Home Design Story Reviews

by Me's Doodle Designs

At first I enjoyed this game but the only way to move forward is spend real money and/or annoy your friends to invite them to play which I refuse to do. I was so happy to finally have found a game where i can decorate a home without the bejeweled aspect to it, but I’m not dumping real money into a game. Maybe if the deals offered were better... And you should be told that if you purchase more property and want to build onto it, you’ll need to wait weeks or spend money. Also, it’s been months since Christmas, Halloween, and Thanksgiving and they still have pop ups encouraging you to buy things for those holidays. Someone got lazy and hasn’t updated this aspect of the game. It’s March! Also, when you purchase anything you have to wait for it to build. So you may have to wait 18 hours for something to finish up! Annoying. Where are the instructions? Can you not build more walls? The faq don’t answer enough questions.

by Mendoza121212

I had purchased gems on the sale around (Black Friday) When going in to purchase things I wanted, it would let me purchase but HomeDesignStory crashed I'd go back in and look to see if my purchasesd items were in my stuff and they were not, but it took my gems! It did this at least a good 9x that night! Also I went back in and it had purchased this goofy looking pond worth 320 gems I had never even looked up to purchase! I turned a ticket in and they asked me to provide my purchases from the Apple store which I did! They then tried to tell me a list of things found I had purchased! But what they aren't understanding is I have no items from the things I purchased just my gems are gone! They then terminated my ticket! I have never once and it will show turned in a ticket, never complained once, but when you mess with money I spent then told me you can't give me back my gems or money I'm done! Don't waste your money! I am out $30 bucks! They have terrible customer service and don't treat their customers good!

by Kelliann416

Update 2: I got a new iPad for Christmas and I went to email who helped me before and TeamLava no longer accepts emails. You have to fill out a "ticket" with your request. I did that and I got an automated email with my ticket #. It has been almost 2 weeks and nothing. My game still isn't transferred, there is no one to contact. It says in the email to reply to the email with any questions but when I do, i get ANOTHER email saying they do not accept emails. 😳 The automated email also says I can check the status of my ticket by clicking on the ticket number but when I do that it takes me to their website with an error message. They must really want people to NOT play their games.

Update: I contacted TeamLava and they were able to teansfer my game for me. The customer service was great! Although I do think the game needs updating with a login so you can transfer data yourself and maybe a few more challenges, I am very happy now 😊

I was very invested in this game. Then I got a new phone and nothing carried over! I was up to a $1.6 mil home and had over 50 neighbors and now I'm back at square one. I emailed about it and the only thing I received was a link how to login in to every other game they make EXCEPT Home Design Story. Trying decide if it's worth the time to start over.

by We Fussing

You can't buy stuff for the exterior of the house except for garden and plant items, I don't know if the game has changed at all, I used yo play it, but then I deleted it and I re-downloaded it loaded it. But I agent played it in a long time. and another thing, you can't restart the game or reset your progress, and the quests are all the same, because I remember when I was playing all the quests , were just mainly download their other games. Or buy stuff from the shop. And I remember when playing there were even ads like billboards near your lot for their other games. So if you're thinking of buying HomeDesignStory for your electronics, like for your kids, I don't recommend it, this all is a money machine, they want your cash, and with the ads it could trick kids into wanting their other apps. Because considering how half the quests are "download our other apps!" While the rest are "buy furniture and decorative and outdoor items in our shop!

by Bgkgdib

Okay, listen, I like this game. I wouldn’t have it for three years if I didn’t like it. It’s a pretty good game, I’ll admit that but... it could be wayyy better. 1. THE BULLYING!!, UGH!! It’s so annoying!! Three people I know have gotten bullied either but stupid teenagers who are on this game to roleplay and mess with people or just, are intentionally annoying. They are arrogant!! My friends don’t deserve to get bullied. You’ve just lost one star because of that.
2. I can’t even say the word cheater. I was trying to be funny bc I was playing a game with my friend and I wanted to say she was a cheater bc she cheated.. I CANT EVEN SAY CHEATER!! Some of these words aren’t even bad words but they are banned!! I can say them in fonts but not on regular. Gosh!! You lost ONE star bc of that too!!
3. Why is it so difficult to kick the people off the game if they bully or say bad words? The teenagers are on here to bully. Have you seen them? No, you haven’t bc your too busy not even looking at these freaking reviews. LOOK at them IDIOT!! Everyone needs to see all of this!! It’s really bad!! You need to change a lot of things and you still haven’t!! LOOK at my review! AND change these things. Good day now!

by Kaela.

