Idle Ants - Simulator Game
- September 4, 2020
- Madbox
- 5h median play time
Get on Play Store
Get on Apple Store"Idle Ants - Simulation Game" is a simulator game with satisfying ant-watching gameplay, featuring impressive graphics. However, expect a lot of grinding, frequent bugs, and excessive advertisements. The game describes itself as a satisfying experience where you watch ants eat, which accurately sums up its unique and amusing gameplay.
iPad
iPhone
Phone
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- monetization1,435 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 94 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism from users, primarily due to the overwhelming number of forced ads that interrupt gameplay. Many players report that they are required to watch ads after nearly every level, even when opting out of bonus offers, leading to frustration and a perception that the game prioritizes ad revenue over user experience. While some users appreciate the option to pay for an ad-free experience, the high cost (often around $10) is seen as excessive, especially given the game's limited content and short playtime. Overall, the aggressive ad strategy has led to a negative impact on the game's enjoyment and replayability.
“I love this game because no ads pop up, which is really good.”
“It is $10.00 USD for absolutely no ads.”
“This game has loads of potential because it has next to no ads and next to no pay-to-win services.”
“Extremely aggressive ads.”
“Forced ads after every completed level, even when you decline the bonus.”
“You spend more time watching ads than playing the game.”
- stability135 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- -1 % neutral mentions
- 99 % negative mentions
The game's stability is heavily criticized, with numerous users reporting frequent glitches, freezes, and crashes, particularly at higher levels or when interacting with ads. Many players express frustration over the game becoming unplayable due to these issues, which detracts significantly from the overall experience. While some users have not encountered problems, the overwhelming consensus indicates that the game requires urgent fixes to its stability issues.
“So fun, no glitches, and ads are not annoyingly consistent.”
“The game runs smoothly without any crashes or interruptions.”
“I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it never lags or freezes.”
“The game begins to glitch and freezes a lot in the higher levels.”
“The game freezes constantly, watching ads to increase speed or double profit is semi-functional; you can watch the ad, return to the game, but it takes you back to your home screen until you restart the game.”
“The game is good, but it has too many glitches and bugs that ruin the experience.”
- graphics79 mentions
- 41 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many users praising the cute and satisfying art style, while others criticize significant graphical glitches and performance issues that hinder gameplay. Some players appreciate the minimalist aesthetic and animations, but frequent ads and technical problems detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics are often described as charming, they are marred by bugs and inconsistencies that affect playability.
“Downloaded it again, it's just as fun as it was 3 years ago, but with improved graphics!”
“The graphics are neat and simplistic, but the gameplay is completely shallow and hoarded with ads.”
“The ants are so adorable and the graphics are great!”
“It's completely unplayable with flashing graphics as if it's stuck in a leading sequence.”
“This game has graphics from 30 years ago, no effort, a 30 second ad after every minute.”
“Graphics glitches make it impossible to play.”
- gameplay78 mentions
- 22 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The gameplay is heavily criticized for being overshadowed by an overwhelming number of ads, with many users reporting a frustrating 50% ad-to-gameplay ratio. While some appreciate the simplistic and slow-paced mechanics typical of idle games, others find the experience shallow and repetitive, often leading to boredom and crashes. Overall, the consensus is that the excessive monetization detracts significantly from the enjoyment of the gameplay.
“Besides that, the ads are bearable and the gameplay is as advertised - a slow-paced idle game which is great for killing spare time.”
“I love the mechanics; this is my favorite idle game and I also like how it's like two games.”
“It's so fun and I get lost in the gameplay. Good job, Madbox!”
“Gameplay is literally 50% ads, 50% gameplay.”
“Every game now is no effort, more ads than gameplay in some cases, and just made for money.”
“Completely awful 'game.' 30 seconds of automatic gameplay followed by a forced ad, over and over again.”
- humor32 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely appreciated, with players enjoying the amusing scenarios and quirky graphics, particularly the antics of the ants as they consume various objects, including airplanes and money. Many reviews highlight the game's lightheartedness and comedic elements, making it a fun experience despite some technical issues and frequent ads. Overall, the humor adds a delightful layer to the gameplay, contributing to its appeal.
