# Take Control of the Tower — user reviews > 120 indexed App Store user reviews of Take Control of the Tower by Luchtverkeersleiding Nederland, rated 4.06/5 from 148 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/take-control-of-the-tower/id592094848/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/take-control-of-the-tower/id592094848.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 94 · 4★ 14 · 3★ 13 · 2★ 9 · 1★ 18 ## What do users think of Take Control of the Tower? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 🎮 Addictive and engaging gameplay - 🎨 Good graphics and visual design - 🔊 Quality sound effects and voice alerts - 🧠 Mentally challenging and stimulating - ✈️ Realistic air traffic control concept - 📱 Works well on iPad devices - 🎯 Smooth plane response mechanics **Cons** - 🐛 Planes collide off-screen with no player control - 🚫 Frequent unexpected runway closures mid-landing - 📏 Airport takes up too much screen space - 🎮 Difficulty spikes dramatically between levels - 🌪️ Random wind changes cause instant failures - ❌ Planes take off automatically when time expires - 🔤 Confusing runway landing/takeoff indicators - 📱 Poor compatibility with iPhone (especially 6+) - 🎯 Difficult to tap planes on smaller screens - ⚠️ Uncontrollable events penalize player unfairly - 🔄 Only 5 levels total in game - 🌍 Incomplete English localization **Commonly reported bugs** - Planes do not follow assigned courses - Planes spin unexpectedly during flight - Takeoff commands not registered - Game crashes on certain devices - Approach lights misaligned with runways - No planes appear on iPad in some versions - Game freezes at bird strike level - File not found error (topdown_i2001.atf) - Runway lights offset from actual runway graphics - Tutorial plane won't land - Game not searchable in App Store **Most requested features** - More levels and airports - Full English language support - Zoom functionality for better visibility - Multiple runways open simultaneously - Adjustable traffic rates - Score/statistics display on failure - Tower view perspective - Ground control game variant - Better bird strike tutorial - Realistic runway configuration - Language selection option - Remove Facebook login requirement ## Newest reviews (15 of 120) ### 2/5 — Way too difficult *2025-10-16, version 4.0.1* Too many variables that are out of your control. Planes crash off screen. I can’t do anything about that! Then, if you’re skilled and lucky enough to have survived, you’re about to complete a level, the wind changes, the landing strip changed and your planes crash. Too frustrating. Not fun. Could’ve been though. Two stars for the graphics. ### 3/5 — Fun concept but bad player experience *2025-04-11, version 4.0.1* Planes taking off on their own when time is up … I get that it’s for difficulty of the game. But that is just wrong, that’s pilot deviation. ### 3/5 — Fun Game … but *2025-03-24, version 4.0.1* The game is addictive and fun. Problem is that once you get the hang of it, plane crashes occur in the margin where you can’t see them or control them. ### 3/5 — Scores ontbreken *2022-07-27, version 4.0.1* Ik vind het jammer dat, wanneer het niet lukt, ik niet kan zien hoeveel vliegtuigen ik dan wel heb kunnen laten opstijgen en landen. Ook zou de aanduiding van waar landen en opstijgen mag duidelijker mogen (beide zijn geel) Verder inderdaad heel leuk en verslavend ### 2/5 — No realism *2021-09-29, version 4.0* So having planes randomly show up on the edges with 2 seconds of warning isn’t realistic. Neither are runway changes every other landing. Suggest devs make this more like a real TRACON. Have arrival/departure fixes with spaced traffic. Extra credit, make the rates adjustable, and higher scores for handling higher rates. An occasional wind/ RWY change is good, but not every two minutes. ### 2/5 — Practically unplayable from level 3 *2021-08-18, version 4.0* I like the concept of the game but changing active runways with no warning repeatedly, giving no time to resolve conflicts and having the planes themselves take up so much real estate makes it almost unplayable. I hope a later version come out improving some of this. ### 3/5 — Why Change? *2021-08-18, version 4.0* The original game I gave 5 stars. It was challenging, fun and looked well designed for a more mature crowd. This new version is more based for a kid or child. The older version was sleek and added a better feel. Now it just feels like I am playing one of my kids games that they got off a preschool app. Change back to the sleeker more real look. ### 4/5 — Not bad *2020-07-19, version 3.0* It’s a basic game I’d say ### 1/5 — Недоработка *2019-02-10, version 2.7* Самолеты сталкиваются при абсолютно разной высоте. Нет понимания, что самолёт на взлёте не может столкнуться с самолётом на эшелоне и на первом развороте. Так не интересно. Игру надо дорабатывать ### 4/5 — Fun but could be better *2019-01-01, version 2.7* I like the game speed, concept, and flow. It has some frustrating problems like alerts that get in your way that prevent you from controlling the planes, and collisions that happen on the edge of the screen. I would give it a 5 if they corrected that. Would be nice if the runways were not on the edge- more typical runway configuration (Landing and taking off the same direction). When you are in the flow it’s satisfying. ### 4/5 — Nice and fun enough to pass the time *2018-12-05, version 2.5* Quite challenging and unpredictable. I wish developers would make another one, this time for the ground control. ### 1/5 — Idk *2018-07-27, version 2.5* For the bird level im tapping the screen as fast as i can and the plane drops ### 4/5 — Fun but irritating *2018-06-09, version 2.5* This game is clearly based in EHAM (Amsterdam). They have MULTIPLE runways open at once, yet this one is