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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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Is it worth paying for

TerraGenesis

65
Value score / 100 Worth paying? Depends It depends

TerraGenesis offers an engaging, high-quality simulation experience for free, but recent updates and persistent bugs, especially crashes, diminish its value, particularly for those considering in-app purchases.

Free + in-app purchases seen up to $19.99 4.6★ lifetime (32,571) since 2016

TerraGenesis is a highly immersive and well-built planet terraforming simulator that many users find endlessly playable for free R18R45. However, recent updates have introduced a 'cash grab' feel with loot boxes and pay-to-win weekly challenges, while persistent crashing issues and unaddressed bugs frustrate players, even those who have spent money R1R2R9R11.

Free vs paid

The free version of TerraGenesis provides a complete and engaging simulation game that many users find highly enjoyable and endlessly playable without needing to spend money R4R18R45. It allows players to colonize planets and explore solar systems, offering a challenging or casual experience R8. However, recent updates have introduced a loot box system and weekly challenges that are described as 'pay to win' and not cheap, pushing players towards in-app purchases R1R9. Some users also report that watching ads for in-game bonuses can lead to app crashes, and even after watching, the reward might not be granted R3R26R38. There are also complaints about accidental purchases not being refunded R34.

Value complaints

  • The game has become a 'cash grab' with a new loot box system, which is the only new feature added in years.R1
  • Weekly challenges are 'pay to win' and expensive.R9
  • The game crashes frequently, especially during ads, and sometimes rewards for watching ads are not granted.R3R26R38
  • Accidental in-app purchases are not refunded, even when requested immediately.R34
  • Players feel forced to pay to progress.R23
  • The game constantly bombards users with requests to watch ads for minimal in-game benefits.R40

Where it delivers

  • It is a high-quality, smart, and satisfying game with an interesting concept.R6R18R22
  • The game is endlessly playable and feels like a premium PC game, even without paying.R18R45
  • It offers an immersive and fun experience for strategy and world-building enthusiasts.R8R24R44
  • The game is easy to start and offers the right level of difficulty for casual players.R13
  • It is considered one of the only free mobile games of its kind.R4
Worth paying if

You are deeply invested in the game and want to progress faster in weekly challenges, despite the pay-to-win nature R9.

Skip / stay free if

You are sensitive to frequent crashes, especially after spending money, or if you dislike games that push for in-app purchases through loot boxes and pay-to-win mechanics R1R2R9R26. You should also skip if you expect content updates, as some users feel little has been added over the years R40.

Evidence note: Reviews are somewhat polarized, with many older reviews praising the free experience and newer ones highlighting issues with monetization and bugs. The lifetime rating of 4.62 suggests a generally positive reception, but recent negative reviews about crashes and monetization are significant.

Frequently asked

Is TerraGenesis a pay-to-win game?
Some users report that weekly challenges in TerraGenesis are 'pay to win' and expensive, indicating that paying can provide an advantage R9. Additionally, a long-time player noted the addition of a loot box system, describing the game as a 'cash grab' R1.
Does TerraGenesis have many bugs or crashing issues?
Yes, many users report frequent crashing, lagging, and freezing issues across various devices, including the iPad Pro 2020 R2R11R12R26. These crashes often occur during ads, sometimes preventing players from receiving rewards R3R26R38.
Is TerraGenesis still being updated with new content?
While the game has added a loot box system, some long-time players feel that little new content has been added over the years R1R40.
Is TerraGenesis fun to play for free?
Many users find TerraGenesis to be an amazing, high-quality, and endlessly playable game even for free, with some comparing it to a $60 PC game R4R6R8R18.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 50 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R1] 1/5 · CA Played years ago, very different then now.: A few years ago I would play this game daily, it was my favourite mobile game. Now it’s just another disgusting cash grab, and the only new feature they have added in years is a loot box system.
  2. [R9] 2/5 · CA Almost good: The game is nice but the weekly challenges are absolutely PAY TO WIN and it’s not cheap!
  3. [R3] 1/5 · CA Bug: Regarder des publicités n’active pas la récompense permise
  4. [R26] 2/5 · CA Crashes and drains battery: The app constantly crashes, especially during ads, and the ads keep getting more numerous and long. Often, if I agree to watch an ad, the app crashes and I don't even get the reward associated. Moreover, this app destroyed my phone's battery. Not only do it drain my battery really quickly, now my battery also drains faster on its own (like it's been worn down by the
  5. [R38] 3/5 · CA Love and frustration: I love the game and how it plays, but it crashes constantly. Even when the ads are presented, which you have the option of declining, but watching the ads can give some great little bonuses. Fix the crashing and this is a 5 star game for me.
  6. [R34] 1/5 · CA No refunds granted.: Be very careful when playing this game. I accidentally purchased the wrong planet pack and requested a refund a few minutes later - the very same day. They denied my request even though I explained it to them that I meant to buy a different planet pack.
  7. [R23] 5/5 · CA End pay to win: Hate that I need to pay to go forward
  8. [R40] 1/5 · CA Used to be a great game.....: I played this back in the day when it was a recent release. Yes, there were ads and in-app purchases, but not so much to detract from the game. Now you’re constantly getting bombarded with requests to watch ads for a minimal in-game benefit. If you do watch the ad sometimes it closes the app and opens up the App Store. And over the years there hasn’t been much add
  9. [R6] 5/5 · CA Amazing, frustrating game: This game is absolutely amazing. Very high quality, smart gameplay, and satisfying. The concepts can be pretty complicated and hard to learn at times, but the developer explains things and makes information easily accessible to flatten the learning curve. I ultimately deleted it because something I had done destroyed all my terraforming efforts, and if you forget to paus
  10. [R18] 5/5 · CA Suspiciously good?!: Just got this and it feels like something I’d pay $60 for on Steam. Keep waiting for the unreasonable paywall but nope, just endlessly playable. Highly recommended!!!
  11. [R22] 5/5 · CA Interesting concept: I’m hook~
  12. [R45] 5/5 · CA Good game: The game is really well built and doesn’t give you random adds. It’s really addicting and a lot of fun
  13. [R8] 5/5 · CA Epic: This is a great game . It accepts both sides of the controversy and let’s you colonize planets, even in other solar systems! Overall I think it is fun if you want a challenge, or just a casual way to see what you can do to Make habitable (or destroy them, idc) . I reccomend
  14. [R24] 4/5 · CA Incredible and Immersive: Love this game, just hoping they will remaster how your planet looks; more crisp, better texture and really well detailed.
  15. [R44] 2/5 · CA Frustrated: Is this game fun for people who like strategy and world building? Yes. However once I got really into it, it glitched and deleted everyone on me, hours of investment. I’m very frustrated and wouldn’t recommend the experience to anyone else.
  16. [R13] 5/5 · CA Great fun: Easy to start and the right level of difficulty for a casual player. Recommended
  17. [R4] 5/5 · CA Incredible: The only free mobile game of its kind. Absolutely got me hooked.
  18. [R2] 1/5 · CA Spent over 50 on this and now it crashes on open: I demand a refund
  19. [R11] 4/5 · CA Fun, not that much: I like this game, but can’t you do an update of bug fixes, so I keep playing. My people keep abandoning cities, and I have no idea why. And my game keeps lagging, freezing, and/or crashing, and it’s the same as the other one. Can you fix that please?
  20. [R12] 2/5 · CA I HATE STAR SCREEN OF DEATH: DEVS PLEASE FIX BUG NOW

Synthesized from 50 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store