# Paint It Back - GameClub — user reviews > 56 indexed App Store user reviews of Paint It Back by GameClub, rated 4.02/5 from 317 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paint-it-back-gameclub/id1491508092/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paint-it-back-gameclub/id1491508092.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 224 · 4★ 17 · 3★ 3 · 2★ 5 · 1★ 68 ## What do users think of Paint It Back? Overall sentiment: negative **Pros** - 🎨 Beautiful and imaginative artwork/paintings - 🧩 Addictive puzzle gameplay mechanics - 😌 Relaxing and zen-like gaming experience - ✅ Responsive controls and intuitive interface - 🔄 Developer restored purchases for some previous owners **Cons** - 💰 Forced subscription model ($5-8/month) instead of one-time purchase - 🚫 Removed free version from App Store without warning - 📵 Severe paywall after only 2-3 free rooms - 📧 Poor customer support and unresponsive to inquiries - 📢 Intrusive ads promoting subscription service - 🔐 Previous purchase owners locked out without access - 🎮 Inconsistent eligibility for purchase restoration - ⚠️ Incompatibility issues with newer iOS versions - 🔊 Missing or bugged sound effects - 📱 Display scaling issues on certain devices **Commonly reported bugs** - Sound effects not playing or too quiet - Animation errors (missing pupils in character faces) - Game incompatible with updated iOS versions - Display/puzzle scaling issues on certain devices (iPhone XR) - Progress deletion after app removal and reinstallation - Login/authentication issues preventing play despite valid subscription **Most requested features** - One-time purchase option for the game instead of subscription - Individual game purchase option (not bundled with other games) - More art galleries and painting levels - Removal or reduction of subscription advertisements - Better sound effect implementation - Improved display scaling for all device sizes ## Newest reviews (15 of 56) ### 3/5 — A nostalgic but flawed return *2024-09-23* On a whim I looked up this game again and was absolutely delighted to see it actually back! …however when checking its reviews and hearing about a subscription that delight faded away. For $5 a month you can play EVERY game club game to its fullest, but if you want to play just one, you’re completely out of luck, you can’t buy just one game like you could back when they were first on the App Store. If you DID own it you can contact them to get it back and people have actually gotten it back that way it seems! But personally, I never got a reply even saying my proof wasn’t enough from them. You used to be able to buy this game but now you’re forced to pay a membership even if this is the only one you care for. I hope they add a single purchase option because I understand having the old game offloaded not being enough proof, but I still want to play this game again like I used to. ### 1/5 — subscription 👎 *2022-08-28, version 1.0.32* as much as it pains me to give a 1 star review to this beloved game i've been forced to. 5 dollars a month to play this and it only lets you get up to the second room without paying. used to love this game but the subscription ruined it. pro tip: not every goddamn thing needs a monthly subscription. ### 1/5 — Pepperidge Farm remembers1 *2022-07-30* Remember when you paid for a game and got to keep it? Bought a new phone, it wouldn’t let me keep the version I had downloaded years ago. Was mighty disappointed, this was one of my go to’s. Decided to look on the App Store, and there it was. JOY!! So I downloaded it, and started it all over again. Then after I finished the first 2 levels it won’t let me play unless I pay a monthly subscription? And monkeys might fly out of tookus! ### 1/5 — Same great game, now for $$$! *2022-07-24* I played this game over and over. I was so disappointed when I couldn’t get it on my new phone! But now it’s back… and subscription-only. That’s right, subscription. It’s not $5, it’s $5 every month! For access to this, and various other games which I don’t care about. Such a shameless money-grab! Subscriptions make sense for e.g. MMORPGs, where there’s an actual need to pay for servers on an ongoing basis. For anything else, they’re just blatant greed. They don’t care about players, they just want cash cows! ### 1/5 — Gameclub ruined it *2022-05-25* This game used to be great, you could play 4 of the rooms and then you had to pay to play more. Now, you can play 2 rooms with only very easy