Hay Day alternatives

Hay Day players often seek alternatives due to persistent bugs, frustrating monetization, and a desire for different gameplay experiences. Many users report issues with loading, app crashes, and unresponsive features, while others are tired of the game's push for in-app purchases and the slow pace of progression. Alternatives offer varied experiences from puzzle-solving to strategy and base-building.

Why users look for alternatives to Hay Day

Many users experience critical technical issues like the game getting stuck on the loading screen, app crashes, or not opening at all, making it unplayable.^R2^R9^R13^R15
Players are frustrated with the game's monetization, citing overpriced items, difficulty getting diamonds, and a feeling that the game has become a "cashgrab".^R10^R11^R12^R27
Some updates have introduced unwanted changes, such as new animations causing motion sickness, altered designs for game elements, and connectivity issues.^R1^R6^R24
Users are annoyed by the prevalence of mining tools and ore in the newspaper, making it difficult to find other items, and desire better filtering options.^R4^R38^R40^R48
Players desire more control over their farms, such as the ability to move entire designs, resell accidentally purchased items, or have easier ways to get expansion tools and affordable decorations.^R8^R42^R48
The game is criticized for slow progression, with machines and animals being too expensive, items taking too long to make (e.g., 14 hours), and the amount increasing when buying multiple items.^R36^R45

The alternatives

Candy Crush Saga

4.7★ · 3,957,126 ratings · Free

Candy Crush Saga offers an addictive puzzle experience with many levels and satisfying gameplay, making it easy to pick up for short bursts or longer sessions ^R55. It features good character design and can be a pleasant way to pass the time ^R53.

Better for: Players who enjoy puzzle games and want a quick, engaging experience to pass the time, especially if they are looking for a game with good character design ^R53^R55. It suits those who don't mind frequent pop-up ads and promotional offers, or who are willing to navigate them to enjoy the core gameplay ^R55^R56^R57^R59.

Head-to-head: Hay Day vs Candy Crush Saga

Clash of Clans

4.8★ · 2,762,645 ratings · Free

Clash of Clans is a long-running, generational game that many users return to, offering a relaxing experience with plenty of things to do ^R66^R69^R76. It is considered by some to be the "best game ever made" ^R76.

Better for: Players who enjoy strategic base-building and combat, and who appreciate a game with a long history and a strong community ^R66^R76. It's suitable for those who find the game relaxing and engaging over many years ^R69^R76.

Head-to-head: Hay Day vs Clash of Clans

Township

4.8★ · 2,154,434 ratings · Free

Township provides an addictive experience with a mix of puzzles and challenges that are constantly changing, keeping the game interesting ^R80. It also offers a community aspect where players can share and help each other ^R80.

Better for: Players who enjoy a blend of city-building, farming, and puzzle elements, and who value a game with a social component ^R80. It's for those who appreciate evolving challenges and don't mind potential in-app purchases as they progress ^R80^R84^R87.

Head-to-head: Hay Day vs Township

Plants vs. Zombies™

4.8★ · 917,391 ratings · Free

Plants vs. Zombies™ is a classic and highly addictive game that many users have played for years, with some calling it "amazing" and "peak" ^R94^R97^R100^R104. It's known for being very fun and engaging ^R94^R104.

Better for: Players who enjoy tower defense games with a unique theme and engaging gameplay ^R94^R104. It's a good choice for those who have fond memories of the original game and are looking for a fun, addictive experience, even if it means dealing with frequent ads ^R94^R100^R104.

Head-to-head: Hay Day vs Plants vs. Zombies™

Egg

4.8★ · 558,555 ratings · Free

Egg, Inc. is described as a great time killer and a very fun, engaging game that keeps players interested ^R109^R112. Users find it simple yet complex, and enjoyable for years ^R109^R112. It's compared to a Roblox tycoon with cute, upgradable chickens ^R113.

Better for: Players who enjoy idle clicker games or tycoon-style progression with a focus on upgrading and managing resources ^R107^R109^R113. It suits those looking for a game that can be played on the go and offers a balance of simplicity and depth ^R109^R112.

Head-to-head: Hay Day vs Egg

Stick with Hay Day if

You should stick with Hay Day if you enjoy its core farming and design challenges, find it relaxing, and are not significantly impacted by the reported bugs or monetization issues ^R11. It's also a good choice if you appreciate a game with no ads for basic gameplay and a strong community aspect ^R11.

Evidence note: No alternative had too few reviews to judge.

Frequently asked

Why do Hay Day players look for alternatives?

Hay Day players often seek alternatives due to persistent technical issues like loading screen freezes and app crashes, frustration with aggressive monetization and expensive in-game items, and dissatisfaction with recent updates that introduced unwanted design changes or connectivity problems ^R2^R6^R10^R13.

Does Candy Crush Saga have many ads?

