Dig This! Reviews

This game is two games in one but that isn’t a good thing. The reason for 4 stars instead of 5 stars: There’s two kinds of levels; fun interesting puzzle-type levels that can be quite challenging and entertaining and then levels that are more target practice where there’s no strategy and you have to get the perfect speed, angle, bounce and luck. These are NOT fun nor entertaining in the least. Please stop with those. Good levels test strategy and execution. These type levels only test execution and luck. It’s almost as they have two different sets of people designing the levels. Clever ones and not so clever ones who can only come up with the lame ‘try your luck’ layouts vs. ‘use your brain and figure it out’ layouts. Fortunately, the good ones overshadow the bad ones but it is a waste of levels when they do that; very disappointing and frustrating. Developers: please stick to the strategy and leave the target shooting to other games. You have a great product. Those are very entertaining. Also great are the interface, graphics, stability and readiness of new levels. The ads aren’t bad if you decide to play free. You can shut them down in 5-10 seconds and proceed with the game. Overall, great game. I only have two games on my iPhone and this is one of them.

I never leave reviews but this frustrates me. It’s a fun game, when it works like it’s supposed to. Anyone with a cursory understanding of physics can get through the levels pretty simply. But for WHATEVER reason, on some levels I can perform the same moves over and over, that SHOULD be what is required to complete the level. Usually the issue is that I can’t achieve the momentum required to bump things into other things. When I finally give up, and use a hint, I’m guided step-by-step through the EXACT things I was just doing; except this time there are no issues with momentum, and everything moves just perfectly. As far as I can tell this is assisted by the occasional pauses during the “walkthrough” which may somehow allow the assets to reset position in relation to their previous momentum and direction of travel.
What this amounts to is, unless you use a hint to have the game complete the level for you (which isn’t actually a “hint” by the way), you can only complete a level through accidental luck, and maybe the grace of Cthulhu. I dunno but I don’t want to have to buy hints only to find out I’m already doing EXACTLY what the games wants me to.

Loved this game, however, it can be frustrating. The levels that required skill, planning, and creative problem solving are the most fun; where you can control where you dig and when the items’ actions are pretty consistent. The levels that are based solely on chance, such as when you need a bomb to explode to propel the ball somewhere, or when the ball needs to bounce just right to go over an obstacle, can be very frustrating. In those levels, there is no consistency in the items, and there is no skill or creative problem solving involved. If the solution to the level can’t be consistently repeated 3 out of 5 tries, then it’s not a good layout. There are some levels I played 20-30 times and still the ball didn’t bounce or the bomb didn’t explode the correct way. And if it’s a level that has 2-3 balls that all need to bounce, roll, or fly a certain way, forget it. (73-20 is an example of a level where inevitably one of the 3 balls doesn’t bounce or roll the correct way.) Sometimes the game has a “skip level” option, but that option doesn’t always show up.

I have stopped playing all the other games I have on my phone. I love this game and it’s challenging puzzles, it really makes you think how to solve the puzzle. On occasions adding in elements in that are not needed to accomplish the task, this is truly a game that can become addictive if you love to problem solve or like cause and effect thinking. I do agree with other comments about the required purchases for hints in that you could offer free hints along with maybe the completion of a level or something, just moving on to the next level is great but having a added rewards would be even better. Especially if you plan on keep adding levels, the whole idea of a game is to beat it or have something you can win. If the levels never end then what are you playing for unless you have a goal or prize in site. Thank you for creating such a great mind challenging/ eye blurring / brain stimulating game.
Natalie

I used to really enjoy each level, especially as they got more challenging. You would have to think and plan and come up with “the solution.” Now, as they add more levels, they’re mostly based on directional luck or precision (where an angstrom difference in one direction or another will prevent the win) or ridiculous timing. At that point, even if I luck into a win, I don’t feel like I’ve accomplished or solved anything, merely that I’ve gotten lucky. And if I have to reset and try again, I’m forced into an ad the length of a feature film. And if I get lucky? I’m punished for my win with yet another ad. I know we all complain about ads, and I realize they’re the only hope of monitization these days, but wow. These ads feel like you’re being punished for playing. Most devs have gotten smart enough to turn ads into a reward system. It’s foolish not to.

