Pocket Planes

 iOS
Metascore
78

Generally favorable reviews - based on 17 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 10 out of 17
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 17
  3. Negative: 0 out of 17
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  1. Games Master UK
    Jul 24, 2012
    74
    Take away the freemium structure and the need to wait for ages between goes and we'd happily play it for hours at a time. [Sept 2012, p.110]
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  2. Thunderbolt
    Jun 28, 2012
    70
    Of all the iOS developers using the free to play model, NimbleBit has come the closest to getting it right.
  3. InsideGamer.nl
    Jul 26, 2012
    67
    Pocket Planes is free, which makes it perfect to give it a try. Collecting money and bucks is slow if you don't spend real money, but in time you can expand your airline without taking out your wallet. Too bad, though, the game is incredibly passive; you do nothing but sending out flights and waiting for the money to roll in.
  5. TouchGen
    Jul 3, 2012
    60
    There isn't much of a 'game' here, unless you count watching your plane fly to it's destination while tapping the screen to collect coins which appear in the sky a game. Somehow I can't see that being a listed feature on the iTunes description.
  6. Edge Magazine
    Jun 28, 2012
    60
    With global events offering in-game rewards for communities who team up to service a single destination, it has a shifting short-term goal to keep you checking in, but you may struggle to justify your continued involvement in the long game.
  7. Slide to Play
    Jun 24, 2012
    50
    A simple and addictive time waster, but purely for casual players who just want something to tap at for a few minutes at a time.
  8. Wired
    Jun 18, 2012
    50
    Playing Pocket Planes is like driving a car that steers itself. All I want is a wheel, NimbleBit. Give me just one tool that can be wielded in interesting ways to make an impact on the outcome of my play. I want the ability to play your game well, or play it badly. As it currently stands, the only choice you give me is to play Pocket Planes or not play it at all, and I'm going to take option B.

Awards & Rankings

27
#27 Most Discussed iOS Game of 2012

User Reviews

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User Score
6.9

Mixed or average reviews- based on 24 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 24
  3. Negative: 5 out of 24
  1. rhaynes7
    Dec 2, 2013
    6
    From the makers of Tiny Towers comes Pocket Planes (gotta love those alliterations). Using a similar approach to Pocket Planes, you're givenFrom the makers of Tiny Towers comes Pocket Planes (gotta love those alliterations). Using a similar approach to Pocket Planes, you're given a set of planes and some money and your goal is to build your airline empire from the ground up.

    This game benefits from being more complex than it's sister game, requiring more strategy and precision in the decisions that you make. However, this complexity without much reward makes this game confusing without reward and less satisfying when you're reaching success.

    This games pacing is also significantly slower than Tiny Towers, which makes this game less enjoyable at first. Upgrading, buying new planes, and new airports is initially very expensive work. It's slow and tiresome work, and when you finally push past the expense barriers, there's nothing to truly reward you for your effort.

    Yet, somehow this game pulled me in like Tiny Towers did. My gaming obsessive compulsions that this game takes advantage of makes me stare at the game for hours trying to navigate my planes efficiently and getting all the bux I can get to upgrade and make my enterprise better. Other times, I open up the game and then think maybe later.

    I just don't know what to make of it. I share a love-hate relationship with this game. It will draw you in like Tiny Tower, but it's slower to do so, and the rewards aren't that significant and are less visible than your ever-climbing tower. On the other side, it's more complex and strategic and sometimes I really want to buy every airport, and upgrade everything. It's really a toss up, and it is a good time killer, but beyond that, there's no reward and no incentive beyond the obsessive compulsions of the completionist gamer or those with many friends to compete with.    … Full Review »
  2. Jarbas6
    Aug 2, 2012
    9
    Pocket Planes is exactly what free-to-play games should be. There is of course the possibility of using real-life money to buy in-gamePocket Planes is exactly what free-to-play games should be. There is of course the possibility of using real-life money to buy in-game currency, but this option is far from obligating players to pay. It matters much more on how you're building your airline than how many real life money you spend on the game; and creating your own airline is a lot of fun: you will have to think a lot on what kind of aircraft you have and where your airports are placed. Events are a brilliant idea of Nimblebit and a great way of earning bux and money without having to wait a lot or having to spend real money. I give this game a 9 only because I think it may be a bit boring to just wait for your flights to arrive and the leveling system may block you from growing faster due to its airport limitations per level, but as this game is free and a lot of fun, everyone with an iOS device should give it a try.… Full Review »
  3. frosty8
    Jun 28, 2012
    10
    I love this game and now I play it everyday! If you liked Tiny Tower, this game is twice as fun and addicting. Tycoon lovers must have thisI love this game and now I play it everyday! If you liked Tiny Tower, this game is twice as fun and addicting. Tycoon lovers must have this airline experience!… Full Review »
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