# Sheepshead — user reviews > 56 indexed App Store user reviews of Sheepshead by Derek Hoffmeister, rated 3.23/5 from 80 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sheepshead/id878817235/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sheepshead/id878817235.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 25 · 4★ 9 · 3★ 14 · 2★ 13 · 1★ 17 ## Newest reviews (16 of 56) ### 4/5 — Good but flawed *2026-01-30, version 1.9.2* When the picker does not take a trick, the bury does not count as points. Picker should be paying 6 per opponent, not 4 ### 2/5 — Was good now isn’t *2023-07-14, version 1.9.1* Loners being called with three trump. Not hardly a challenge anymore. ### 2/5 — Locks up *2023-06-22, version 1.9.1* Game locks up ### 2/5 — Poor upgrade. *2023-02-22, version 1.9.1* Latest version is terrible. Computer often picks and goes alone in 5 hand with no queens and 3 fail suites. Hey I win but no one would ever do that for real. Non picking partners lead trump. Agree with other reviewers that computer gets better partners on average. Prior versions seemed to have less quirks. ### 3/5 — Don’t go alone *2023-02-21, version 1.9.1* Ever since the update - players are going alone with very bad hands (not even worth picking with a partner either) ### 2/5 — Going alone logic bad *2023-02-15, version 1.9.1* Last weeks update broke the game. AI players now often go alone on poor picking hands. ### 2/5 — Can’t Pick with latest version *2023-02-06, version 1.9.1* With version 1.9.1 it will sometimes not allow me to pick a hand. Otherwise, great game to learn from. Agree with others about questionable computer decisions and suggestions, but that helps the learning process. ### 4/5 — Updated Version Seems Faster *2021-03-20, version 1.8.3* I noticed faster displaying of the cards and clearer graphics in general. So far I look the new version. I play this app daily. ### 3/5 — What happened? *2021-02-25, version 1.8.2* Recently I can no longer start a new game. When I click the three horizontal lines I get a portion of what looks like a blank Shetland of lined paper. Removed app, shut down iPhone and then reloaded. No change. ### 2/5 — Other players are awful *2020-12-23, version 1.8.2* The other players consistently make horrendous moves. They never play long suits, they throw the Ace or 10 of diamonds in situations where the picker is obviously going to take the trick, it’s just annoying. ### 2/5 — Constantly crashes *2020-10-19, version 1.8.1* Fun game but the app constantly crashes when playing in tournaments. I get to the last round an d it freezes and shuts down. ### 2/5 — As page *2020-09-20, version 1.8.1* Out of the blue it takes you to an ad page and won’t let you back in to the game ### 2/5 — Used to be OK; as of the last update it’s infuriating *2020-05-16* This app was never played the best Sheeps of those available, but I always thought it had the best UI. Since the last update, it’s nearly unplayable. The AI consistently misses smears like it’s not even counting trump, and always plays merely the next highest trump over what’s on the table rather than taking control. As for leasters, you can always count on the BQs coming out the first time trump is led. ### 4/5 — Pretty good *2018-12-30, version 1.8.0* Really a fun game, but many times players will not “schmere” when they should and play lower trump when they can fail off. Need a tweak on the logarithm. ### 3/5 — Predictable *2018-10-05, version 1.8.0* Deals are far from random. Hands are too predictable. Partners fail off when they should schmear. If they could fix those issues it would be the real deal. ### 3/5 — Very good, could be better *2018-09-26, version 1.8.0* The app is very good and fun to play. Great practice and/or learning for newbie. Game has some serious programming issues. For example, computer picks, I’m the partner. On the third trick, fail led, I follow suit with 10H, picker plays after me and lays fail of another suit - EVEN THOUGH SHE HAS TRUMP. Player behind her on the end takes trick with Ace. We lose out on 25 points and end up losing the game. I replayed that game 3 times and picker makes same mistake every time. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Lopsided card distribution is the norm *2023-09-27, version 1.9.2* Hands are very often stacked. In a 10 game tournament it is common for 5-6 games to be no trick or no schneider. It happens all the time. In real games these hands happen on average less than 2 times in 10 hands. Just deal the cards randomly (like a real card game would) and play the game. ### 1/5 — Freezes *2023-03-09, version 1.9.1* I’ve been liking this game since I originally downloaded it and would have given 5 stars. Gameplay isn’t what a human would do as the computer doesn’t shmeer points unless it knows the trick is theirs but it’s been a good learning tool to teach you how to play. The reason I have tanked the rating is because if I’m second in line to pick and I have a good enough hand to pick, the app freezes. The only thing I can do is to pass and then the game will freeze completely. I have to close out the app to keep playing and I lose a good hand. I’ve tried deleting and reinstalling twice and no improvement. This just started in the last few weeks. ### 1/5 — Worst Sheepshead game I have ever played. *2023-02-11, version 1.9.1* Developer knows the rules of Sheepshead, but has no clue as to how to play. ### 1/5 — Lopsided card distribution in the norm *2023-01-25, version 1.9.0* No trick/no Schneider hands comprise easily half of the hands played. Way too high of a percentage. It's an outlier to have a 2 point win for the picker, which in real sheepshead is the most usual outcome. Just deal the cards randomly and play the hands out like a real card game. The stacking of hands is a real downside to this game. ### 1/5 — Don’t plan on winning *2020-12-02, version 1.8.1* The computer wins most of the time. So aggravating. Players don’t smear like they