levels and then you have to pay game club $4.99 a month if you want to play more. Why do I need to subscribe when I can play for free on other apps?? I would pay a one time payment if I could play all levels but I’m not subscribing. ### 1/5 — Ruined *2022-04-12, version 1.0.32* This was a fun game until they halted your progress to shove their subscription down your throat ### 1/5 — Paid for this before *2022-03-23, version 1.0.32* Why can’t I play without signing up for a subscription now? ### 1/5 — Terrible. *2022-01-04, version 1.0.32* I signed up for GameClub so that I could play this game. It’s telling me that I have not signed up so I cannot play. I’m disgusted that this company just wants money & then won’t even let me play the game. Do better. ### 1/5 — WARNING!!! Do Not Purchase This App!!! *2021-09-23* I purchased this app before I did a software update on my iPhone. After the update, I could no longer open the app. It would only give me an error message that the developer would need to update the game to be compatible with the iPhone updated system. I contacted the developer via email and telephone, but never received a response. I’m so upset! Do not purchase this app! ### 1/5 — Way to ruin a good game *2021-08-23, version 1.0.32* From a one-time purchase to a subscription, complete with intrusive and obnoxious advertising… bleh. ### 1/5 — Why so greedy? *2021-07-28* Really - $4.99 a month? I would be glad to pay 5 or 6 dollars as a one-time price but no way am i paying a monthly fee. This is very disappointing. I played this game a lot on my iPhone six plus but recently I replaced it. When I first looked for this game on the new phone, it had not been updated for the latest operating system. I’m glad it’s been updated, but really disappointed at the greed. It’s a shame because the pictures are very imaginative and it was fun to play. I deleted it from my phone. ### 1/5 — Rip-off development practices *2021-05-20, version 1.0.32* It’s extremely disappointing when a developer removes an app from the App Store, and replaces it like for like with an inferior (paid) version. Apple should regulate this more tightly. ### 1/5 — Subscription ruined it *2021-04-02* Used to play this fun game on my old iPad but it stopped working on my iPad so I downloaded it on my phone. So disappointed that I have to reach out about restoring my purchases and that the game was touched by a subscription at all. It’s not the same game because half of it is ads for the subscription. Also the sounds are bugged as they doesn’t play at all. ### 1/5 — How is this allowed? *2020-12-14, version 1.0.26* I own this game. My kids like it. Now all of a sudden, the version I own is pulled from the App Store and I have to pay a subscription to play it. Completely absurd. ### 2/5 — Rip off *2020-11-28, version 1.0.26* This used to be such a great app, now you have to pay $8 a month to play. No thanks. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Why is it a subscription? *2025-04-20, version 1.0.32* I used to love this game when I played it on my mom’s iPad when I was young. I was thinking about it again recently and decided I wanted to buy it. Turns out you can’t do that though because there is zero option to buy the game outright anymore. Instead, in order to play the full game, you have to pay $6 a month. I understand the value of a subscription like this but as someone who has no interest in any of the other games included in the subscription, there should definitely be an option to purchase the game outright, especially when it used to be an option. ### 1/5 — Rip off *2025-04-19, version 1.0.32* Purchased this game before Gameclub took over and I was promptly locked out. Restore purchase didnt work. Emailed support and provided proof of purchase and never heard back. ### 1/5 — Bait and switch. *2025-04-01, version 1.0.32* I used to own this game, I recently returned to find it gone and a subscription model implemented on a new coating of the old game. Apples limited search function won’t allow me to search directly for when I purchased this so cannot offer ‘proof’ so I’m now unable to access the game. Con artist level bait and switch move from a company trying to sell me old rope. ### 1/5 — Stupid *2024-07-27, version 1.0.32* Was my absolute fav and PAID for it. Then they moved it to Gameclub and can’t play anymore. And you literally have to pay just to talk to Gameclub customer service. Such a joke. ### 1/5 — You ruined a good game *2024-07-04, version 