“It's fun watching the little bugs mill about, and kinda funny having them ridiculously sped up with boosted strength.”
“It's a good game and it's fun 👍 but the funny thing is that they eat everything that's 2 inches away from their home 😂😂😂”
“I found it funny when the ants ate pieces of money😂”
- music25 mentions
- 20 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 12 % negative mentions
The reviews overwhelmingly express disappointment regarding the lack of music in the game, with many players feeling that the absence of background music makes the experience boring and less engaging. Several users suggest that adding music or sound effects would significantly enhance their enjoyment, while some even mention that the game feels incomplete without it. Overall, the consensus is that the game would greatly benefit from a musical score to accompany the gameplay.
“No distracting background music either, just the soothing sound of ant jaws crunching on stuff.”
“It's a great game; all that it needs is some music instead of it being quiet.”
“Not bad, pretty enjoyable, it would be even better with an OST or music ☺️”
“Well first of all there is no music or any sounds at all in the game.”
“The game is fine but it has no music, not even a generic cheer for finishing the level. You'll get bored quickly, and the fact that they have offers to buy ants but can't afford to add music is frustrating.”
“I really like the game but I really want to know what it's like to have music because it's getting really boring without it, so can you add sound in the game?”
- story11 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect is largely criticized for its absence, with many users feeling that a narrative is either missing or poorly developed. Players express a desire for a more engaging storyline to enhance the gameplay experience, as the current lack of direction leads to boredom and a sense of aimlessness. Overall, the consensus is that a compelling story would significantly improve the game's appeal.
“Maybe add a story to the game?”
“It feels like the developer wants to put a story in but hasn't got around to it yet.”
“Everywhere you look, you see things trying to make money off of you, and the gameplay is boring with no storyline or reason!”
“Make a story and background.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game; while some find it tedious and frustrating—especially with expensive prices and slow material acquisition—others appreciate the balance of boosts and the overall fun experience. The presence of ads can exacerbate the grinding experience, but many enjoy the gameplay enough to tolerate it. Overall, the game is described as a blend of enjoyable and tedious grinding.
“Especially when you combine the expensive prices with the ads after each round, it makes grinding for these special ants especially irritating.”
“Generally fun, but when I was trying to get the final star in one of the stages, I wasted a solid amount of time farming for materials only for it to tell me I basically hadn't gained anything in about 20 minutes (I grabbed the drops and was keeping track of what I needed; the material counts didn't change).”
“3 words to explain this game: tedious but fun.”
- optimization9 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 22 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
Overall, users express that the game has significant optimization issues, including performance lags and crashes, particularly on older devices. While the graphics are not highly detailed, they contribute to better performance; however, many players still report dissatisfaction with loading times and overall stability. Improvements in optimization are highly requested to enhance the gaming experience.
“Graphics aren't extremely detailed, but that allows decent performance on older Android devices.”
“Good concept, but needs some optimization as it keeps crashing.”
“This game needs loading time optimization.”
“Dull and poorly optimized.”
“Needed optimization.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game offers strong replayability through online events that reward players with gems, as well as the opportunity to ascend after completing a full set of worlds, which includes a free gem bonus. This encourages players to revisit content for additional rewards and progression.
“The online events are fantastic, rewarding gems that keep me coming back for more.”
“I love how I can ascend after completing a full set of worlds, and the free gem bonus is a great incentive to replay.”
“The replayability is enhanced by the variety of challenges and rewards that make each playthrough feel fresh.”
“The game lacks meaningful content updates, making it feel repetitive after just a few playthroughs.”
“Once you've completed the main storyline, there's little incentive to replay the game.”
“The limited variety in gameplay mechanics leads to a lack of replayability, as it feels like the same experience each time.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers note that the atmosphere significantly enhances the overall enjoyment of the game, contributing to a more immersive experience.
“The atmosphere is incredibly immersive, drawing you into the game's world.”
“Every detail contributes to a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that keeps you engaged.”
“The sound design and visuals create a captivating atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players report that the game evokes a sense of unease or discomfort, suggesting it successfully taps into complex emotional responses.
