Dots & Co: A Puzzle Adventure Reviews

by Wiingnut

Update: DotsCo not getting along with iOS updates: can’t open daily crates or access game screens. Seriously, keep up.

DotsCo is designed to get the user to spend money. Playing time is extremely limited. You can buy more playing time, refills (if you wait) are slow to generate; higher levels can take days to pass unless you spend all your coins or “energy” and weekly adventures that promise a reward of 25 coins plus a boost often prove unattainable unless you’re willing to use all your assets. Often there are not enough targets on the board to go after, and on many occasions not counted accurately when a goal is met. Lastly, DotsCo occasionally crashes and takes your boosts with it, no compensation given when it boots back up.
Other than those issues, this can be a fun game, but it’s limitations are a major deterrent.

by S. Barnes

It's technically a free game but the 80's levels it becomes unwinnable without paying for bolts. Everything you would need to get through a tough levelrequires bolts- power ups, extra moves- and as far as I can tell there are no bolts given for free. I must have tried level 88 about 50 times. I was one move away from winning about a dozen times I gave up. It became very clear that this game is not based upon strategy but luck because the dots are never the same twice and how they are arranged greatly affects how effective you can be without power ups. I quit Two Dots because it also got extremely hard if you didn't pony up some dough. I prefer the horribly addictive and slightly spammy Cat Crunch which throws power ups and coins at you like it's going out of style.

by Ctspeedy

Great game, super addicting. I’ve been enjoying it for a few months now. I appreciated when they added the daily drop box feature, but a serious drawback was that it caused my screen to freeze every time, so I couldn’t open the box and couldn’t close out of it either. So my option was to close DotsCo and try again, until I gave up and didn’t get to play at all. Yes, I did all the updates. I deleted DotsCo and re-downloaded, hoping that would fix whatever bug was making it impossible to play...and all of my data was gone including the 250 levels I spent months on to get to. I loved this game, and now I won’t be playing at all anymore. That’s unfortunate.

by Leighannface

I’ve loved all of the dots games and this is no exception. However, this one seems to glitch more often than the prior two games. There have been several times where I’ve made a square and the graphics and vibration confirm it’s a square yet that color doesn’t clear. It does remove the four dots that make the square so it’s not like my finger slipped and I only grabbed three. On lower levels it wasn’t such a big deal but now that I’m in the 100’s losing a move can be the difference between passing the level or not. Other than that frustration, it’s a good edition to the dots family. I don’t buy the energy and I think it refills at a fair rate for those of us who want to play free.

by DexxXIX

So this game is actually pretty fun but the obvious drawback is that they limit how much you can play, unless of course you pay for more "energy". The same is true of level difficulty, you can get fairly far but I've encountered a level that's literally not producing enough balloons for me to even reach the objective, unless of course I pay to continue. This game feels like a pushy salesman who at every turn stops you short of really loving the game, only to request money at every opportunity. I think there are certain levels that are intentionally difficult to the point where the only way to pass them is pay for power ups or to continue by using their in-game currency. They have daily power ups that seem clearly rigged to have a higher probability of winning more energy to play the game which doesn't really help you pass difficult levels. It's too bad because the game design is pretty and the music is great but the experience is marred by the constant money grab tactics and spikes in difficulty that almost demand you pay to pass them.

by Annajoule

I have finished all 500 levels. I was stuck on one for a month, which was pretty boring. I only got through by saving all the power ups week after week. You get something nearly every day. Inexplicably some days nothing.

