Episode
Episode offers engaging, dramatic story-based gameplay with extensive customization, but a pervasive 'pay-to-play' model for desirable choices and outfits, along with frequent technical issues, significantly detracts from the free user experience.
Episode is a popular interactive story game known for its dramatic narratives and character customization. However, recent user reviews highlight significant frustration with the game's monetization, where most desirable choices and features are locked behind expensive gem paywalls, making it difficult to enjoy without spending money. Players also report various technical issues, including connection errors and lost data.
What users like
- Stories are engaging, addictive, and offer diverse genres and plot twists, providing an escape from reality.R3R74R92R82
- Offers extensive character customization, including body types, and supports LGBTQ+ dating options.R53R55R132R153
- Some users appreciate the option to take surveys to earn gems, though this is not consistently reliable.R111R23
- The game generally has good visuals and is well-organized.R8R82
What users complain about
- Nearly all desirable story choices, outfits, and positive outcomes are locked behind expensive gem paywalls, making free play frustrating.R4R7R8R13
- Earning gems for free is extremely slow (e.g., 1 gem per chapter) and insufficient for the high costs of choices (often 19-29 gems), forcing purchases.R6R7R48R77
- Players frequently encounter connection errors, app crashes, and issues with surveys not awarding gems.R5R33R40R51
- The game has become more 'money hungry' over time, with a shift away from community stories and free options.R2R13R17R41
- Some users report inappropriate content, including swearing and sexual themes, which may not align with its age rating.R29R44R47R49
- Community stories, once a highlight, are now harder to access for new/returning players, and some older stories are unfinished or data has been lost.R2R56R59R62
- Repeated ads can softlock the game or are required to continue stories, even after watching them.R10R45R63R70
- Story creation is difficult for those without coding experience.R1
Latest update · v26.93
What the developer says changed (the verdict above weighs this against what reviewers report):
- Small updates and fixes - Thanks for playing Episode!
Recurring themes
Who it's for
Episode is for players who enjoy interactive story games with dramatic narratives and extensive character customization, and who are willing to regularly spend money on in-app purchases to unlock desirable choices and content R4R8R14. It may also appeal to those who enjoy creating their own stories, provided they have some coding knowledge R1.
Evidence note: The evidence for gem paywalls and technical issues is overwhelmingly strong and consistent across a large number of recent reviews. Evidence for inappropriate content and community story issues is present but less frequent.
Frequently asked
Is Episode free to play?
How do you get gems in Episode?
Can you create your own stories in Episode?
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.
- [R3] I love this, but not for beginners: This game is great and the story drama makes it really addicting, but I wish there weren’t so many things behind a paywall. For example, if I want to read the next few episodes, I have to have passes, which cost money. Additionally, if you are looking for more love interest in these stories, you have to pay gems. If I could change one thing about this game, it
- [R74] ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️: episode isn’t just a game to me … it’s an experience. the stories, plot twists, characters, and creativity of the authors make it feel like so much more than a role-playing app. Every story pulls me into a different world and gives me a chance to escape reality for a while. As someone who loves reading, episode has become one of my favorite ways to unwind. the authors are incredibly
- [R92] AMAZING!!!!: I LOVE THIS APP!!!! I have been playing for 3 years now and still am obsessed, honestly the story’s are so fascinating and entertaining. The writers of the app are sooooo talented. I also love how they have different generes, they also give you the opportunity to write your own story. Overall this is an amazing app and would so recommend to other people who love to read, write, and wa
- [R82] Great game: Episode is a great game. It has many great stories to choose from and a great gameplay. It is very organized and addictive! The only thing about this game is as long as you dont mind inappropriate things then this game is very recommended for you. It involves cursing and inappropriate acts throughout the stories. In conclusion it is a highly recommended game if you doing mind these thi
- [R53] It’s good but: Don’t get me wrong it’s a good game but legit ALL the good options are gems and I refuse to spend money on this game so it just gets really annoying and repetitive. This is what I really dislike about this game but you can make your own charwctare and clothes so that’s cool
- [R55] Great game 🏳️🌈: I like that you can be anyone and date anyone irl I am bi so this feels great that I can date a girl in a game without it being weird 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙
- [R132] Good customization options, would like more ways to earn diamonds: There is not an area to give feedback on the app, so I will do it here. I like the body type options a lot of the newer stories offer, would like more eye shape options for the male characters, more mystery and thriller stories, more childfree stories and less pregnancy stories. Zero interest once that shows up in a story, and few
- [R153] Add Femboys: I love episode but we need more body types, hair, and options for people who are femboy’s, I wanna make my character feminine and male, like a softie but I can’t because every option for men are too manly/masculine.
