LISTEN UP! WE TRIED TO MAKE “THOSE GAMES” EVEN MORE EXTREME! SOME THINGS HAVE TO BE LEARNED THE HARD WAY! Review Summary

Challenging difficulty, tight controls, and standout Survival Scroll mode are praised, but bugs make levels impossible, while reused assets, minigames, and high price for little content disappoint.

Challenging difficulty praised: Many reviewers highlight the game's high difficulty, describing levels as razor-sharp, punishing, and filled with hazards that require trial and error. The steep learning curve and incremental progress are seen as rewarding for players who enjoy pushing their skills to the limit.

Survival Scroll stands out: The Survival Scroll minigame is frequently mentioned as the best part of the collection, offering 30 new stages, challenging gameplay, fun boss fights, and responsive arrow key controls. It closely resembles the original ad game experience that players wanted.

Fun but mixed reception: Some players find the game fun and enjoyable, decent for killing time, and suitable for those who enjoy skill-testing challenges. However, opinions are divided, with some preferring the second game in the series.

Ad game compilation concept: The game is seen as a compilation of content from misleading mobile ads, fulfilling the desire of players who saw such ads but couldn't find the actual gameplay. This 'ad game' theme is central to its appeal.

Tight controls and feedback: Reviewers praise the tight and responsive controls, along with sharp audio cues that provide important feedback. Checkpoints are spaced carefully to balance tension and reward.

Too expensive for content: The price is inexplicably expensive, and even after buying on sale and finishing, it felt like a loss. There aren't enough levels for the game's cost, and it wastes money and time.

Impossible levels due to bugs: Several levels cannot be completed because of bugs, such as the Knock-back Shooter levels that are literally impossible and buttons that don't activate when shot. Number tower levels 22 and 24 have incorrect numbers, and color-sorting level 18 has a logic bug with bottle counts.

Reused assets and minigames: Reused assets from the first game, and most of the minigames are from previous entries. Only a few new levels added, and only one new content item.

Fewer and shorter minigames: The game has fewer minigames than the first one, and many of the minigames are very short. It is a mix of the first and second games, but doesn't feel like gameplay seen from ads.

Short playtime and content: Play length of about 4 hours feels short, and there is significantly less content than the originals, with 15-25 levels per game versus 50-100 previously. Only 114 of the 155 stages are actually new instead of tutorials.

Survival Scroll mode detailed: Survival Scroll is a scroll-shooter minigame with gameplay similar to the original game. It features hordes of zombies that give no reward but must be killed, spike traps, rolling barrels full of powerups, gates that strengthen or weaken the team, and boss fights.

Steep difficulty and trial-and-error: Levels are filled with spikes, traps, unpredictable hazards, and tight jump sequences that cause instant failure on slight miscalculation. Players must rely on trial and error, memorization of patterns, timing refinement, and muscle memory to progress.

Color Lab color-sorting minigame: Color Lab is a color-sorting minigame involving bottle counts. It has 22 new stages with stringent time limits for a 3-star rating and adds mystery colors and cracked test tubes that break after a limited number of pours.

Collection of six minigames: The game is a collection of six minigames: Pin Pull, Number Tower, Color Lab, Draw & Guard, Knock-Back Shooter, and Survival Scroll. It is the third entry in a series of mobile-ad games turned into something playable, with most minigames carried over from previous entries.

Number Tower math puzzle mode: Number Tower mode consists of numbered puzzle levels and remains a math puzzle. It includes 18 new stages and adds percentage boosts and penalties that act like different multipliers.

Not recommended and not worth price: Multiple reviewers state the game is not recommended, not worth buying, and not worth the price even on sale. One suggests it is only worth a much lower price range such as $2–$3.

Designed for hardcore platforming fans: The game is designed for players who thrive on pushing their skills to the limit and relish extreme platforming challenges without shying away from failure. It is not for casual players or those seeking a relaxed experience.

Uncompletable levels prevent positive review: A reviewer cannot upvote due to uncompletable levels, indicating a critical bug or design flaw. This directly impacts the ability to recommend the game.

Worth it on sale or boredom: The game is considered worth picking up if it is on sale or if the player is just bored. This implies low full-price value but some entertainment under specific conditions.

Desire for more levels: One reviewer wants double the amount of levels for the price paid, indicating the current content feels insufficient. This suggests a need for more gameplay volume.

Game completion: 4.0h.

Hardcore Challenge Seeker: Repeatedly attempts hard pin-pulling puzzles, embraces failure, and pushes for mastery. Motivation: Testing personal limits and overcoming difficult challenges. Stance: buy.

Achievement/Top-Score Completionist: Clears all stages efficiently and pursues optional achievement or top-score objectives. Motivation: Completing stages and chasing achievements or high scores. Stance: sale.

Relaxation-Seeking Casual Player: Plays casually for relaxation and avoids punishing difficulty or time-wasting friction. Motivation: Relaxing and enjoying chill, low-stress gameplay. Stance: no buy.

Short overall play length: Multiple reviewers note the game can be finished in under 5 hours, with one citing around 4 hours. This brevity is seen as a downside, especially compared to earlier entries in the series.

Fewer levels than predecessors: Each game in this collection contains only 15-25 levels, a sharp drop from the 50-100 levels found in prior games. The collection has 155 stages total, but only 114 are new.

Lower difficulty than expected: Reviewers note that levels are not harder and are often easier than the original versions. The Survival Scroll minigame is also easier than in Those Games 2, leading to disappointment for some.

Niche appeal, specific audience: The game is described as a niche title aimed at a very specific audience. It is compared to old-school arcade and console platformers, suggesting limited broad appeal.

Survival Scroll is new content: Survival Scroll is a new minigame, resembling Spellbinding Scroll but more accurately mimicking lying mobile ads. The reviewer bought the game because this mode was playable.