The game itself is enjoyable, there is also a separate “adventure” section that is pretty much impossible- I try each new one, but I get bored after a while and quit. You have to get through 5 levels without one error or you are sent back to the beginning. Then you have to repeat the easy ones, which is no fun. You can buy your way out of it, but there is no point. It would be more interesting if you have multiple opportunities to pass each one. There are big rewards at the end, but who cares. People would be more likely to play without so much delay and with smaller rewards

I like the spatial challenges, but I also want it to be possible to advance without power ups. Not doable with this game. Graphics are very attractive though, which is probably why I kept playing.

by Grey Eyes

This is super fun but also super frustrating . I agree with other reviewers. There seems to be deliberately designed extremely difficult levels to get you to buy tokens. You can't even buy power ups like in Two Dots, and many times the boosting doesn't help but actually seems like it's meant to hinder your progress and keep wasting tokens and the meager power ups you are gifted daily. Having said that, I have never paid and with tenacious persistence made it through all levels (like sometimes dozens of attempts). Eventually, the game "helps" you by giving you all the right combos so you can finally progress. It doesn't make sense to permanently keep you stuck, annoyed, frustrated, and quite frankly, cynical. And now they have not updated since early September 2017 making me wonder if they will continue supporting it. Is it the money? I don't like ads, but they are managed well on Two Dots and wouldn't mind the same format here.

by Turrean

I played about thirty levels before calling it quits. The game is beautifully designed, with sleek graphics in a pleasing palette, and a (weirdly) soothing soundtrack. Game play is intuitive and responsive.

But it’s a slot machine...if you want to play more than a level a day, eventually you’re going to have to click one of those “How about now? Will you give us $.99 now? Isn’t the penguin cute?” pop-ups.

I’d pay outright, once, for a cute puzzle game where I had only a few fancy tools per level, and had to use them judiciously to advance. I’m not interested in a game where the only skill you need is the ability to make in-app purchases, and game play is rigged to require it.

by Do Art

I have fun playing this game for it’s kind of calming presence and making you think of the next strategic move. But other times it can be frustrating. One of the things that frustrates me is that when you expect the next batch of dots to maybe help you, they end up not being useful and you have to waste your limited moves just so you can find ANY kind of trying to get back to solving the puzzle. Second, this flower(?) that drop with the dots end up screwing you over by erasing dots that are adjacent and matching colored, rather than helping you. There have been times when I need to make a shape to erase all dots of one color, then this flower shows up erasing the adjacent dots but leaving other dots on the board untouched! Pretty much leaving you with no choice but to restart the puzzle. Third, and this one frustrates me the most, is that there is this glitch. The beginning of the game tells you that you can draw a square to get rid dots that share the same color on the board. Every once in a while, this doesn’t work. I would draw a square, my phone would buzz saying “YOU MADE A SQUARE!!!” Then after I move my finger off the screen thinking I have made the winning move, then I see the dots I intended to erase... ARE STILL THERE! DotsCo Tricks you into thinking that you made the ultimate move, and ends up Not following it’s own rules!

by Futureparadox

DotsCo is usually slightly easier than Two Dots. It is a slightly different challenge for my brain when I tire of word and other logic puzzle games and a modest change when I come across a board on Two Dots I can’t clear and need a break. I would like more similarities in the ‘extras’ that offer some assistance like erasers. You don’t need to spend more than .99 occasionally if you are patient, watch a video occasionally for freebies and don’t sit and play for hours on end necessitating purchasing more lives. Lives renew frequently and regularly. You won’t be disappointed in DotsCo.

by Dirty James

For me, Dots has really helped me with anxiety. The focus put into solving each level sometimes helps turn off my mind. It’s a tool, among other anxiety resources/exercises (may not be for everyone). The game itself is fun, challenging, has nice calming graphics and also funny/encouraging messages when you solve a level. I also like that when you get new lives over the max, they remain. I’ve played others where it resets the max lives overnight. I tried playing without resorting to buying “coins”, but on some bad anxiety days, waiting 10 minutes to get a life was not fast enough!! LOL. Seems some levels are designed to make you buy (can add up), but if you can hold off (can take days sometimes), levels are solvable. The game seems designed to make you take a break from it (sometimes you have to walk away from the table).

by Handles Banandles

This game is such a simple concept, but the entertainment payoff is 100%. The colors and sounds in the game are strangely relaxing which is a great balance between how frustrating some of the levels can be. I love how there are no random pop up ads, and even though there is a “pay to play” option it is not needed at all to get to the end. I’m getting nervous because I’ve almost completed all of the levels and I don’t know if there is a game that can replace my obsession that is equally as satisfying and good looking as this one!

