# Sidewords — user reviews > 52 indexed App Store user reviews of Sidewords by Milkbag Games, rated 4.70/5 from 295 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidewords/id1223257768/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidewords/id1223257768.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 240 · 4★ 40 · 3★ 8 · 2★ 3 · 1★ 4 ## What do users think of Sidewords? Overall sentiment: positive **Pros** - 👍 Fun and engaging word game - 💡 Original and creative concept - 🧠 Keeps the brain working - 😌 Relaxing gameplay, no time limit - 🆓 Free to play, no ads - ✨ Smooth and beautiful interface - 🎁 Bonus game included - 🌟 Multiple solutions for puzzles - 💯 Well worth the price/investment - 🚀 Quick and easy to learn - 💡 Clever and challenging puzzles - 😊 Satisfying to solve puzzles - ✨ Great for passing time - 👍 No in-app purchases mentioned positively - 🌟 Daily puzzles available - 🎨 Nice design and night mode **Cons** - ❓ Confusing/lack of tutorial - 🚫 Nonsense/unreal words accepted - ❌ Real words sometimes rejected - 🔠 Portrait mode only - 🔄 Syncing between devices missing - 🤔 Some words are obscure/unknown - 🚧 Restrictions on word overlap - 📉 Lack of scoring or relative excellence - 🤷‍♀️ Solutions feel arbitrary **Commonly reported bugs** - Crash when clicking 'share solution' - Applies unreal words - Sometimes rejects real words **Most requested features** - Improve tutorial or add clear instructions - Sync between devices - Add a scoring system or way to measure excellence - Allow iPad rotation to landscape - More puzzles/daily puzzles - Undo option after tapping a word - Fix crash when sharing solution - Algorithm for randomly creating levels - Ability to rotate iPad in all directions ## Newest reviews (12 of 52) ### 4/5 — Nonsense words *2021-06-10, version 1.1* The game is overall great, but loses a star for the number of non-words that it will accept while it sometimes also rejects real words. Whatever word list was used by the developer was a strange one indeed, and this can lead to some real frustration and/or incredulity when you find that you were able to solve a puzzle with a nonsense word. ### 4/5 — Fantastic casual game! *2018-06-03, version 1.1* I wanted a game that fits within a smoke break. Something where I can have a break from work for 3 to 5 minutes and get back to it. It's a very demanding world for some of us and we have to be busy all day long. Games like these help keep me from feeling stagnant. Fantastic idea executed really well. Thanks so much for this great game. ### 4/5 — Charming word game *2018-03-27, version 1.1* I’m enjoying this but am frustrated that several of the words I’ve tried are not acceptable. I like the concept very much. Using the rows and columns to make new words but not being allowed to double up is a very interesting challenge. And at the upper levels I’ve learned some words I didn’t know. ### 5/5 — An oasis in a desert IAP *2018-02-03, version 1.1* This game is perfect! One of the best parts of my daily routine has become the daily puzzles. Thank you. ### 5/5 — Loads of content *2018-01-29, version 1.1* Clever little game with a ton of content. It even comes with a bonus mini-game, and they’re putting out daily puzzles for the main game as well. Well worth the price. ### 5/5 — Brilliant! *2017-09-06, version 1.0* This game is excellent! Nice design and includes night mode. Perfect game to keep the brain working and keep you thinking all day long! ### 5/5 — New Fav *2017-08-25, version 1.0* Totally absorbing and challenging for word game fans. ### 5/5 — Fun for 2 as well. *2017-08-14, version 1.0* My husband and I were celebrating our anniversary and arrived a little early to our destination. We started playing this game in the car and couldn't stop. Thought we might be first in line that morning but no... we were in no hurry to join the lineup. Sunshine, a good game and some coffee = happiness. ### 4/5 — Great game, but needs pursuit of excellence *2017-08-08, version 1.0* I bought this game on the whim, and I am overall very impressed by the gameplay. The only thing I feel missing is some sense of relative excellence in solutions. If there were some kind of scoring system, where larger words or fewer rectangles reap higher scores, I would feel more challenged to not accept the easiest outcome. Otherwise, this is a very addicting game, and well worth my investment. ### 5/5 — Found this gave on Twitter *2017-08-08, version 1.0* I found this game on Twitter and I absolutely love it!!! It combines a gorgeous user interface and game play experience. 10/10 highly recommend. ### 5/5 — Great game *2017-07-30, version 1.0* Lots of options for words on each puzzle. Very relaxing! ### 5/5 — Awesome! *2017-07-29, version 1.0* Easy to learn, smooth interface, challenging to play. A creative new twist on anagram-based puzzling, with a touch of Tetris mixed in. If you love word puzzles and games like Scrabble and Boggle, you will LOVE this app. Two quibbles: (1) clicking "share solution" doesn't seem to do anything but crash the app, and (2) an "undo" option after tapping a word to remove it from the board would be nice. But these issues don't really detract from the core of the app. