcorn
-Investments to pop even faster - Once you start popping you'll be hard to stop
-Upgrade your popper - Earn more kernels per second
-Upgrade your recipe - Earn more kernels per click
-Upgrade your status - Earn more kernels while you're not popping
-Buy a bucket to collect popcorn while you're eating popcorn - Most         have figured out how to eat and pop at the same time so you run          the risk of falling behind with this tactic
-Over 10 different poppers to unlock - Collect them all and show off to your friends
-Game Center - Know exactly how close you are to being the king
-Share on Facebook and Twitter - Let your friends know how far they are behind
-Prestige and pop kernels even faster - It's harder to stay at the top than it is to get there
-Bonuses and Multipliers - Earn bonuses and multipliers to start rolling in popcorn

Everyone else has already started, but there is still hope. Download today for free and start your journey to the top. 

There can be only one Kernel King.

Are you the one?

## Key features

- Tap to make popcorn
- Investments for faster popping
- Upgrade popper and recipe
- Offline kernel earnings
- Unlockable poppers
- Prestige system
- Bonuses and multipliers

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Double Kernels Per Second | $0.99 | one-time |
| Double Kernels | $0.99 | one-time |
| Kernel Blast | $1.99 | one-time |
| Kernel Bomb | $19.99 | one-time |
| Forever 20x | $49.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| King Kernel | $4.99 | one-time |
| Shaker of Salt | $1.99 | one-time |
| Salt Mine | $9.99 | one-time |
| Treadmill | $1.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Kernel King?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 😊 Highly addictive and engaging gameplay
- 👍 Simple and easy to play mechanics
- 🎮 Fun way to pass time and avoid boredom
- 💰 Can customize without spending real money
- 🎯 Great for all ages including children
- ⭐ Entertaining and keeps players engaged
- 🔄 Stable performance without crashes

**Cons**

- 📺 Excessive ads appearing frequently
- 💸 Expensive upgrades and progression
- 🐛 Game crashes and kicks to home screen
- ⏱️ Slow progression and kernel earning
- 🔄 Data loss after crashes
- 😕 Confusing initial gameplay experience
- ⚠️ Misleading promotional claims about rewards

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Game crashes and forces user to home screen
- Data loss when game crashes
- Game won't start without reviewing or advertising
- Glitches causing loss of progress

**Most requested features**

- Timer mode to track kernels earned
- Upgrade levels with multipliers for easier progression
- Better tutorial or onboarding instructions
- More diverse upgrades and features

## Recent user reviews (10 of 113)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kernel-king/id1072806976/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Asome

*2023-02-04, version 2.02*

To get a bonus

### 4/5 — Oops

*2021-09-19, version 2.02*

I would send my suggestions, but App Store reviews are laid out stupidly.

### 5/5 — you

*2020-11-25, version 2.02*

this game is good

### 5/5 — Love popcorn

*2019-07-01, version 2.02*

Awesome game

### 5/5 — Game

*2019-05-16, version 2.02*

I like the game very different

### 5/5 — KERNEL KING TAPPING GAME

*2019-03-17, version 2.02*

THIS IS THE MOST GREATEST GAME EVER

### 5/5 — Helpful

*2017-12-20, version 2.02*

Love it

### 4/5 — Ads

*2017-11-19, version 2.02*

There are too many ads in the game but good game.

### 5/5 — Hi hi hi hi

*2017-08-27, version 2.02*

HI HI HI HI HI

### 4/5 — Great

*2017-08-13, version 2.02*

Loving it so far

## Frequently asked questions about Kernel King

### What is Kernel King?

Kernel King is a simple yet addicting idle game where your primary action is to tap the screen to make popcorn. The game focuses on progression through upgrades and investments to increase your popcorn production.

### What are the main features of Kernel King?

Key features include simple tap mechanics to make popcorn, investments to pop faster, upgrades for your popper and recipe to earn more, offline earnings, unlocking over 10 different poppers, a prestige system for faster progression, and bonuses/multipliers.

### Is Kernel King free to play?

Yes, Kernel King is free to download and play. The game includes in-app purchases, which can be used to speed up progression or acquire cosmetic items.

### What is the goal of Kernel King?

The ultimate goal of Kernel King is to become the 'Kernel King' by producing the most popcorn. This is achieved through strategic upgrades, investments, and utilizing features like prestige to continuously improve your popcorn-making efficiency.

### Can I play Kernel King offline?

Yes, the game allows you to earn kernels even when you are not actively playing. Upgrades to your status and recipe contribute to earning more kernels while you're offline, ensuring continued progression.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.02 — 2016-11-15

This app has been updated by Apple to display the Apple Watch app icon.

-Minor bug fixes
-Push notifications

### 2.01 — 2016-07-25

-Improved tutorial
-Bug fixes

### 2.0 — 2016-07-18

-New currency system. Along with kernels you can earn shakers. Shakers can be earned by purchasing upgrades, unlockables, In-App Purchases, watching videos, or simply by clicking. Shakers can be used to unlock custom kernels you can pop.
-New worlds. Transport from the classic static blue background to a scrolling panoramic background. Themed from under the sea to the beach to the universe, you'll be popping popcorn all over the world.
-Added 27 custom kernels you can unlock. 
-Added 7 new scrolling panoramic backgrounds. Prestige to unlock a new background
-New video bonuses. Now you can earn multipliers, gold kernels, salt shakers, and kernels from watching videos
-5 new In-App purchases
--Zoom past your friends with the King Kernel. Tap to grow the King Kernel. Once it is big enough it will pop and you'll be rewarded with a golden kernel.
--Be a frugal kernel investor with Kernel Sale. Cut the price of all the investments in half with this kernel saving purchase.
--Improve your popping skills with Treadmill. Some people need a little more motivation to pop than others. Scrolling backgrounds move on every click to motivate you to never stop popping. Soon you'll be a seasoned popper able to pop for hours with this useful purchase.
--Shaker of salt. Earn 25 shakers instantly.
--Salt mine. Earn 150 shakers instantly.
-Bug fixes

### 1.05 — 2016-06-03

-Minor Improvements

### 1.04 — 2016-06-01

-Minor Improvements

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## More apps by Blake Eckert

- [Clicking Clocks](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/clicking-clocks/id1052601863)

All apps by Blake Eckert: https://appshunter.io/developer/1031112881

## Related topics

[kernel king](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/kernel-king) · [poppin popcorn](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/poppin-popcorn) · [popping popcorn](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/popping-popcorn)

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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 2026-07-04.*