Great app. Avid daily player. However, HomeDesignStory has undergone some recent updates and apparently now it functions a bit differently but there was no alert to the user. A new item appeared so I tapped it to see what it looked like. Usually when you do this with any item, it prompts you to press “accept” or “cancel” before you “purchase” the item with your coins or gems - gems cost real dollars to get. But the new item “gym crates” apparently do not work this way. So when I clicked it to see what it was like, it purchased it automatically! 84 of my gems are now spent and I didn’t want the item. I have been saving them up for an item I did want that is now out of my reach unless I spend real money and buy more gems again. But I’ll never spend my real money on HomeDesignStory again because of this. This puts me very off HomeDesignStory . The items should always function the same way or should clearly state to the user otherwise! Poor UX. Scam.

by Flashy Ramone

I recently redownloaded HomeDesignStory after not playing for a few years. I had grown bored and frustrated with it for various reasons. Getting gems is HARD but they’re required for the most desirable items (and most of these cost A LOT of gems.) I’ve tried to download the games that will give you a few more gems, but HomeDesignStory just shuts down when I try. Besides being the coolest items, some gem items are the only way to have matching furniture in a room. (Chair=coins, matching sofa=gems) For a while, new items, both gem and coin, were offered regularly; this seems to no longer be the case, and, really, it hadn’t been for a while before I stopped playing. I’ve only been back for a week or so and I’m already considering deleting HomeDesignStory again. I’m getting bored using the same, old, cheesy combinations. On a more positive note, I received fantastic customer service that allowed me to recover my level 100, >$12 million home after several years away.

by Valerie Vu

I’ve been playing this game for years now, redownloading it each time. I love the idea of the game but as the years pass by nothing about the game changes.

1. The whole design needs a fresh modern update. Maybe some more realistic features, new music, overall look.
2. Furniture and items in catalog need to be changed. I like the idea that every season there’s always something new to look forward to. Not just the same old stuff.
3. Personally I would change the way you can rotate furniture. Instead of tapping “rotate” ever time just simply tap on the price of furniture and it will change directions.
4. I think that in the community when looking for new people to play with it should be limited to the level range that you are currently in. Not 40+ levels above your rank.
5. Create more task that you can do to earn coins. Some examples would be cooking meals, or cleaning or repairing the house.
6. Create more true to life task and jobs that would come with owning a home. Like paying off the mortgage, things about the house break or need repairing. Being able to host little house parties and invite other friends to join.

I would appreciate if a lot of features they have in the Sims were added into this game because I see a lot of potential but nothings changing. I’m sure a lot of people can agree and with these changes could bring more people to play and actually enjoy.

by AbbyMD05

5 Opinionated flaws!

1: I wish there were easier ways to earn gems other then buying them with real money! And getting apps!
Or have less items you have to pay for with gems. A lot of good items are gems.

2: I also wish there was a way you could move doorways and choose where you want them. ( if you want them)

3: and I love this game so much. I'm at level 15. Best designing game yet! I wish some of the items you buy didn't take so long! I'm not a patient person! 😳when I save up money and am ready to decorate my new room.... NOPE. I have to wait 16 HOURS! Seriously?

4: why can't we SELL or STORE unbuilt furniture. What if you don't want it anymore or your neighbors won't give you the materials you need!! Then you'll have like a million boxes lying around your house. So annoying.

5: (this is really annoying) so with couches and stuff you'll have a pink couch for coins and a green couch for gems. Pink one is $2K and the green one is 30 GEMS. What if I don't want pink and I don't get tricked into buying gems and getting apps😠
I think you should have like one kind of couch and be able to choose the color like for example an arm chair and you can choose from blue, pink, or green.

