# The Academy: The First Riddle — user reviews > 232 indexed App Store user reviews of The Academy by Snapbreak Games, rated 4.30/5 from 1,258 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-academy-the-first-riddle/id1470125745/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-academy-the-first-riddle/id1470125745.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 891 · 4★ 141 · 3★ 90 · 2★ 43 · 1★ 93 ## What do users think of The Academy? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - 🎮 Fun gameplay and puzzles - 🌟 Engaging storyline and world-building - 🧠 Challenging and unique puzzles - 💰 Completely free with optional in-app purchases **Cons** - 🐛 Glitches and bugs, especially at the end of the game - 📺 Frequent and intrusive ads, even after paying to remove them - 🕹️ Clunky and unresponsive controls - 🔍 Typos and mistakes in dialogue and puzzles **Commonly reported bugs** - Players getting stuck in the basement with no way to progress - Inability to complete certain puzzles or collect items - Glitches causing the game to crash or freeze - Paid features not working as intended **Most requested features** - Allow players to choose their character's gender - Improve accessibility and controls, especially for larger screens - Fix existing bugs and glitches to allow players to complete the game - Provide more free content or a less expensive way to access all chapters ## Newest reviews (18 of 232) ### 3/5 — Purchases not working *2026-01-07, version 1.06* Wanted to support the Devs purchased the VIP pack for no Ads. Unfortunately it doesn’t register, been charged and I still get Ads. Game is fun, some questionable puzzle decisions but monetary things not working properly is a big detractor. ### 3/5 — ads *2025-12-15, version 1.06* hi, i’ve been having the same issue that i’ve seen on a couple reviews where i paid for no ads and im still seeing them, they aren’t as often as they were but they’re still obnoxiously there, i like the game but if it keeps bombarding me with ads i don’t want to keep playing :/ ### 4/5 — ГДЕ ОБНОВЛЕНИЯ?? *2025-10-26* Я девочка, и хочу играть за женских персонажей, исправьте пожалуйста И сколько лет, а ничего не меняется. Можно было бы сделать отдельно свободный режим, где можно делать всё А так идеально! Сделайте игру про Гарри Поттера пожалуйста, у вас бы получилось!🙏🙏🙏 ### 2/5 — Bought VIP pack and still had ads *2025-10-04, version 1.06* Purchased the add-on and still had constant ads. Wouldn’t allow me to use hints and now says I have a negative balance of chocolate so even if I found some chocolate, it couldn’t fill the negative amount back up. I loved the game when the pack was working but 5 minutes in, ads started back up. ### 4/5 — Super fun, completely free with ads, some glitches and mistakes *2025-08-02, version 1.06* I loved this game. I also loved that it was completely free with ads and some options for in-app purchases (which I never bought). It was a fun storyline, unique world building (which I have come to expect from SnapBreak games), and a good mystery. On to the glitches and mistakes: I almost got stuck after chapter 1 because it simply would not move on from the cut scene. I left it alone over night and it finally went through to the next chapter. For the mistakes: There are several moments when the riddles don’t quite match the materials you are supposed to be solving. Different names used in the riddle and on a map, the riddle is called one thing but says it is something different (not that big a deal, just surprising when it’s different). The biggest one was when it clearly meant you to solve it one way but it said the negative instead of the positive and I had to decide it was another mistake and solve it the way I was sure they meant (I was right). And sometimes the answers didn’t seem to match the question, those were very frustrating. All it needs is some simple proofreading from someone who didn’t write it. There were also times when it would have been really fun to actually solve the problem by moving pieces around rather than just answering the question but that would probably make the game cost money to play the whole thing. Overall a good experience and a really fun story. ### 4/5 — Why, just why? *2025-07-31, version 1.06* Update: I eventually got through to the devs by posting a review on the duck detective game but not really sure if they doing things behind the scenes. Sorry everyone 😭 The most confounding puzzle of this game is why the devs aren't fixing it, but yet they have time to create more games. Trust me, I've tried to contact the devs, but no response. Nope, nada, nothin'.😑 This game has so many downsides that I’m deleting it. There are glitches, constant ads, typos in the dialogue, and I can’t even finish it! Sometimes the background disappears when I’m talking to someone and a few of the daily books are absolutely impossible to collect. Ads inevitably hit you every thirty seconds, and other players have paid for no ads and then still had ads. The dialogue needs to be checked out. I can’t even finish the game! I just run around with Ed and my clone in the dark tunnel! I am really disappointed. If the devs fix these issues, I’ll consider reinstalling, but they don't even seem to read these reviews anymore. But they're still making games!! Why won’t they fix this???