should. ### 1/5 — Totally stacked hands *2019-12-31, version 1.8.0* As many others have stated, hands are stacked for the computer. Amazing how the picker and partner nearly always have all the high trump and the amount of no- trick games is unreal. Deleted the app. Would give this a negative rating if possible. ### 1/5 — Not real life *2019-07-26, version 1.8.0* I’ve never seen such lopsided, unrealistic card distribution in the real world. ### 1/5 — Screen goes black *2019-06-11, version 1.8.0* After a number of games the play screen goes black and I need to close the game and restart to see anything. I can get into menu and some actually display but only those that return to the black screen. New came comes up black also. It seems to score the points on a end of game but I never get to see it. ### 1/5 — Stacked computer hands *2019-04-19, version 1.8.0* If I could give this game a negative star rating I would. The hands are completely stacked for the computer. If you get a chance to pick your partner has 0 trump... Your called ace gets trumped every single time while the computer’s ace walks even though you lead the suit with 3 of that called suit in your hand. Also the computer plays really stupid plays(doesn’t know when to throw off points and steals tricks from you when you’re partner). Not even close to random deals. Really frustrating to play for an experienced player. Almost impossible to learn how to play for a beginner. Totally useless app! ### 1/5 — Not worth downloading *2019-01-05, version 1.8.0* Worst than playing with three blind hands. There is not even the slightest logic programmed into the opponents whatsoever. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Best sheepshead game *2022-01-30, version 1.8.4* I’ve played them all this is the best one and this is the one I’ve shared with my friends. Call Ace plays very well. Turn on large print cards. ### 5/5 — Love the game *2020-11-03, version 1.8.1* Play it several times a day ### 5/5 — Doesn't overwhelm you with robot-like intelligence but still plays solid theory *2020-07-07, version 1.8.1* There are several things I like about this app. First, it is easy to read the cards on the screen and play them. Instead of emphasizing cute animations and characters, it simply lets you play the game. The options allow for extensive variations which cover most of those that I have heard or seen played. Most importantly, the players play with "human"-like characteristics, sometimes picking on garbage and sometimes playing consistently strong. Over many iterations, I have found the game is winnable (both in regular and tournament play) but luck of the draw will definitely put you through some tough streaks, just like in real life. High stakes games (blitzing, cracking, doublers, etc.) cause the same dramatic swings in score as in actual play too. If you are a strong player you might find the playing logic to be flawed. If you are a weaker player you might find it to be intimidating. (By the way, for those who complain about the odds being tilted toward the computer, programers don't think that way and try to deliberately crush the user with non-random card distributions. If bad deals are killing you, try "casual mode" which will actually tip them in your favor for awhile, but like I said, it can be won quite handily without that feature. It just takes some patience. Remember that alert partners and defenders with average hands can make or break games!) Overall I find it to be just the right difficulty and fun to play. The developer appears to be responsive to the requests and concerns of users. I have submitted a couple of feature requests via the feedback email and hopefully those will come out in future editions. ### 5/5 — Great way to learn *2020-04-15, version 1.8.1* I had no idea how to play, but with the help of the hints I learned quickly and now can play sheephead confidently with friends ### 5/5 — Great app *2017-04-15, version 1.7.1* Great app, two requests When playing tournament, don't replay a hand, looses track of number of game and plays forever Would be nice to reset points back to zero on normal play ### 5/5 — Great App, Great Game *2017-03-28, version 1.7.1* This is a great app that allows you to customize it to fit how you play Sheepshead at home. The AI will sometimes do plays that will make you scratch your head, but that happens in real life games all the time. Overall, it's the best Sheepshead app I have come across. It's simple, yet customizable and let's you sit back and play your favorite card game. Cheers! ### 5/5 — Fun game *2016-07-12, version 1.5.8* Simple app to play a complex card game. Good AI - once in awhile makes a questionable play, but that happens IRL as well! Enjoying playing 5 handed and 3 handed. ### 5/5 — Read my review *2016-04-15, version 1.5.5* Instead of creating a 1 star review because some of the logic needs adjusting, try being grateful that someone was willing to put together a mobile app for this. Yahoo clearly didn't care when they disbanded their community. I've reached out to the developer on a number of occasions regarding logic, and issues were addressed in a matter of days. People should try to be more helpful. ### 5/5 — Well-done App *2016-03-29, version 1.5.3* Kudos to Derek for the killer Sheepshead app. It works great and it sounds like the updates have improved it from past versions. Even though the AI players are all pretty heavy Mauers, you just have to adjust to that. My one complaint would be that the Leaster programming could use some work. When I can win Leasters with a trick of 35 points, the AI definitely isn't playing too well. But overall the app is great, and it's a fun way to pass the time. ### 5/5 — Good Game *2015-11-21, version 1.4* Nice that you can customize the game to how you play, like called ace & no leasters. AI isn't very smart and is easy to beat, but the tournaments are fun. --- *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 2026-08-01.*