I will pay to remove ads when I love a game and want to reward the dev, but when they’re so over the top it feels more like extortion, forget it. I don’t reward sociopathy. Especially when the level design has gotten so bad. I don’t want to play an arcade game. I want puzzles. Puzzles are SOLVED, not “beaten.”

I kinda like this game. It’s different, not timed & gets challenging. My grand-nephews enjoyed playing this a lot! They’re not allowed to buyout of ads. If their parents or I paid for free versions of every game they play to hold their interest longer, plus, games I like to play from time to time, we’d all be broke! I understand ad revenue & don’t mind watching ‘sted paying. That said, There Are TOO MANY Ads! Start a level & goof up in 15secs. ‘Sted of retrying, An Ad in two parts! Min 15-20secs...goof up in 10 secs...rinse & repeat! Wow you won! Next level No...ANOTHER 2PART AD! It’s like for every 30 secs of play time you have to go thru :40-:45+ seconds of AD Time! I stop & find something else to play or do & you get Zero Ad Views! Cut Back & I’ll play Longer & more often. Then, atthat point it might be worth it to buy out of the Ads. Still, that’s too much $...for both kids & fixed income folks. Stay greedy many will come & go. Be Reasonable & Everybody Wins! Plus your Rating will go from 3 to 5 Stars! Don’t do anything & it drops to 2 then 1 star. You’re choice. Remember, those like me add up.

I’ll admit, I’ve become a bit jaded in this age of deceptive ads leading to freemium addiction machines. When I saw the ad for this game, I honestly can’t remember what made me click on it. I do love a good puzzle game, though, and wasn’t able to resist the interesting-looking gameplay.

When I started it up I was very put off by the abundance of ads. The initial levels weren’t that tough there were 30 video ads between EVERY level. I think maybe even restarting a level required an ad, I’m not sure. But SOMETHING about it was different than other sweatshop-produced games. So I spent the $2.99 to get rid of the ads, and I’m GLAD I DID.

This is one of the most inventive puzzle games I’ve played in a long time. The graphics are simple. Deceptively so. It reminds me a little of “cut the rope” from back in the day. Great physics engine that really makes things interesting. I kept playing, hours and hours, expecting to get to the point where the levels became repetitive, or unchallenging, or TOO challenging. But it never happened.

There are a couple levels where chance comes too much into play for my taste, or where the mechanics of something like the find from the fans isn’t really clear, but really, the point is this was totally worth three bucks. Ive already gotten through every available level after 2 days, and new sets are apparently coming out next month. Can’t wait!

In a word of mindless first person game this game actually can challenge your mind. Now in the beginning it is a bit slow paced and rudimentary. But now that new levels have come out on a regular basis I’m finding that some of the levels are challenging. I agree with some with respect to ads, ads and more ads, but I also understand that when something is free there is a cost associated with that. And someone is covering my “free” enjoyment. So thank you for the free leisure time activity.
I would like to speak to one unexpected pleasure that I found one day just by happenstance. Developers, I found your hidden Easter egg on the home page. I would love to see others like this if you can sneak them in. Oh and have perhaps a special level for those who find the eggs.
Again thanks for the mindful challenges and keep the levels coming with increased difficulty.

M

The puzzles in this game increase well in their difficulty. However, some of the puzzles depend on a very minor move or for an object to bounce the right way. If it doesn’t, you know you have to start over. Sometimes this takes just a few seconds. When you hit the restart button, you almost ALWAYS get a video. Often a 30-second video. It’s gotten to the point that after a few of those long videos, I just quit the game. It honestly takes shorter to kill the game and start over than it does to sit through some of those videos. You lose a LOT of time to videos.

