Devolver Tumble Time is a unique match three game that tries to satirize aggressive mobile monetization. At times, the developer successfully uses silly writing and ridiculous microtransactions, but at other times, it doesn’t feel like a joke. This is where the balance between fun and satire can get tricky.
Right at the start, you’re introduced to the fictional Chief Financial Officer of publisher, Devolver Digital. This character fits in perfectly as they’re often presented as greedy. As you complete levels, you’ll get tasks from Parker frequently talking about the challenges of being a billionaire.
Disclaimer: Since I don’t know how many levels this game has, this review is based on me reaching level 151.
Devolver Tumble Time Review
| Game Name | Devolver Tumble Time |
| Release Date | January 24, 2023 |
| Developer | Nopopo |
| Price | Free |
| Play Pass Functionality | N/a |
Devolver Tumble Time is a great experience on Android that feels just right when it works. However, there are definitely moments when levels feel impossible and the only way to succeed is by watching ads. This is because you’re given a limited 60 seconds for most levels to complete enough matches.
If you run out of time, you can watch an ad for an extra 10 seconds or spend one of several currencies instead. While watching an ad occasionally isn’t that bad, especially for mobile games, there are times when it feels like you need to watch several.
The way levels work in Devolver Tumble Time is that you need to match a certain amount of specific gems/toys to complete the level. For example, a level may have six toys and you need to get 30 matches for three of them. The frustrating part is when only the toys you don’t need continue to drop in.
This is where the RNG can easily screw you over and make any level a pain. Especially if you haven’t bought the unlimited lives microtransaction. Otherwise, you’re limited to consuming one of five hearts per level attempt. And these take some time to recover.
If you play Devolver Tumble Time without spending any money, chances are you’ll eventually give up. Personally, I had a Google credit that I put toward unlimited lives. This immediately improved my overall experience with one major reason especially.
You won’t feel as bad when you lose and forfeit all your rewards. Sure, you can’t win every level. But, you don’t feel as forced into watching several ads for extra time to squeak out that win. Instead, you can simply restart and try again.
All things considered, if you spend a few dollars to get unlimited lives and watch the occasional ad, Devolver Tumble Time is a good example of mobile monetization done well. On top of that, the gameplay is a ton of fun as you create large matches that spiderweb through the play area.
The unique play area and physics make for some interesting moments. There are a number of times when it looks like there isn’t a match, and then suddenly it becomes a massive chain. This adds to the chaos while also creating thrilling moments.
Especially when those large chain connections convert into bombs you can use. It’s a blast when you can blow up several simultaneously for explosive results. And if you time it right, you can even turn that moment into Fever Time. This pauses the timer so you can get an even higher score.
The reality is, you’ll need Fever Time as often as possible to slow down that 60-second timer. Otherwise, you won’t succeed at the tough levels later which require a lot of matches. Unfortunately, if you don’t have certain characters unlocked via the gacha system, you may fail anyway.
Aside from the character challenge levels, I primarily only use two characters to succeed. First, it’s worth mentioning that every character is from a game published by Devolver Digital. And neatly enough, they often have an ability inspired by their character.
With that said, my favorite character is Gris because of their strong ability. Once you fill your ability meter, you can spawn in a large gray bomb that destroys almost the entire area. This can practically start Fever Time while also getting currencies needed for certain levels.
The only time I don’t play as Gris is when a level requires a certain chain connection for getting extra time. Instead of relying on that large chain, you can play as Minit who adds time to the clock via their ability. And those are pretty much the only two characters you need.
This is another moment where Devolver Tumble Time can be a pain if you don’t unlock those characters. Fortunately, the gacha system will only reward you with characters you’ve made enough progress to unlock. Therefore, you have a decent chance of getting them in the first 100 levels as long as you don’t get duplicates.
There is one thing that bugs me about the later levels that feels like it could be playing into the satire side. For 200 gold each, you can buy three different boosts to make things easier. You can get double gold, one less toy, and/or an extra 10 seconds.
If you recall, I mentioned there are moments when the RNG keeps giving you the wrong toy. As you get to the tougher levels, I often needed to buy the one less toy boost. Aside from making my life easier, it also made Devolver Tumble Time a lot more enjoyable.
It’s almost unfortunate that it felt this way because I think more people would enjoy their time if they could experience it the same way. But, if you’re spending your gold on unlocking new characters, you probably won’t bother with the boost.
This is rough because Devolver Tumble Time shines when you’re constantly getting matches, small or large. You really get to feel that dopamine whether it’s over the top or not. It hits just right and you feel like you’re nailing it.
Overall, Devolver Tumble Time is definitely worth checking out as both a free and fun Android game. Fans of Devolver Digital games will likely enjoy seeing characters they recognize as well. However, if you want to put a lot of time into this game, you really have to pay for those unlimited lives.
Review Score: 8/10
Jeff is a journalist with over 10 years of experience writing, streaming, and making content about video games. With an associate degree in journalism, he’s a sucker for RPGs, idle games, roguelikes, and more.