Yes, Candy Crush Saga is frequently criticized for having constant pop-up ads and promotional offers, with some users reporting that ads appear every time they finish a level, open the game, or return to the main screen, sometimes even freezing the app ^R55^R56^R57^R59.

Is Township like its advertisements?

No, Township is often noted by players as being "nothing like the demo" or "not at all like the advertisements" ^R79^R82^R84^R87.

Are there issues with Plants vs. Zombies™ on iOS?

Yes, some Plants vs. Zombies™ players on iOS report that the game will crash if they get an ad, forcing them to play with Wi-Fi off to avoid interruptions ^R95.

Is Egg, Inc. a complex game?

Egg, Inc. is described as a game that can be as simple or as complex as a player wants it to be, offering depth through upgrades and management while remaining accessible ^R109.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 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.

[R2] Hay Day 5/5 · US Freeze Loading the game: Hi The game not playing on my phone (iPhone 8) and my daughter’s phone (iPhone 16). Loading the game stop in half of its run
[R9] Hay Day 3/5 · US My game won’t open: I’ve been trying since yesterday to open my game but it continues to say loading
[R13] Hay Day 1/5 · US Why: My game is stuck at the loading screen….💔💔
[R15] Hay Day 3/5 · US App crashes: It crashes since yesterday, tries to restart my iPhone no luck
[R10] Hay Day 1/5 · US I really hate that I ever invested in this game: Used to be more, this is just what it is now. Soon I will give up and move along. Just a cashgrab now
[R11] Hay Day 5/5 · US Andi’s farm: LOVE the game❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ I have been playing with my cousins brother and friends since like 2019 and I love it. The best thing NO ADS!!!!! I just wish it was easier to get diamonds, other wise I think you should get it. And it’s great for all ages and easy to play!!!!
[R12] Hay Day 3/5 · US Coin purchases: I have been playing Hay Day on and off for several years and I always quit playing because of the same thing. I have more than 8 million in game coins which I would gladly spend on game play, like buying saws and axes to chop down all of my dead trees. I do purchase the special offers so I am not apposed to spending money on the game but this doesn’t fix the dead tree problem on ev
[R27] Hay Day 3/5 · GB Been playing for years but…: Recently I’ve been having issues with buying diamonds and Hay Day is saying it’s an Apple issue despite being able to buy boosts on other apps no problem. I’ve asked for help and keep getting the run around and it’s ruining my enjoyment of the game. I’ve done all the updates and check all my settings so I don’t understand the problem!
[R1] Hay Day 1/5 · US Overwhelming Update: I have been playing this game since 2013 but the recent update might be the end of my journey. I get very motion sick and the new animations may kill my heyday enjoyment. With each event having its own icon and taking you to a new page when you click it, its feels like i’m constantly being dragged across the farm. The neighborhood nurture event that rushes across the screen is
[R6] Hay Day 3/5 · US Updates: I wish I would stop with the unnecessary updates. I’ve had the game 10+ years and I do like it, but I don’t know why the design for things have to change so much. Like why change the design for the orders board and why change how the boat works. Lecture add more buildings for us to buy, but I don’t know why the design has changed. I also wish the bushes that are supposed to attract butter
[R24] Hay Day 3/5 · US Connectivity issues: Love the event going on right now and love the song, but can you PLEASE fix the connectivity issues? I was just dealing with this a month ago and now it’s back doing the same thing again. Great game but when those connectivity issues start happening then it makes you not even want to play the game for a long while
[R4] Hay Day 2/5 · US Unplayable after you unlock the mine people fill the news paper with pre and that’s all you ever see: Not cool and not fun booo. Do something about the ore in the news paper
[R38] Hay Day 5/5 · US More than just farming: I’ve been playing for a very long time and the game just keeps getting better. The design challenges are fun and really brings out your creative side. One thing that really needs to be addressed is that the only thing people sell in the marketplace are metal ores. The gift shop in town needs to require more jewelry and perhaps you could make boat orders include jewelry. Som
[R40] Hay Day 1/5 · US Mining Tools and Newspaper: I BEG YOU Please STOP giving shovels, picks and dynamite for rewards constantly.
[R48] Hay Day 1/5 · US Newspaper: Can you PLEASE allow us to filter out the newspaper so we can get the option to have less ore ? And can we please have more affordable decorations with coins and more land space and more easier ways to get expansion tools. Please !!? Thank you !!!
[R8] Hay Day 5/5 · US PLEASE ADD!: Pretty please add an option to move entire designs from farm around!!! Also if we could add previous designs we have made directly onto my farm from the design book that would be great 😍 ps: this is my favorite game ever!!! 🫶🏽
