Pirate Kings™
- November 14, 2013
- Playtika
- 5h median play time
Pirate Kings™ is an adventure game with a good plot, splendid visuals, and a memorable soundtrack, but it's weighed down by excessive grinding, frequent advertisements, and numerous bugs. As a player, you'll embark on a pirate adventure, attacking and raiding rivals while stealing their treasures. Despite its flaws, the game is filled with humor and entertainment, making it an okay choice for those seeking a pirate-themed adventure .
Reviews
- story221 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 87 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story aspect has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing frustration over the repetitive and weak narrative elements, particularly in quests that often feel like a grind. Users frequently mention issues with quest progression, such as not receiving rewards upon completion and the difficulty of obtaining necessary items like bombs, which detracts from the overall enjoyment of the storyline. While some players appreciate the variety of quests and mini-games, the overwhelming sentiment is that the game feels rigged to encourage spending money, leading to dissatisfaction with the storytelling experience.
“I absolutely love this game, I am completely addicted to it. It has beautiful islands you go through and cool adventures and missions along the way.”
“I enjoy playing all the different aspects of this game: the storylines, spins, missions, etc. It's a very fun game, but like most games, it does have some glitches.”
“With all the quests that's now on, it's made it so much more fun and makes you want to go on every day.”
“The game is devoid of content, storyline, gameplay mechanics, good graphics, etc. Everything that makes a good game is stripped back in this app, and in its place are cynical and manipulative devices to get you to part with your money.”
“The pirate quest is impossible without purchase, and as for the daily quests, they are an insult to a toddler's intelligence.”
“It is impossible to complete any mission without making a purchase.”
- stability183 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 98 % negative mentions
The stability of the game has been widely criticized, with users reporting frequent freezes, crashes, and glitches that disrupt gameplay and result in lost rewards. Many players express frustration over the lack of responsiveness from customer support regarding these issues, leading to a decline in overall enjoyment of the game. Despite its potential, the persistent technical problems have caused numerous players to consider uninstalling the app.
“Good on them for making the game bug-free now!”
“I love this game! This is my first time playing it and it's really fun. There are no glitches, the game is really easy, I love it!”
“The game constantly locks me out, freezes up, especially with that stupid moon blast event.”
“Since the last update, my phone freezes up and it literally crashed twice.”
“The game frequently glitches so what little you do win you lose because the game shuts down and conveniently what you won is gone.”
- monetization173 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The monetization strategy of the game has drawn significant criticism, with many players expressing frustration over the overwhelming number of ads and pop-ups that disrupt gameplay. While some appreciate the option to earn rewards through watching ads, the frequent interruptions and the pressure to make in-app purchases have led to perceptions of the game as a cash grab. Additionally, issues with in-app purchases not being fulfilled and poor customer service have further soured the experience for many users.
“I would rather have random ads and a playable game than no ads on a game that I have to spend money on to progress.”
“In-app purchases should remain limited to increasing the game experience, not block core gameplay.”
“Great game, so addictive, can be played well without in-app purchases unlike other games.”
“What irritates me is the ads that cover the game, and there is no way to get around them to play.”
“You cannot just open the game and play; you have to click out of a dozen obnoxious ads every single time.”
“This game is nothing but a cash grab.”
- graphics165 mentions
- 64 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Pirate Kings" are generally praised for their colorful and cute design, contributing to an enjoyable visual experience. While many users appreciate the vibrant artwork and smooth animations, some express a desire for improvements, noting that certain updates have led to a decline in quality or clarity. Overall, the graphics are considered a strong point of the game, enhancing its casual and entertaining nature.
“The graphics and colors in this game are amazing...if you haven't tried Pirate Kings by Jelly Button...you really should give it a go!”
“I love the graphics in all the islands.”
“Absolutely love this adventurous, challenging game with super graphics always something new to keep me going, been playing forever.”
“I downloaded this game over a year ago and absolutely hated it because the graphics were horrendous and the gameplay was boring.”
“The update makes the graphics horrible, you freeze at each spin and takes 2 hours to load just delete and save space.”
“Good game, but the graphics are very bad.”
- gameplay74 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game has received overwhelmingly negative feedback, with many users describing it as repetitive and lacking depth, primarily revolving around a rigged wheel-spinning mechanic. While some players find it entertaining in a casual sense, the majority criticize it for being devoid of meaningful interaction, strategy, or engaging content, often labeling it as a time-waster designed more for monetization than for genuine gameplay enjoyment. Overall, the consensus is that the game fails to deliver a satisfying or rewarding gameplay experience.
“Pirate Kings is a treasure trove of fun, with addictive gameplay, colorful graphics, and a hint of pirate adventure.”
“The gameplay is entertaining but not to the point of addiction; I've only just started playing and it seems like I will be playing for a while.”
“Great game graphics are sweet and cute, loving how the gameplay works.”