They also give you a few hints in the beginning. I was using them from time to time, often to see how the developers suggested, so I could get hints about future puzzles. Once they run out, though, you don’t get ANY more for free. All you can do is buy them. You don’t get a free one a day, you don’t get a free one after beating a few puzzles - you can only pay cash for them.

For these two reasons, the game has quickly lost its luster for me.

This game is addictive and fun. I have spent many hours playing this great game. One thing I have noticed after level 15 is the balls have more bounce. I do like it as it changes how they react to arcs. Make it pretty difficult on a few levels now. Here is the thing though, you offer no other way to get help other than the player buying help. We could use a way to get hints/help by watching longer ads as most games offer. The quick 5-10 sec ads are find in between, and for those who want help often can buy them. How about the opportunity to watch a longer ad once or twice per 24 hrs? You get ad revenue, and we get a very small amount of helps per day. For the first 15 levels I have found no reason for help. However the more bouncy balls after level 15 can be cumbersome. Just a thought. Other than that, great game.

This is a great puzzle game. I’ve been playing for a while now, but was getting tired of the add interruption every 3-4 attempts on any given puzzle. So I coughed up the $2.99 to skip adds and it was worth it. I haven’t run into any “power ups” where the developers are trying to get more cash out of your pocket to advance in the puzzles. The artwork is simple and nice, and a stylus pen makes it more enjoyable instead of using my fat fingers. I rarely get through puzzles on the first try, but I figure it out after a couple times. Yes, there are a few difficult ones now and then that are a real challenge that has taken me many tries to get through. I’m not complaining, it’s fun and challenging.

This game can be so much fun. Totally worth jumping in. There’s a great balance between challenging and solveable in the first 30 levels (and I didn’t mind watching ads or buying clues from time to time to get past the relatively few puzzles I couldn’t solve). But since level 31, it’s just too too hard. I understand the game well and have solved some really tricky ones. But since I’ve found myself skipping more than I can solve in a given level, it’s stopped being fun, and I’ve stopped playing. Developer should rethink solveability or at least sell an unlimited clues pack.

After I posted this I looked at other reviews and I see there are others similar to mine, with mention of ones where there’s too much chance involved (like the bomb having to explode exactly the right way), or you buy a clue only to have it guide you through the exact same steps that didn’t work you came up with them on your own.

It’s not truly physics based, and sometimes it’s sort of random chance whether the ball goes in or not. You can have the right idea and repeat it again and again and again, and have different pieces perform differently even though you dig the same. And you’re mostly just waiting for the stars to align and for it to actually work the way it’s supposed to. I wish I could upload some pictures- I took 3 screenshots of one level. All three pictures look the same as far as what I dug, only in the first picture no balls made it in. In the second picture, the blue ball made it in. In the last, the blue and yellow both made it in. But I actually played the level more than 20 times with the yellow ball sometimes making it, the blue ball sometimes making it, sometimes neither ball making it, basically doing the correct solution over and over again without success. Sometimes it’s not just random, sometimes it’s requiring a level of precision that simply isn’t possible. 🙄😖

I think dig it! is a good game. It is wholesome and fun which is unique, and I understand that game must become increasingly harder. I enjoy playing Dig it and it is one of my favorite games. My experience though, is greatly reduced due to one thing. I think some of the levels are simply two hard to complete without spending an obsessive amount of time trying. I am aware that there are hints that can be purchased, but most do not want to pay their money to succeed in a game. I suggest the makers of Dig it! consider allowing players to pay game coins to buy hints. These coins could be earned by passing levels. I have asked many others whom have had this experience with games and they agree on this point that it is not worth real money to succeed in a game but it is a shame that one can’t without. I would like to thank you for allowing me to give feedback on his game and I hope whomever receives this will consider my suggestion.
Sincerely,
Dig it! player