by Snookiewhip

I started playing in August and finally beat level 550 without spending a penny. So here is my thorough review.
1. I always make complete squares. I even kept my nails short for this sole purpose and about 20% of the time my square doesn’t end up complete.
2. What is the point of the badges???? Should be more rewards for collecting them and achieving 3 stars
3. How I beat the game is that during the challenge runs if I knew I would lose I’d shutdown DotsCo before the last move and I wouldn’t have to restart the run henceforth collecting all the tokens and boosts.

by Arkinemond

DotsCo is so addicting! Yes, they try to get you to spend money, but unlike other reviewers, I don find it to be overly pushy (especially when compared to other games) and I found I’m able to complete the levels without spending money. Sometimes I need to repeat a level several times, but it’s not repetitive as the puzzles aren’t exactly the same each play. I also rarely get bored with DotsCo and when I run out of energy (which is constantly regenerating) I’m usually ready to take a break anyways. I’m very happy with DotsCo.

by Crowella

I’ve been playing this game for 4 or 5 years on and off. My only complaint is that there haven’t been any new levels recently, though it takes a while to get through the 550 levels the developers have done. And there are weekly challenges that cycle through, so you still feel like you’re getting new levels in addition to the main game. The game is addictive and I’ve had a lot of fun going back though and trying to get three stars on every level. No ads, which is a HUGE perk. I highly recommend.

by Ryangauger

What’s this? Y’all stopped doing new levels over a year ago? I’m not that salty but please keep updating! This game is very well-designed. Hours of fun and you don’t have to spend $$ to get decent game play and there are no ads, although i would suggest paying a little something. Game creators, this one included, don’t make apps and games for nothing. They’re trying to make a living just like you and me. So i have no problem shelling out a couple bucks, especially for a game such as this one or Two Dots. Keep this in mind. Game developers are trying to make a living too.

by Dandygoku

I really like this game. I’ve been playing it for years on and off. (I’ve had to delete it because I’m weak and get addicted easily) this game is similar to animal crossing in the sense that the overall look and feel is clean and cutesy. The music is also very soothing. Obviously the gameplay is nothing like animal crossing. This is a puzzle game after all. There are times when the game gets a bit buggy but overall it’s fun and a great way to pass time. I would suggest that they make a night mode for the game so the dots are on a black background while you play but other than that it’s perfect.

by CrunchyCracker

Everything about this game is absolutely gorgeous. The visuals, the music, and every small detail. The gameplay features are (most of the time) easy to understand and fun to use. I do have to admit that sometimes I get a little lost because the information I got on a new addition to the level was unclear or I wasn't able to read it. I haven't had very many puzzle games, but I think this is an original concept, which only gives me more admiration for the creators.

I haven't gotten very far in the game yet, so I can't say anything about how later levels are deliberately hard in order to get people to pay money. I'll probably have more to say about this in the future.

by Svedka Girl

1. It is challenging, but costs nothing. I’m on level 59. I’ve made no in-app purchases. I played the same level for the past 4 days before I beat it. But I did. It is a very simple concept, but applying it requires thinking many moves ahead, much like chess.
2. The music. This may seem weird, but I love the background music in this game. It’s soothing. Often you have to turn music off as it gets grating or annoying, but these guys got it right.
3. It’s satisfying. Much like my Tetris-induced need for completion in the mid 90s, there is a level of satisfaction, even obsession to playing this game (yes, I was the nerd who beat Tetris on the original NES and even took pictures). If you are an OCD gamenut, this game will satisfy your obsession.

by Iyfhjvv

I just completed all 550 levels of this game so I feel obligated to review it. The design of this game is beautiful, there are no ads, and the number of lives gives you enough chances to complete a level without spending too long on DotsCo . I never had to buy any additional power ups because of the daily gifts. The game is relaxing but can also be challenging and completing a level is so satisfying. I think it took me about a year to get through all the levels so now I’ll just be doing the daily challenges. Can’t recommend this game enough!