- [R111] such great progress with this game: Ive played this game on and off for a few years, my main problem was the gems, but now they have legit surveys you can take and I have won almost 200 gems from it, I’m so happy they added this feature so you don’t have to pay for anything
- [R23] Nice 👍: It’s really fun and easy to earn gems through surveys but not in the actual game. I wish we could change hair and makeup anytime and add piercings.
- [R8] Hate this game but also love it: Such good choices good visuals but you piss me off! Why assume everyone can buy gems for the game choices I'm st the beach part in don't hate the player I'm AF the role it tells me to let Romana win just because I don't have enough gems!? Get rid of the expensive gem options!
- [R4] The gems: The game can be fun, but only really when you spend gems. I always stop playing because i get tired of not being able to make the stories fun. I wish they could lessen the amount of times you have to use gems, it really does ruin the experience and makes the game feel not worth playing.
- [R7] Good game but bad game: The game is good but I don't like at all that for everything good in a story it has to be with gems, if you are a new player it will be very boring to play. I also hate that the tickets run out to be able to continue the story. It really makes me want to continue playing this game. Improve the gems, at least you can get them quickly and easily, to enjoy the game. Because it
- [R13] Yall fell off: Episode, yall become WAY too money hungry. Like, I can’t even enjoy a single episode/story without having to pay for diamonds just for a decent choice. Like, either throw a drink in your best friend’s face for free or pay 29 diamonds to save your reputation. Like WHAT!? What kind of choice is this!? There was a time we can choose our outfits for FREE and now anything decent looking
- [R6] I love this game but…: I like playing this game because it’s very fun and messy but you can’t really do much because you have no gems and the only way to get them is to buy them or watch an add every like 10 minutes and you don’t even get a lot, people wants to buy new clothes and makes new decisions but can’t really be ur they have no gems
- [R48] GEMS: Very fun and I like all the Choices but you need gems if EVERYTHING cute outfits gem doing something good with your love interest gem so it’s a bit annoying cause you’re only 1 gem each chapter unless you buy with money it’s it like 19 it like get a ghost one but not the Best one and like 35
- [R77] Trash, money hungry game: The game sucks now with the gem choices everyone is so greedy you get one free gem for completing a chapter and every gem choice is like 29 gems so your supposed to use all those gems from 29 chapters on one choice in a stupid story don’t you realize how much it ruins the readers experience to always have trash over dramatic options because you don’t wanna use 1/4 of all
- [R5] Love this game!! but there is a problem: this game has kept my gems away from me. i did a survey and they didnt give me what i was supposed to get the game is fun but i waited long to get my gems just to not actually get them
- [R33] Isn’t working: I love episode very much, and I love playing it and it’s so fun to play even if it is a little diamond obsessed I’ve found very good story’s over the years. So, when I wanted to play pretty little liar’s of course I went to the episode app. But when I did, it said connection error please try again, and gave me a retry button. And every single time I clicked it it kept saying the sam
- [R40] Not working plz read this: This game is really fun but one thing is the gems are way too expensive but the most thing is when I re downloaded it and I was about to play it I tapped into it and it says that the app wasn’t working but it wasn’t my my Wi-Fi cause my Wi-Fi was working great I’ll show you a picture of what was happening please can you fix this this could be a major red flag if it’s no
- [R51] Usually love the game but…: Recently I’ve been trying to play the app but the second I tap its icon, it says there’s a connection error, although any and every other game will work. I’ve deleted then uploaded the app again- same thing. I refreshed and reset my phone but there was no changes. I tried getting the game on both my iPad AND my phone but it said the same thing. It’s making me think thi
- [R2] VIP PACKAGES ARE TERRIBLE: I hate Episode Original stories. Too much gem choices that actually take away from the storyline. What once was built through the community stories, Episode abandoned them which suck since Community Stories will ALWAYS be better than the Episode Original Stories. I don’t like the face that they got rid of just getting tickets separately and having the VIP package that’s
- [R17] Wack game: Back then it used to be free , but now it depends on diamonds just to play or you can’t make any decisions you want , you guys only care about money now . Yall probably lost a lot of fans behind it . Truth be told yall game sucks now .
