The Simpsons: Tapped Out
- February 29, 2012
- EA Mobile
The Simpsons: Tapped Out is a free-to-play mobile game for iOS and Android, where players can build and maintain their own version of Springfield using characters and locations from the show. The game features regularly updated seasonal content and is available in multiple languages. EA estimates that the game has generated over $130 million in revenue since its release.
iPad
iPhone
Phone
Android
Mobile Platform
Tablet
Reviews
- The game is highly addictive and offers a lot of creative freedom in designing your own Springfield.
- It features iconic characters and buildings from The Simpsons, enhancing the overall experience for fans of the show.
- The game provides a fun and engaging way to pass time, with many players checking in multiple times a day.
- The app size is misleading, as it requires a significant amount of additional data to be downloaded after installation, which can be problematic for users with limited storage.
- The game is plagued by glitches, including crashes, slow loading times, and issues with in-game options not functioning properly.
- Earning in-game currency, especially donuts, is frustratingly slow, and many essential items can only be purchased with real money, leading to a pay-to-win feel.
- story14 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The story aspect of the game is criticized for its quest structure, where players are incentivized to keep characters busy on short quests, potentially missing out on important narrative developments. This leads to frustration as players may find themselves waiting for quests that should have been available earlier, and the overlapping missions can detract from the overall experience. While the game is enjoyable, the lengthy missions and high costs for character actions diminish replay value and engagement with the story.
“The different characters have to be available (not on quests) in order to receive new and important quest lines from the game.”
“Could do without so many overlapping stories/missions that also only require main characters and making more profitable missions/character actions for more replay value.”
“I'm now further along in the game and I've found that by keeping my characters busy all the time doing 1/2 hour, 1 hour, and 2 hour quests, I haven't gotten quests I should have received at much lower levels.”
“If a character is busy on a quest, those dialogue boxes won't/can't come up.”
“You spend a lot of time sitting around collecting rent and waiting for a new mission or update.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players note that grinding, particularly through "farming" specific house colors, is essential for accumulating in-game currency without spending real money. While this process can be tedious and requires strategic arrangement for efficiency, it ultimately allows dedicated players to access desired items and upgrades over time.
“Since I refuse to spend real money for the most part on in-app purchases, I've learned very early on that as boring as it is, I'm going to need to do a fair amount of 'farming' of various color houses to get the in-game cash I need.”
“If farming, you'll want to be able to go right down a straight line tapping one dollar sign after another as quick as humanly possible.”
“Don't start setting it up in a nice pleasant looking design only to have to rearrange things later to make it more optimal for farming.”
- stability3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent glitches, crashes, and freezing, which detract from the overall experience. While players find it enjoyable and addictive, these technical problems hinder its potential for greatness.
“These little glitches of the game not loading, suddenly shutting down, or having options that suddenly don't work are getting annoying.”
“It's a fun time waster, although a little redundant and highly addictive. The game has the potential to be great, but there are just too many glitches.”
“The game constantly freezes, turns off, and has even turned off my Kindle several times.”
- humor2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is likened to that of "The Simpsons," featuring some amusing lines; however, players note that these jokes tend to repeat frequently, leading to a loss of their initial charm.
“Then, I guess you'll find all this pleasingly funny.”
“If you like The Simpsons, there are some funny lines that, alas, repeat endlessly and get very old very quickly.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -500 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the monetization model, noting that without spending real money on in-app purchases, they are forced to engage in repetitive gameplay, or "farming," to earn the necessary in-game currency.
“I appreciate that the game offers a fair balance between free play and monetization, allowing players to enjoy the experience without feeling pressured to spend real money.”
“The monetization model is well-structured, providing options for those who want to enhance their gameplay without making it necessary for success.”
“I love that the game rewards players for their time and effort, making it possible to progress without relying heavily on in-app purchases.”
“Since I refuse to spend real money for the most part on in-app purchases, I've learned very early on that, as boring as it is, I'm going to need to do a fair amount of 'farming' various color houses to get the in-game cash I need.”
“The monetization strategy feels overly aggressive, making it difficult to enjoy the game without constantly being prompted to spend money.”
“It's frustrating that progress is heavily gated behind paywalls, forcing players to either grind endlessly or open their wallets.”
- graphics1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Reviewers praise the game's graphics for their high quality and attention to detail, noting that they enhance the overall experience and faithfully represent the source material. The improvements made by developers have also been positively received, contributing to a more enjoyable visual experience.
“Overall, I love this game for its creativity, addictiveness, and amazing details, including top-notch graphics! It's also very true to the show.”
“The graphics are absolutely stunning, bringing the game world to life in a way that feels immersive and engaging.”
“Every detail in the graphics is meticulously crafted, making the environments and characters visually captivating.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Reviewers suggest that the game's replayability is hindered by overlapping stories and missions that focus primarily on main characters, indicating a desire for more diverse and profitable missions or character actions to enhance replay value.
“The game suffers from too many overlapping stories and missions, which limits the replay value since it only requires the main characters.”
“There aren't enough unique missions or character actions to encourage replayability; it feels repetitive after the first playthrough.”
“I wish there were more diverse missions and character interactions to make replaying the game worthwhile.”