😢 I love the gameplay and puzzles because The Academy is partly based on Professor Layton, the main reason why I got it. The next PL game isn’t coming out til 2025, so I’m just waiting here for yet another year in utter boredom… To whoever reads this, I hope this helps you make your decision! ### 3/5 — Glitch *2025-07-01, version 1.06* I was really enjoying the riddles and the mystery behind this game. I am on the last chapter and after the big reveal with the students and the professor, the game glitched and now I am stuck in the basement… I am not sure how to proceed from here. ### 4/5 — Waiting for second year.. *2025-04-28* I finished the game and it was actually good . I do agree that there are more puzzles but you can still keep finding the right answer even if you crossed 10 chances . All the three chapters were free . And it might have some ads but they don’t pop up every now and then. This would be even more amazing if there’s a second year to it . I hope it does have a second year . A suggestion will be that if you have a easy joystick with easy finger movements so you can rotate easily ( you know like in roblox, you can move and rotate easily and at the same time . It would be good if it’s like that) . And another suggestion is that being able to decide the gender and name of the character to make it even more connecting . I’m waiting for the second year !!! ### 2/5 — Don't waste your money. *2025-04-18, version 1.06* Spending money on the game is pointless. If you pay to remove ads you will be disappointed because ads pop up after every scene even after paying. ### 3/5 — Fun puzzles *2025-01-12, version 1.06* The puzzles are fun and challenging, but the controls to move (with iPad) are very archaic. Very difficult to move character on screen easily. ### 2/5 — I’ve bought it twice and still have ads???? *2024-11-20, version 1.06* Why is it that I still have ads? I purchased the game once and still had ads.. I requested a refund and bought it again, yet still ads???? What’s going wrong? ### 3/5 — Fun but have glitches *2024-09-30, version 1.06* I glitched it and now I’m stuck in the basement ### 3/5 — Great game, but trapped because of major glitch *2024-05-15, version 1.06* So sad! Great game, but I’m trapped in the basement in the last chapter amidst rumble with with no way out due to a glitch. Right at the end too:(. I’m invested in the story and can’t finish it because of this glitch:( Given that I read review from a year ago about this same glitch, I unfortunately don’t expect this to be fixed any time soon. This game had so much potential. ### 4/5 — Very challenging *2024-04-29, version 1.06* The questions are very hard. ### 3/5 — Controller support please!!!!! *2024-04-10, version 1.06* Good game, but could not get over how clunky the screen controls are. Controller support would be essential and the experience much much more enjoyable ### 4/5 — HELP I AINT ABLE TO GET PAST A LEVEL *2024-02-27, version 1.06* On this game I think it's it fun and mysterious and boy, the puzzles and classes, it would be five stars only if the underground tunnel level thing worked. It's the level where all the rocks come down and you have to find someone under the rocks and I went straight where it told me to go In the rocks and it didn't work when I pressed it, can u fix this bug. ### 4/5 — Cute! Needs more fluid controls *2024-02-12, version 1.06* Gives off Hogwarts vibes and filled with brain teaser puzzles. My ONLY complaint would be the controls, specifically for walking/running. Maybe would help if there was a joystick type thing like in Disney Dreamlight valley? ### 4/5 — Good game *2024-02-11, version 1.06* I haven’t completely finished the game, but it is generally a good, fun, challenging game. The puzzles are unique and really make you think (or not think too much) to solve them. I will say one of the daily puzzle books that get left around campus is glitched for me and I’m unable to click on it so that is unfortunate. I see there hasn’t been an update in a couple of years so I’m not hopeful that will get resolved but other than that it’s overall a pretty fun game. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — Females to *2026-02-09, version 1.06* I don’t like this game because you can’t pick your gender and it won’t let me delete it ### 1/5 — J’ai un sérieux problème avec la fin *2026-01-05* Le pire c’est que le jeu n’est même encore terminé il y a plein d’autres mystères svp mettez un chapitre 4 sinon sa n’a pas de sens ### 1/5 — Please help😡 *2025-05-06, version 1.06* At the last battle the game glitched and I can’t do anything please help ### 1/5 — Tried to play but…. *2024-12-13, version 1.06* …I couldn’t figure out the navigation at all, couldn’t get where I wanted to go. It just all seemed wonky and so hard to control. It’s strange because there are so many games on iPad where navigation is flawless and easy. But not this one. I just don’t want to deal with how frustrating it is. Sorry, dev, I tried. ### 1/5 — Ads *2024-10-16, version 1.06* I paid for ad removal and got the ads back day after not happy at 4.99.i have requested a refund. ### 1/5 — Why, just why? *2024-08-14* The most confounding puzzle of this game is why the devs aren't fixing it, but yet they have time to create more games. Trust me, I've tried to contact the devs, but no response. Nope, nada, nothin'.