Thanks. If you read this TeamLava please consider changing these things especially number1.
Great game...Graphics...My Favorite App!

by Sorentex

So I actually did have a problem with the updates and stuff once. I deleted HomeDesignStory I think I dunno why I did. But my name was Simonsen Home and so I deleted it, I think redownloaded it and got a new home called Lululita Homie and then I got my new iPhone and it saved it and that’s the one I’m with today! But I don’t like how allot of good stuff costs gems 💎 . But that’s not my biggest complaint. U know I wish that you could like dress up a character or do their hair and like kinda make it a life simulator. Like what I’m trying to say is, make the game more fun. Cause I mean, I like decorating the house but what do I do when I don’t want to decorate it right now? Sit and stare? Watch the visitors say stupid stuff? I wish there was like a city kinda. Maybe sorta like animal jam! I also wish you could get little pets. I know there’s a dog in a bed and it has food and stuff but here’s the thang, it doesn’t move. I want a moving pet. I also want where people interact with stuff. On the ads it looks like people can like sit in chairs and stuff, it doesn’t do that at least for me. But other than that I like the game allot! Bye bye!

by Super Mario Bros

As a person who loves interior and home design, this game was really enjoyable and easy to use. It also had a more chill feel than some of the other home design 'games' on HomeDesignStory store. Getting gems and waiting for furniture are probably the 2 biggest complaints for the game. I'm on level 20 and so far I really like the game. Unfortunately you have to wait until around level 9 or 10 to get decent looking furniture for your house unless your fine with peach walls and snot green couches. Some rooms and furniture are a little pricey, but if you wait a certain amount of time your able to get coins without doing anything which makes the game more convenient. Overall I do enjoy the game a lot and I would recommend downloading it.

by Julia Ceaser

Hello! Marvelous game. The only downsides? Bullies, swearing, and inappropriate language. Other than that, it’s a great way to get to know people! It was a WAY better game a few years ago. The world has changed. Could you possible make a way to photograph your house without the heads up display (HUD) getting in the way. Thank you developers!
The good side: There are many ways to get gems including people leaving sparkles, completing jobs, and selling items! I’ve saved up coins and gems for a month and now have 500 gems and 1,000,000 coins! There are way less items that cost gems which I really appreciate. You did an awesome job developing this game. Maybe make a way we can take a photograph of our house without getting the HUD in the way.😊

by Adrenalineangel

This game is pretty cool, some people say that the update or whatever does not let there builds transfer for downloading HomeDesignStory again. I have not had any problems with that, and I'm actually glad that it transfers because I built a lot of things and I broke my phone, it did not work anymore and Apple could not fix it. I'm so glad when I got a new phone that I realized data transfers. One problem, gems are way to hard to get, you can only buy them with real money (or at least I think) and things are way to expensive with gems. The pink couch is like 2k and the orange couch is like 46 gems! What if I don't like the color pink? I have to save up lots of gems. Please fix the prices, some things are just to much. Thank you for the wonderful game, but you should probably find a way to send private messages to your neighbors, not worldwide or public. Thank you for HomeDesignStory and all your good work!😘🏘👩🏻‍💻

by Jbhibb

I honestly LOVE this game. I’ve gotten so addicted to it, there’s barely any ads, and it’s the one home design game that is wonderful for me. A lot of other home designing games require you to play mini games in order to get furniture. I don’t mind that, but i’d prefer a game where you can earn money fast and spend it on furniture that you can rearrange. (Most games just have a specific place where you are aloud to put furniture.) Anyways, the game itself is what i’ve always wanted from a home design game. Although, as phones get old, it would be nice if i could carry HomeDesignStory from phone to phone. Which i can! But i can’t log back in to my original account. I find that very frustrating. Because my first home, i loved. I got up to a very high level. And now, I have to restart and work my way up again from level 1. So please consider changing that. Besides that one dislike, the game is amazing! I definitely recommend downloading it :)

by 42357424853

This is a fun app that allows even the least creative amongst us (like me) to construct a unique home. There are plenty of decorations to choose with several ways to earn coins relatively quickly. Some people complain about the wait times, but it is an effective way to avoid spending too much time on the game. That being said, my major criticism has to do with its in app purchases. If you want to speed up time or purchase some of the more interesting furniture, you need to pay in gems, which are remarkably difficult to get. The demographic for this game seems to be 10-12 year old kids, so making gems so expensive seems like a poor decision on the creator's part. I'd make in app purchases if they weren't so overpriced. Otherwise, it's a great app.

by Aquarius Potato

The suggestion is at the end of the paragraph, but still please read the whole thing.

