Bad
Temporal Dark Patterns
This game has 19 reported Temporal Dark Patterns. There are 9 votes indicating the absence of a dark pattern.
4 votes
4 votes
4 votes
3 votes
1 votes
2 votes
2 votes
Playing by Appointment
-
Being forced to play according to the game's schedule instead of yours.
2 / 2 votes
1 votes
3 votes
1 votes
3 votes
Monetary Dark Patterns
This game has 28 reported Monetary Dark Patterns. There are 16 votes indicating the absence of a dark pattern.
4 votes
Premium Currency
-
Exchange rate between real money and in-game currency disguises the real price of items.
4 / 0 votes
4 votes
4 votes
4 votes
3 votes
1 votes
Pay to Win
-
A player can spend real money to purchase something that gives them an advantage in the game.
3 / 1 votes
3 votes
1 votes
Accidental Purchases
-
Making it easy to accidentally spend money with no confirmation or ability to undo or refund the action.
3 / 1 votes
3 votes
1 votes
Anchoring Tricks
-
Placing a cheap item next to an expensive item to make it look more affordable.
3 / 1 votes
1 votes
3 votes
Recurring Fee
-
Encourages players to play as much as possible to get their money's worth.
1 / 3 votes
1 votes
3 votes
1 votes
3 votes
Waste Aversion
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Capped inventory forces you to destroy items or upgrade inventory. Also, having small amounts of left over premium currency.
1 / 3 votes
4 votes
Social Dark Patterns
This game has 6 reported Social Dark Patterns. There are 22 votes indicating the absence of a dark pattern.
2 votes
2 votes
Social Pyramid Scheme
-
You get a bonus for inviting your friends and then they have to invite their friends.
2 / 2 votes
2 votes
2 votes
Social Obligation / Guilds
-
To avoid letting down your friends, you are obligated to play when you don't want to.
2 / 2 votes
2 votes
2 votes
Fear of Missing Out
-
If you stop playing you'll miss out on something or be left behind and unable to catch up.
2 / 2 votes
4 votes
Friend Spam / Impersonation
-
The game sends spam to your contact list or social media account.
0 / 4 votes
4 votes
4 votes
Encourages Anti-Social Behavior
-
The game incentivizes players to lie, cheat, or backstab other players to get ahead.
0 / 4 votes
4 votes
Psychological Dark Patterns
This game has 19 reported Psychological Dark Patterns. There are 9 votes indicating the absence of a dark pattern.
4 votes
Invested / Endowed Value
-
Having already spent time and money to improve your status in the game, it's difficult to throw it away.
4 / 0 votes
4 votes
Complete the Collection
-
The urge to collect all the items, achievements or secrets in a game.
4 / 0 votes
4 votes
Variable Rewards
-
Unpredictable or random rewards are more addictive than a predictable schedule.
4 / 0 votes
2 votes
2 votes
Illusion of Control
-
The game cheats or hides information to make you think you're better than you actually are.
2 / 2 votes
2 votes
2 votes
Aesthetic Manipulations
-
Trick questions or toying with emotions or our subconscious desires.
2 / 2 votes
2 votes
2 votes
Optimism and Frequency Biases
-
Overestimating the frequency of something because we’ve seen it recently or memorably.
2 / 2 votes
1 votes
3 votes
Badges / Endowed Progress
-
Reluctancy to abandon a partially completed goal, even one forced upon the player.
1 / 3 votes
App Store Ratings
| iOS: | (4.50) with 347,205 votes. |
| Google Play: | (4.35) with 647,181 votes. |
Recent Dark Pattern Reviews
Grinding reported on Sep 21, 2023
gameplay is entirely about starting timers and waiting for them to end to progress
Pay to Win reported on Sep 21, 2023
characters that are purchased with premium currency almost always earn 50% more money/exp, and premium decorations/buildings give a small multiplier to all money earned
Social Pyramid Scheme reported on Sep 21, 2023
adding friends is a mandatory quest, and interacting with friends enough times earns you exclusive rewards.
Social Obligation / Guilds reported on Sep 21, 2023
very slight feelings of obligation; the social interaction is extremely minimal and simple ("visit" somebodys town and leave a small bonus reward for them), but still notable enough to feel as if it matters.
Wait To Play reported on Sep 21, 2023
every single aspect of gameplay revolves around in-game timers and waiting for extended periods of time
Gambling / Loot Boxes reported on Sep 21, 2023
"mystery boxes" are purchased with premium currency,
Variable Rewards reported on Sep 21, 2023
very rarely will a quest line have a non-standard reward such as premium currency or the unlocking of a certain mechanic with no previous indication whatsoever.
Fear of Missing Out reported on Sep 21, 2023
events with exclusive rewards happen every month with a tight window to fully complete them, and require checking back in several times a day to efficiently complete.
Daily Rewards reported on Oct 22, 2022
Daily tasks for in-game currency
Grinding reported on Oct 22, 2022
Collecting money and XP
Report a Dark Pattern
THIS GAME IS LIFE-RUININGLY FUN!From the writers of The Simpsons, comes the city building game that lets you create your own living, breathing Springfield! When Homer accidently causes a meltdown that wipes out Springfield, it’s up to you to clean up his mess… we mean, help him rebuild it!
Collect Your Favorite Characters
Help reunite Homer with his loved ones - Marge, Lisa, Maggie (and even sometimes Bart) – as well as his not so loved ones, like Ned Flanders. Re-populate Springfield with your favorite characters, from Barflies (Barney Gumble) to Wise Guys (Fat Tony). Add them all, we won’t judge! Dress your characters to the nines with options like Daredevil Bart or Lizard Queen Lisa, and relive scenes from your favorite episodes of The Simpsons!
Take Charge of Your Springfield
Can’t control your own life? Now you can control the lives of the citizens of Springfield instead! Make Apu work ridiculously long shifts at the Kwik-E-Mart, have Moe smuggle illegal animals, or make Homer toil poolside all day… that last one might not be so bad.
Build Your Own Springfield
Think Homer deserves to live next door to Moe’s? Or the monorail can survive a few more sharp twists and turns? Or 40% fewer health inspectors? Well you can finally make Springfield just the way you want it! Expand your town to the Waterfront, grow its businesses with the glamourous shops of Springfield Heights, and enjoy its sights, all with only a few taps.
Experience Unique Simpsons Stories
Catch exclusive animated scenes and new hilarious stories from the writers of The Simpsons. You know they’re good because they write for The Simpsons! Tapped Out is the most life-ruiningly fun Simpsons game you can play!
Always Something New for Your Favorite Town
Springfield might perpetually be on the verge of destruction, buy hey, at least it’s never boring. Whether it’s Halloween monster invasions, superheroes run amok, or chaos caused by one of Homer’s “great” ideas, you’ve got never-ending options to tap!
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