I have to agree with the person who said that some levels you can’t get through without having to use a hint, and that hint does the exact same thing that you did, but now works with the hint!!?? Where it didn’t before the hint was used. Go figure. Also this could have been a good game other than the hint thing, but also, about the adds, yes there a lot of adds, but I don’t mind adds too much, after all, I find out about new games that I didn’t know about through the adds. BUT when a certain add comes up, it never has an “x” anywhere on the screen after the add is done, and I can’t get back to the game without closing it and reopening it! I am not going to close and reopen this game, every time an add comes on. It’s pretty bad when not only the game has glitches in it, but the adds do as well!? So I have already deleted DigThis......could have been a good one too, if it just worked right and the adds didn’t cause it to have to be closed, just to get out if the screen, and back to the game.

This is a fun game, simple but very challenging. I think the simplicity is what makes it so great. I’m not one that spends money on micro transactions so I’m not going to pay to play. I don’t generally mind ads because I get introduced to other games etc., as a matter of fact that is how I found this game. However, enough is enough! The amount of ads on this game makes it not fun, which is really sad considering how good this game is. Pick one, either between the levels or when you reset a level or better still between every 2 levels, but it is almost constant with the ads!
I’m sorry to say I will probably only play it occasionally because of ads. I know that is how games are paid for but I really can’t stress enough how many ads this game has, and that is sad because it is a super fun game. I will keep checking it out periodically to see if it gets better.

Maybe only a three star game if my complaint below is true. There are so many interesting puzzles. I purchased the game. Now hopefully the creators will correct me if I’m wrong, but if you can’t get past a puzzle or need a hint, I think you have to pay for a pass or hint to move on. I was able to pass on one, but it seems I ran across that problem with the next puzzle I couldn’t complete. Fortunately I finally beat the level and am back playing again, but I’m pretty sure I was unable to pass or get a hint without paying for it. I’ve done over 1100 puzzles, some taking a hundred or more attempts, and I fear the next time one seems impossible I’ll have to pay.

I read many reviews yesterday about the amount of ads. I got DigThis anyway (free, didn’t pay anything) and enjoyed advancing through the levels last night. It was challenging and kept my interest. The ads were annoying but I tried to not let them bother me until... there were 2 ads to watch at one time. I got frustrated and stopped playing. Today, I opened DigThis to continue playing and could not pick up where I left off last night. I had completed the first one (Sandbox maybe?) and had advanced through some levels of the next one. They were all locked except for the very first one. I have to start over from the beginning. I didn’t play anymore and was going to delete it but thought I’d first see if anyone could tell me how to continue playing where I left off. I don’t think I can tolerate 2 ads at a time though. Also, having to watch an ad before I can try again to complete the level is unacceptable.

I adored this game. But I deleted it after suddenly having ads for their other games, while not connected to internet or data and in airplane mode. Trying to focus and concentrate is hard enough when you get to the upper levels. Having to wait to close an ad is a distraction I was unwilling to continue with. Especially if you’ve spent multiple times trying a very hard puzzle and need to really concentrate. This was and probably still is an awesome, challenging and fun game. How the company got around showing ads offline is brilliant at best. Perhaps use some of that brilliance to retain your players without losing money or causing them to dig-out of your game and move onto a different one. I honestly would have gladly paid for no ads. Good luck.

I found this game to be fun until you get to levels like 27 and 28, they get pretty difficult for a simple smart phone (iPhone 11 in my case) and I had to find a pen that could make the paths because my fingers seemed to far and some of the levels require dead on accuracy. What I really don’t like is on level 28 the music stops and DigThis starts some sports podcast and I have to close DigThis and start over because it’s just plain annoying. I had far more fun in the lower levels just helping that little green ball to the dish. Now the levels are getting difficult enough that it’s not relaxing anymore. I did do some of the insane levels and those are fun when I’m in that mood but the standard levels should be slightly simpler to allow for a relaxing fun game. It’s a fun app and you can find yourself really getting into it fast.