one at a time? Sure, it makes it much more difficult, but very unrealistic and those who are experienced in aviation will find this to be irritating not because it is hard to finish levels, but because it’s unrealistic. I mean seriously, EHAM has 6 runways. What is the chance of 5 being closed. ### 4/5 — Was a 5 before 2.5 update *2018-04-04, version 2.5* 5 Stars BEFORE version 2.5 Now planes do not follow course and sometimes spin for no reason on route. Only previous objection was "Taking Off" procedure. Developers could set up a "penalty" for a delayed Take Off, but not a game ending for creating an unsafe take off situation. A plane on the ground is a "Safe" plane. A delay is not comparable to a "May-Day" in-flight collision. Give me back version 2.3.3 and you gave a 4.9 Star game!! Fix the Take-Off and you have a 10 ### 3/5 — Fun Game With A Serious Quirk *2018-04-01, version 2.5* Challenging and mesmerizing but the developers have allowed for two airplanes to come into close proximity at or behind the edge of your screen where there is no control over the inevitable outcome. It does take your mind off off things while you are waiting for surgery. Amendment: This game has gone from challenging & mesmerizing to frustrating & annoying because of the “QUIRK” built into this app. I am just thankful I didn’t spend three dollars to get it. UPDATE 4/1/18: The landing lights on the approach end of the runways are now off set from the actual runway (graphic). The game is still playable but awkward. I tried deleting and re-installing but that did not fix the issue. Let’s see how long it take the developers to notice and correct the problem. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Abandoned Game? *2025-12-18, version 4.0.1* This game only has five levels and I believe the game has a flaw. The aircraft will collide with each other at the edge of the screen. It will warn you, but the way the controls work it is too late and the planes collide, forcing you to start over. I think this game has been abandoned by the developers. ### 1/5 — Buggy or bad design? *2024-09-11, version 4.0.1* Played for about 10 minutes. Thought it was going to be decent but then on one level it shut down all the runways. I had 3 planes in the air circling for 1 minute with nowhere to land. Then time ran out and I failed the level. If this happens on level 3, I hate to see the bugs further down the road. ### 1/5 — Not what I was expecting *2024-07-05, version 4.0.1* Firstly the active landing runway can swap at any time even if a plane is about to land, but when selecting a runway it’s not super clear which is for landing and which is takeoff because the chevrons are faint and placed on top of much brighter chevrons which make it look like every runway is for landing. Then finally the airport takes up so much of the screen it’s super crowded. Really not fun, it’s just annoying at every step ### 1/5 — Unplayable after level 4 *2024-04-15, version 4.0.1* So I started playing today and we get to level 4 and as the last plane enters the screen you get a notification saying strong wind from the east all runways closed just as you are about to complete the level. So the last plane has to fly around for the remaining 1:20 on the timer and you have to start again. ### 1/5 — Don’t get it. *2023-09-01* Searching for TCOTT in the App Store does not work. I tried tutorial but plane won’t land. ### 1/5 — Отстой *2022-04-24, version 4.0.1* Полный отстой. На одну полосу один самолёт садится, а второй туда сесть не может. Как так-то?…бредятина. Плюс столкновения за пределами экрана что вообще нелогично… ### 1/5 — Тьфу ты *2021-12-11, version 4.0* Мало того что самолёты быстро со всех сторон вылетают , полоса не принимает, так ещё и за экраном они вырезаются ### 1/5 — Why? *2021-11-02, version 4.0* Why there is no Russian Federation in the countries list? ### 1/5 — Does not work on iPad *2021-09-21, version 4.0* I can see the runways and the clock is ticking, but no planes ever appear. Used to like earlier versions but this one clearly needs some work. ### 1/5 — Boring *2019-04-04, version 3.0* Didn’t really find it appealing ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — WOW *2023-12-05, version 4.0.1* This game is the best air traffic control game I played, I LOVE IT ### 5/5 — My view *2022-03-30, version 4.0* It’s unrealistic the way runways close as a plane is landing and how a plane will enter the air space in the exact location one is leaving causing a crash off the screen. You simply can’t control them when so close or when off the screen. The take off or landing direction of a runway lights should be of different colour. Other similar games are more enjoyable. ### 5/5 — Very good game *2022-02-05, version 4.0* This is a very good game. ### 5/5 — Penalty for play you have no control over *2021-08-26, version 4.0* This is still a good game, but you get penalised for flying over built up areas, even when that’s where the incoming aircraft appears, and you have no control over that. ### 5/5 — Best game ever *2019-12-09, version 3.0* I only want to play that game. ### 5/5 — Best *2018-02-09, version 2.3.3* Best game, it would be better with more maps... ### 5/5 — Best game ever *2017-11-24, version 2.3.3* A fantastic game that creates suspense, anxiety and dread in one mixed emotion whilst at the same time taxing your brains mental ability to stay alert, deal rapidly with an ever-changing picture.......it just makes you want to go Dutch :) ### 5/5 — Great Game! *2017-08-16, version 2.3.3* Great game. Add more Airports! ### 5/5 — Happy with it *2017-06-04, version 2.3.3* The game is really good :)) ### 5/5 — Ios10 bug? *2016-09-17, version 2.2.0* File not found App:/assets/textures_as/topdown_i2001.atf --- *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 2026-07-23.*