Screw Out 3D: Nut Sort Jam

Update. Following the dev reply, I’ve redownloaded the game and the issue has been resolved. Ads are there, which are completely fine and are not intrusive, but what the original problem of the bottom banner ads constantly opening full screen without being tapped does appear to have been fixed. I’ve changed my rating from 3 to 5 stars because of the fix and that it really is a fun and challenging game to play. The game WAS fun to play. I can deal with games with ads, that’s no problem. But when the game gives full screen ads that block the game play and consistently does this every 3 seconds from the bottom banner ad. Then it’s not fun and annoying to “try” to play.

As a kid, I always took everything apart, which makes this fun, taking it apart in layers and not to keep track of the screws! 5 stars. BUT… testing the app, you start with 2 boxes that hold 3 screws, to open up 2 extra boxes @ 3 minutes of ads each box, plus a minute of ads after each level. Even if you pay gold for extra boxes, you lose them after each level! During these 7 min per level, an add pops up flashing, telling you, you need to upgrade, but it’s a different app tricking you to download their game. It’s happened to me with a different app, I upgraded 4 similar apps, and now I can never test them because they have game play. So for 45 levels, add 5 hrs to regular gameplay clearing the levels. It’s a design flaw in development. If I’m going to be forced to put money on the game, I’m not going to do it for something I have to pay for again, at every level, if needed. It’s a nicely made game, spinning the object is smooth, if you’re looking to kill time, this app is a time killer.

As fun as this game can be, it’s clearly designed to push players into buying coins or boosters, even if that means unfairly cutting a game short. What’s the point of having five “free bolt spaces” if you can’t actually use all five? On multiple occasions, I’ve tried to take advantage of those spaces only to be told I’ve failed the level, despite still having two or more moves left. The moment you “fail,” the game immediately pressures you to spend your remaining coins or real money just to continue. It feels less like a challenge and more like a setup. I know I’m probably shouting into the void, but I’m exhausted by how greedy mobile games have become. I just want to play something that’s satisfying and fair, without being nickel-and-dimed at every turn. I understand that free games rely on ads and in-app purchases to make money, but why does it have to come at the expense of honest gameplay? Why can’t developers just let players pay once and actually own the game, the way things used to be?