I honestly like HomeDesignStory, so I had it a couple times, but every time I get a new phone or iPad I have to make a new account and I had an iPhone 6s and had this amazing account named UnicornHouse92 then I got my XR and I wanted that account back because I got up to level 41 and I had a perfect home. My mom also had an account, and she reached to level 30. Then she got the Xs Max. So we wanted our same accounts then realized that you couldn’t log in. A year or two before that my mom had an account where she reached level 70 or 80 something, and it was amazing then she got the iPhone 7 and gave me her old phone. We wanted her old account to be on my phone so that I could play, because after a while I kind of took over her game and she was working so she had no use of it. And it of course didn’t work, so I’m asking the creators, please make a button in the game where you can log back in and your game could save automatically on ur iCloud. Like on the KK game. Could you guys please do that because it’s really a great game and I think a lot of people would love to get their old accounts back!

-AP

by Miaabug26

Okay. So I seriously hope you read this review. Its quite funny actually bc before I wrote this review, I just really wanted to see when was the last update and I am writing this review exactly a year HomeDesignStory was last updated. I REALLY REALLY LOVE THIS GAME. I'm on level 31 but I really wish u give HomeDesignStory an update. I wish there was an easier way to communicate/add neighbors. And also please add a lot more furniture. This is the only game app I haven't deleted cause I really love this! Wish we can move the door and the main room. And wish we can have challenges where we can earn gems (cause they're really hard to earn) Please have an update! HomeDesignStory is really great! More power to the team! Happy holidays!

by 2 Army Sons

I loved this game up until I stopped getting new furniture options. Around level 73 is when I started realizing other homes have furniture that I don’t have. I would buy gems (a lot of money which was my choice) to make a “dream house” and I just now moved to level 93 and no new furniture. 20 levels and nothing new. I love this game but if I can’t unlock new furniture then why play? I have changed furniture and moved furniture and now it’s boring. I see there’s an onyx bedroom set that says I need to unlock and in 20 levels I still can’t get it. People at much lower levels have treadmills but I don’t have that as an option to purchase. Wish this would be fixed.

by ɛѵɪɛ

It is a good game I am obsessed but one thing that is annoying is how I want my old account as a neighbor but I don’t remember the ID so it would be nice if you can make something where you can search a name and names that are close to it come up so you can fine people easy. I have tried to do the ID many times I just don’t remember the numbers at the end it is a little annoying how I can NEVER get the ID right so please do something like an update to do it. You don’t even know how frustrated I am when I really just want to go to my old place I also look in the community a lot to try to find it I try on other peoples walls to try to find my other account but I NEVER HAVE SO PLEASE MAKE THIS UPDATE. It would mean so much to me if I could fine my old account please 😔

by Caamich

What I like best about this game is when your neighbors ask for gifts, you can give them what they need without spending your money or taking from your own inventory. So, every time you open the game, the first thing you have to do is go through a list of gifts your neighbors have given you, neighbor requests, and gift requests. And, you know, it's always fun to design stuff to your liking. Ways to make money fast: place lots of rugs around your house, and click on the smallest coin earner while you’re working in the game. Once you leave the game, of course, choose a big coin earner. Keep returning to collect coins from things people have liked. Also, don't forget to visit your neighbors for 20-60 coins each daily visit, and everything you like in their house gives them money, too! :)

by 🍪😛🍪😛🍪😛🍪😛🍪😛

This game is pretty cool, some people say that the update or whatever does not let there builds transfer for downloading HomeDesignStory again. I have not had any problems with that, and I'm actually glad that it transfers because I built a lot of things and I broke my phone, it did not work anymore and Apple could not fix it. I'm so glad when I got a new phone that I realized data transfers. One problem, gems are way to hard to get, you can only buy them with real money (or at least I think) and things are way to expensive with gems. The pink couch is like 2k and the orange couch is like 46 gems! What if I don't like the color pink? I have to save up lots of gems. Please fix the prices, some things are just to much. Thank you for the wonderful game, but you should probably find a way to send private messages to your neighbors, not worldwide or public. Thank you for HomeDesignStory and all your good work!😘🏘👩🏻‍💻

by You Don't Want This Sent!

I love this game; been playing for at least 4 years. The past couple years have been disappointing due to the lack of new items to buy. The last update finally came about a year ago maybe. I was excited to be able to expand my ‘home’ & to see a bunch of new items! I THOUGHT it was going to be an ongoing thing again but it was very hard to qualify to purchase the new items - I never did figure out what it took to open a lot of the new items. Anyways, there hasn’t been any more updates since. Very disappointing. For the first couple years of playing, I’d give a 5 star rating; for the last couple years, I’d give a 2 star rating simply due to the lack of new items.