- [R41] A joke: This game and app are a joke. It’s embarrassing when it as a business you have to have your customer absorb literally 100% of the prices of your business when you’ve been in business for years. Money hungry slobs.
- [R29] The worst: Not good for little kids
- [R44] TERRIBLE for people who get addicted easily.: I keep deleting and reinstalling this app but it’s genuinely bad for my mental health. Sorta like c.ai you can get addicted and develop hypersexualty behavior and habits. Please don’t use episode.
- [R47] It's fine: It's ok but age rating should be a bit older
- [R49] No: Very inappropriate and coat a bunch of money
- [R56] Update made unenjoyable: I used to love this game, wish I still felt the same. Don’t recommend for new players!!! I’ve been playing/reading episode for 4 years. I took a break in between and when I came back it had updated. This updated requires you to unlock 6 stories before you can access community made stories, as well as your profile. This is an option or paying 17 gems to unlock it fully. The
- [R59] Episode Deleted all of my Data: This game was okay. The only thing that really made it worth it was the creator stories because they didn’t cost a ridiculous amount of gems for good choices, except Episode took it upon themselves to delete my account at some point between today and yesterday, and now ten years of data is gone. All of my stories I’ve finished, all of the stories I was still current
- [R62] A long time: I been on here for a long time an I think a lot has changed for one some of the old episode writers need to come back and finish their story.What can you do to bring them back an how can we keep comedy the same an it’s too many mafia stories how can episode be like back in the days when I first started to read.
- [R10] To many ads in there and having to pay for everything definitely not worth it: 0\10 would not recommend To many ads in there and having to pay for everything definitely not worth it
- [R45] Amazing..?: The app has too many ads and it makes you spend gems, what if I don’t have the money to buy more gems?
- [R63] Ads softlock me: I keep trying to watch the ads to enter the story but it forces me to watch the ads over and over again in an endless loop, I have no choice but to use gems???
- [R70] Good stories unfair prices and ads: So I love the stories they are really entertaining and fun to play but it’s unfair that all the good options are for diamonds and diamonds cost money. And when it says here’s a few words from our sponsors it makes me watch ads and not let me leave
- [R1] Really fun: I love everything about this app, wonderful stories and amazing overall, but question, when you go to make a story how come you have to know to code to make one? Why don’t yall make it to where everyone could make a story if they wanted to without coding at all, I’ve tried to make stories and it’s super duper hard without any coding experience 💔
- [R14] Have to pay for everything just to have a fun story: For clothes , extra scenes and great positive choices you literally have to pay. It’s really sad and draining. Can’t enjoy a good game without using your hard earned money. I wouldn’t even consider playing this game. Every episode will cost you money. It’s even hard to earn this “gems” for free.
- [R31] Need money to play: If you want to make any real choices or fashion statements you need to pay for gems. Totally unplayable.
- [R100] Chill down with the Diamonds.: I really like this game like I really do but my only problem with them is that they ask for a lot of diamonds when it comes about taking a decision like 29 diamonds for example, and they don’t even give you that many diamonds a day or it’s really hard to gain diamonds and if you have the VIP subscription, you only get 10 diamonds a day but yet they ask you for 29 dia
Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store