😑 This game has so many downsides that I’m deleting it. There are glitches, constant ads, typos in the dialogue, and I can’t even finish it! Sometimes the background disappears when I’m talking to someone and a few of the daily books are absolutely impossible to collect. Ads inevitably hit you every thirty seconds, and other players have paid for no ads and then still had ads. The dialogue needs to be checked out. I can’t even finish the game! I just run around with Ed and my clone in the dark tunnel! I am really disappointed. If the devs fix these issues, I’ll consider reinstalling, but they don't even seem to read these reviews anymore. But they're still making games!! Why won’t they fix this???😢 I love the gameplay and puzzles because The Academy is partly based on Professor Layton, the main reason why I got it. The next PL game isn’t coming out til 2025, so I’m just waiting here for yet another year in utter boredom… To whoever reads this, I hope this helps you make your decision! ### 1/5 — Difficult controls *2024-06-26, version 1.06* I play a lot of games on both my iPad and phone. I wanted to play this game on my iPad because it seem like it would be easier. However, it was not. I got so frustrated after a few days that I wound up deleting the game. Seemed like it had promise but I don’t feel like I’m really missing anything based on some of the reviews. ### 1/5 — I’m disappointed. *2024-06-23, version 1.06* Hello guys! This was my favorite game EVER. I loved it so much! But once it told me to go to the basement I got stuck and there was another one of me. The highlighted object was stuck under the rocks and I couldn’t touch it. I really hope you can fix this. Thank you! 💋💋💋 ### 1/5 — Покупка *2024-03-05* Купила все части платные , но в игре они не появились , там все также бесплатные , за что деньги отдала ### 1/5 — Needs fixes! *2024-01-24* I would first like to say that I love the gameplay and puzzles. The Academy is partly based on Professor Layton, the main reason why I got it. The next PL game isn’t coming out til 2025, so I’m just waiting here for yet another year… But anyway, this game has so many downsides that I’m deleting it. There are glitches, constant ads, typos in the dialogue, and I can’t even finish the game! Sometimes the background disappears when I’m talking to someone and a few of the daily books are absolutely impossible to collect. Ads hit you every thirty seconds, and I read how other players have paid for no ads and then still had ads. The dialogue needs to be checked out. I can’t even finish the game! I just run around with Ed and my clone in the dark tunnel! I am really disappointed. If the developer fixes these issues, I’ll consider reinstalling. I’m not even sure the developer reads these reviews anymore though.😢 To whoever reads this, I hope this has been helpful!😊 ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — Need more chapters *2025-02-11, version 1.06* I wish yall could make more chapters ### 5/5 — Make another one please *2024-07-03, version 1.06* This game was a lot of fun. I would love to play a sequel. ### 5/5 — 🎮🎮🎮🎮🎮🎮🎮🎮 *2024-04-06, version 1.06* BEST GAME EVER ### 5/5 — Ads *2024-01-02, version 1.06* I bought this game when it still wasn’t free, but now I’m coming back and have paid for the no ads and yet I’m still getting ads…. Please help because I really enjoy this game. ### 5/5 — Замечательно *2023-11-12* Прекрасный, интересный сюжет, мне очень понравилось то, что графика хорошая и персонажи красивые, в отличие от уродливых персонажей подобных игр. Жалко только то, что сюжет не слишком длинный. Прошла всю игру за 5 дней. Но это просто замечательно! Жду продолжения с нетерпением! ### 5/5 — Love thisss!!!! *2023-10-23, version 1.06* So I bought this yesterday and I love these puzzles so I kept on helping out the dude that always is in my room and this is the problem I don’t like him, but I can stick with him. so I did nothing to him butttt he needs my help soooooo much. And I will stick with him. ### 5/5 — The academy *2023-09-09, version 1.06* I love “The Academy” and it is a great game, but there was this small little problem. The problem was when I got out of the basement before it caved in on us but then I was told to go back in there so I did. I was supposed to follow the blue diamond which I did but it lead to one of the items that I already solved. I spent an hour trying to touch it but the game wouldn’t let me and I had also found Ed and me aka Sam running back and forth to the rocks and to the gate. I then realized I was trapped so I hope you guys can fix this please. ### 5/5 — The Academy *2023-09-04, version 1.06* I love it such a great game ### 5/5 — ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ *2023-08-24, version 1.06* This game doesn’t require WiFi so I played on my 8 hour car trip. So fun! Would recommend! Fun mind boggling puzzles! Great storyline! ### 5/5 — Payant🤑🤑 *2023-08-05* Dommage que le jeu soit payant a partir du chapitre 2😤 Je recommande le jeu mais je n’investirait pas d’argent dans un jeu payant c’est dommage la suite m’aurait bon plus😥😥😥 --- *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 2026-08-20.*