“There's not much gameplay; you mostly just press one button over and over again until you unlock it pressing itself.”
“The game is devoid of content, storyline, gameplay mechanics, good graphics, etc. Everything that makes a good game is stripped back in this app, and in its place are cynical and manipulative devices to get you to part with your money.”
“The main mechanic is pressing a button that spins a rigged wheel of fortune.”
- humor28 mentions
- 96 % positive mentions
- -7 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a standout feature, with players finding various aspects, such as unexpected outcomes and quirky game mechanics, to be genuinely funny. Many reviews highlight the amusing scenarios that arise during gameplay, including ironic situations and playful interactions, contributing to an overall entertaining experience. While some users express mixed feelings about the game's evolution, the consensus remains that it offers a lighthearted and enjoyable atmosphere.
“Graphics and stories were awesome and funny!”
“I keep thinking that it's really funny that when I'm winning millions and billions, the daily prize at day 5 is still only 1 million ... lol ... great game though.”
“I really love this game because it's so exciting for me to steal and attack people 😂😂😂😂😂😂 I'm so happy when I got 3 million from stealing and I was just laughing like a pirate do 😂😂 lol.”
“It's just not funny!”
“The humor falls flat and feels forced.”
“I expected more laughs, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
- music23 mentions
- 39 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many players finding it catchy and enjoyable, enhancing their overall experience. However, some users express frustration with certain tracks, describing them as irritating or repetitive, particularly during combat sequences. Overall, while the soundtrack is appreciated for its creativity and nostalgic elements, there are calls for more variety and options to mute specific tracks.
“The familiar soundtrack brought me back to high school every day.”
“The UI and music both are soothing.”
“I love it; it's fun, creative, and the background music is cool. Good job!”
“Attack comes too much irritating music and very laggy.”
“Haven't played the game for ages and thought the childish music for attacking and stealing would have changed; no, it hasn't.”
“Downloaded the game...the music played and that's it, could not spin the wheel to get started.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling like a waste of time and money. The slow refill rate for spins and reliance on random outcomes contribute to a sense of helplessness, while tedious animations detract from the enjoyment. Many users report losing progress and resources, leading to a negative experience that overshadows the initial fun of the game.
“Tedious and a waste of time/money.”
“New spins take an hour to refill, which feels tedious and tiring to get only 5 spins in return.”
“Game starts off fast-paced and fun, then slows to a tedious grindy slog very shortly after asking you to review it.”
- optimization5 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- -40 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is inconsistent, with some users reporting smooth performance while others experience frequent crashes and poor performance, particularly when trying to access certain features. Additionally, the requirement for a strong network connection has been a point of frustration for players. Overall, the optimization needs improvement to enhance the gaming experience.
“For the most part, it runs smoothly.”
“The game runs smoothly; there are a lot of ways to get free spins.”
“I would give it a full star rating if it ran smoothly without any network problems.”
“Crashes all the time and very poor performance. I can't get my first sticker pack because when I click it, the game closes.”
“The game is incredibly laggy and unresponsive, making it nearly impossible to enjoy.”
“Frequent frame drops and long loading times ruin the overall experience.”
- replayability5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- -20 % neutral mentions
- 60 % negative mentions
Overall, users indicate that the game's replayability has improved, with more engaging gameplay compared to similar apps. However, frustrations with difficulty spikes and monetization issues detract from the experience, making it less enjoyable for some players.
“Otherwise much better than similar apps, more crisp gameplay and has more replayability.”
“But overall it's much more playable than it was.”
“The game is much more playable now.”
“It's just becoming unenjoyable; please make the experience better and more playable to complete islands.”
“The constant stealing is preventing me from getting ahead, and daily gifts are gone. Also, pirate adventures are hard to complete now, and I miss the stories.”
“Seriously, the ratio of money for spins is ridiculous. I used to really enjoy this game, and now it's taking me months just to pass one island.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players express a strong emotional connection to the game, highlighting the developers' responsive and heartfelt customer service, which enhances their overall experience. However, frustrations arise from technical issues that disrupt gameplay, leading to feelings of disappointment despite the game's wholesome appeal for families.
“It's heartbreaking to have that happen because I don't get the gold section that often and have only recapped funds twice in my daily use of the game.”
“Thank you for making a wholesome game that the whole family can play and enjoy.”
“Every time I've contacted them, they've at least replied within the day, and most often, they make every effort they can to satisfy whatever issue I'm having, with a personalized and heartfelt response.”
- character development1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The character development in the game is praised as exceptional, with one user expressing admiration for the design quality and suggesting that it rivals that of established companies like Capcom.
“The character development in this game is simply amazing; I felt a deep connection with each character as their stories unfolded.”
“I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making their journeys feel authentic and engaging.”
“The depth and complexity of the characters really enhance the overall experience, allowing players to invest emotionally in their growth.”