[R42] Hay Day 3/5 · GB It’s good but could be improved: I have played the game for years now but one thing i dislike is the fact that when i buy items i can’t resell them.I accidentally bought a dog house in which i didn’t want and now i have to put up with it on my farm.Hopefully,this can be improved and there is a way to sell these items.Thanks
[R36] Hay Day 3/5 · GB Search option in the daily dirt: It’s a good game but there are some factors that can be fixed One -Machines, and animals are way too expensive. I have to save up through three levels in order to afford one machine and why is a pig or goat over 2000 gold coins. Two - why does the amount increase when you buy multiple items,it’s already expensive enough Three - it takes too long for something to be
[R45] Hay Day 3/5 · GB I wish everything didn’t take so long to make: Like some things are about 14 hours!…
[R53] Candy Crush Saga 3/5 · US El stinky but good.: Very nice character design , good to pass time, but I will always hate the constant push for micro transactions and paywalls- “watch an ad to replay!” Its annoying it’s a shame that candy crush has succumbed to this level too
[R55] Candy Crush Saga 5/5 · US So you mf will stop asking me: Candy Crush is still a fun and addictive puzzle game with plenty of levels and satisfying gameplay. It’s easy to pick up and play for a few minutes or get lost in for much longer. The biggest downside is the constant pop-up ads and promotional offers. It feels like every time you finish a level, open the game, or return to the main screen, you’re hit with another of
[R56] Candy Crush Saga 3/5 · US Too many ads: Said it all in the title
[R57] Candy Crush Saga 1/5 · US Ads: I am ready to cancel this game! Stop the long and stupid ads. I don’t want anything that you are advertising! They freeze up my iPad, and don’t give me my boosts!!!
[R66] Clash of Clans 5/5 · US Generational Game: i always pick ts back up
[R69] Clash of Clans 5/5 · US Great game to relax by.: I love this game!
[R76] Clash of Clans 5/5 · US Clash🥹: No words. Best game ever made…🥹🥹🥹
[R80] Township 5/5 · US Addictive!!: This has a wee bit of everything. Puzzles & challenges are fun and always changing which keeps things interesting. Plus the community aspect is nice if you find a group that shares and helps often. Overall I can’t stop playing.
[R84] Township 3/5 · US Good: My scale of W.O.A.H W=WOAH O=Okay A=And where’s the rest of it H=Horrible I would rate this game an O .This game is nothing like the adds but it is fun. You may end up spending money on this game as time goes on.
[R87] Township 3/5 · US Not as advertised: OK, so I have been playing this game for years, but when I see the advertisement for it in Duolingo or other places, the actual game is not at all like the advertisements. It’s not a bad game. I do enjoy it, but once you get to the higher levels, you have to pay money and order to pass the level. Once you pay money, the next time you play the level you surprisingly pass even t
[R94] Plants vs. Zombies™ 5/5 · US I like the game: This game made me happy and my head liked it so I like it
[R97] Plants vs. Zombies™ 5/5 · US Peak: Boboclat
[R100] Plants vs. Zombies™ 5/5 · US 10/10 og game: Iv been playing this since 2016
[R104] Plants vs. Zombies™ 5/5 · US Best game I’ve played😎🤩: This is the best game I’ve played!!! I love this game and im addicted very fun game and i recommend it
[R107] Egg 5/5 · US Title: Not a bad clicker · translated
[R109] Egg 5/5 · US Egg, Inc.: Great game had it for years, it’s as simple or complex as you want it to be. 100% recommend for anyone who lives on the go.
[R112] Egg 5/5 · US Great time killer: Love it, been playing for years now
[R113] Egg 5/5 · US SO FUN: This game is so fun, it’s like a Roblox tycoon but with cute chickens you can dress up, and you can upgrade everything, very fun to play whenever!!!
[R59] Candy Crush Saga 3/5 · US Advertisement: Please, please remove the advertisements that can not be closed off of the screen. I need to constantly get out of the app then get back in. Ridiculous.
[R79] Township 1/5 · US Fake: Nothing like the demo.
[R82] Township 1/5 · US BAD!!!!!🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬: SOOOOOO MUCH ADSSSSS🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡🤬😡😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤😤🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬😡😡🤬😡😤😤😤🤬🤬😡😠😠😤😤😠😠😤🤬😡😡🤬🤬😤😤😠😠😤😤😤🤬😡😡🤬😤😤😠😠😤😠😠😤😠😤🤬🤬😡😡🤬😤😤😠😤🤬🤬😡😡🤬😤😤😠😠😠😤😤🤬😡😡🤬😤🤬😡😡🤬🤬😤😤😠(also the ads are waaaaaay different from the actual game)🤬😡🤬😡🤬😤😠😠😤😤🤬🤬😡😡🤬😤😤😠😠😤😤🤬😡😡🤬😤😠😠😤😤🤬😡😡🤬🤬😤😤😠😠😤😤🤬😡l hate this game so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so so
[R95] Plants vs. Zombies™ 3/5 · US Ads crashing game: PvZ is a good game but the ads are too much I understand this is how games make their money but if you play on IOS your forced to play with the WiFi off because your game will crash if you get an add and the fact the you need to watch ads if you want to have all your lawn mowers is crazy

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store