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — So-so *2020-04-06, version 1.1* Too many restrictions. Words cannot overlap. I didn’t know what that meant. I watched the tutorial video; it doesn’t help much. Not very much fun to play. Deleting now. ### 1/5 — No tutorial! *2020-04-02, version 1.1* Can I rate this zero stars? Figured out how to tap on letters to make words, but I haven't a clue how to place them within the box after I hit the check. I keep getting 'overlapping words', but I don't have any idea how to avoid it. The You tube video goes too fast, also. The only way to contact them is thru Twitter which I am not on. An email address would've been great, also, but nope. A short tutorial would've been a welcome addition. I guess they figured that they didn't need one? Sheesh. No wonder it was free. DELETE! ### 1/5 — Side words game *2017-07-31, version 1.0* I wasted $2.99 of my small income on a game that does not come with directions i tried u tube and the girl in the video couldn't even spell never mind teach you the game. I tried google and nothing. The game just came out saying its a relaxing game and good for your brain. I guess I need a slow motion video for idiots!!!! Zero stars.... How dare you pre advertise a game saying its relaxing , but no instructions??? I want a refund ... You have to know how to give a refund .. Don't you??? ### 1/5 — Huh? *2017-07-28, version 1.0* I just downloaded this game and I have no idea how to play it. The tutorial was no help at all. It doesn't walk you through a whole game. What does "words cannot overlap" mean? ### 1/5 — Very confusing *2017-07-22, version 1.0* My mum and I love word games, but this was beyond confusing. Sort of 'got it' before wanting to throw the iPad out of the window, but it was hard work rather than fun. Also uses the screen in portrait mode, which I really dislike as my case stand only holds iPad in landscape aspect. If I'd known this, would never have bought. The instructions are really unhelpful. ### 2/5 — App applies unreal words *2020-03-26* App applies unreal words ### 3/5 — Five Stars if I Could Sync :-( *2020-03-30, version 1.1* This would easily be 5 stars if only I could sync between devices... Otherwise a great little game! ### 3/5 — It’s OK, BUT... *2020-03-28, version 1.1* Why is this in portrait-mode only? Useless for iPad with attached keyboard use. Deleting now. ### 3/5 — Needs a tutorial *2017-08-07, version 1.0* Others have noted poor instructions. A problem they could easily fix. ### 3/5 — Bit of a learning curve - *2017-08-04, version 1.0* - but once you figure it out, this game is exTREEMEly satisfying. I downloaded it yesterday and was very frustrated at first: if ever a game was in need of a proper Tutorial, it's this one. And a FREE lite version would be recommended as well. After reading so many rave reviews about its originality, and as a huge lover of word games, I decided to give it a shot. After deleting it twice out of said frustration, I buckled down and just kept doing the first few puzzles over and over, to get the hang of it, seeing what worked, until moving on. Today I completed the Appetizers group, much to my delight. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — So much fun! *2022-01-22, version 1.1* if you like word games this is for you! ### 5/5 — A fun game. *2020-04-27, version 1.1* Challenging and satisfying — a fun game you can play at your own pace. ### 5/5 — A fantastic game *2020-04-27, version 1.1* As usual, Matt Rix has delivered a true gem. Worthwhile way to pass the time during quarantine! ### 5/5 — Outstanding *2020-04-25, version 1.1* This game is great! It took a little bit to grow on me. I wasn’t sure what I was doing and somewhat missing the strategy. Now that I have played it for about 2 weeks the strategy kinda just pops out and you really start rolling. Plus, I don’t understand how any one can complain about a game like this. It is free, no adds, and it is a great word game so...need I say any more? Alright, download it NOW. ### 5/5 — Keeps me hooked *2020-04-06* I am a huge fan of Matt Rix’s Trainyard and somehow came across this puzzle game. Keeps me hooked. Though, as a non native speaker I sometimes wonder what words like “dae” and “ose” mean. My dictionary does not know them, my iPhone autocorrects them. ### 5/5 — Really good *2019-09-03* It’s fun to play. ### 5/5 — Pleasingly tricky *2019-04-18, version 1.1* Quick and easy to learn. Puzzles are frustrating enough to make you work for a solution, but not impossible. I like the fact that there is more than one right answer. ### 5/5 — Excellent game *2019-01-22, version 1.1* I love this game - it’s a bit different, and with no time limit it’s quite relaxing. Gets the old grey matter working. I’ve finished all the puzzles, and am up to date with the daily ones - can we have some more, please?! ### 5/5 — Two Fun Games! *2018-11-21, version 1.1* I play a lot of word games. Sidewords and the bonus Quads game are both fun, different, and challenging. Kudos! ### 5/5 — Excellent and original game *2018-10-30, version 1.1* This game is highly entertaining. Bonus, no in app purchases. Took me a couple of tries to get it but now enjoy the challenges very much. --- *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 2026-09-03.*