1.0.32* I paid for this game, and you to have it removed and rereleased under your ad spamming version. I have no interest in your subscription service. You have ruined this otherwise great puzzle game. ### 1/5 — Great game ruined by greed *2023-12-16* I purchased this great game years ago but apparently now it’s cost $5 a month to play. They say previous owners will get full version doesn’t apply to me. Other review responses from developer say not all purchases will be eligible but that feels like an easy way to claim good business practices but have an asterisk that gets you out of it. Go play Konami Pixel Puzzle or any of the Luna Nona gram games. Also for what it’s worth the controls were not nearly as responsive and nice as most current picross games ### 1/5 — Ruined it *2023-10-19, version 1.0.32* Thanks now it’s 60$ a year once was free oh how the mighty have fallen ### 1/5 — Disappointing *2023-10-16* Like others have said, I purchased the original title which was removed from the App Store in favor of this version. I’ve reached out via Gameclub’s website and via email to try and see if I could have my access restored as they recommend, but after several weeks without a reply, I don’t have any hope of receiving one anymore. I’ve no interest in the other games, and no interest in paying 5 bucks a month for a game I’ve already purchased. ### 1/5 — Disappointing *2023-10-14* Like others have said, I purchased the original title which was removed from the App Store in favor of this version. I’ve reached out via Gameclub’s website and via email to try and see if I could have my access restored as they recommend, but after several weeks without a reply, I don’t have any hope of receiving one anymore. I’ve no interest in the other games, and no interest in paying 5 bucks a month for a game I’ve already purchased. ### 1/5 — Sellout *2023-07-26, version 1.0.32* Congratulations on ruining a game! Used to be one of my favorites but so disappointed that I’ll have to delete it because the developers are greedy pigs. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Yipee! *2024-03-05, version 1.0.32* Whoops! ### 5/5 — Amazing game *2024-02-07, version 1.0.32* It's really addicting and it's fun to play ### 5/5 — Ballroom *2020-11-19, version 1.0.25* I bought this game soon after release. Played it through to the finish several times and loved it. Just downloaded it now to enjoy again and find I can’t play it without subscribing??? What happened to my initial purchase? Ripped off!!! DO NOT DOWNLOAD THIS GAME! WHAT A SCAM! ### 5/5 — Very good *2020-09-18, version 1.0.18* Great training, easy to understand. Well done, still need to think. ### 5/5 — I’m happy with what I paid for *2020-05-21* It’s a fun little game. I bought it years ago, and when I was itching to play it again, the developer unlocked my purchase. That was really great of them. In my opinion, it’s worth throwing in a few bucks to play. ### 4/5 — Paint it Back *2022-02-23* I remember beating this a few years back. I figured since it costs for a subscription now there would be more art galleries to paint. Hopefully they will start adding more soon. There is only so many times you can complete the same paintings. Good game nonetheless though! ### 4/5 — A nice return to something I needed! *2021-02-21* I used to play this game all the time when I was real young, a nice puzzling time killer for when I’m watching a movie I don’t like or at my brother’s football game. Once it was taken off the app store, I was pretty disappointed, but now that it’s back I’m pretty happy! Especially since I got the full game back after I first bought it back then! Now I do think the membership is a bit ridiculous... I think there should be a single price for this game, like 4.99 for the whole game rather than get the membership for more games that we don’t play. Just my thoughts, the game is okay but for some reason it seems to be missing some sound effects... but it could be a purposefully made change. ### 4/5 — Glitches *2020-10-18* I love this game but its hard to play i have an xr and sometimes the puzzles dont fit in the screen making it hard to fill in, other then the glitches it great. ### 4/5 — Sound balance is off *2020-02-24, version 1.0.4* It's just a minor nitpick of mine, but the Sound is WAY too quiet and gets lost in the music. ### 4/5 — Good game game club *2020-01-02, version 1.0* This was a awesome game --- *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.*