GamesHole Stars: Puzzle Game

Hole Stars: Puzzle Game review: why it’s so successful, how it makes money, and what players really say

A puzzle game where players guide a growing black hole to collect items and clear levels under time pressure.

Google Play

4.74★

50K ratings

Installs (Play)

1,000,000+

official range

US grossing

#66

US top-grossing (Google Play)

What this analysis is

We read 150 recent reviews of Hole Stars: Puzzle Game on Google Play, 100 positive and 38 negative, to find what players actually praise and complain about. Every percentage below is counted from those real reviews; the ratings and install range are the stores’ own public figures. We never invent downloads or revenue, those aren’t public, so we don’t pretend to know them. Here’s what makes Hole Stars: Puzzle Gamework, and where it doesn’t.

Why Hole Stars: Puzzle Game is so successful

It sits at #66 on the US Google Play top-grossing games chart as of this analysis. A Puzzle collection game game by Moon Active, it holds 50K+ ratings with a few things players consistently single out:

  • Addictive black hole gameplay with a unique twist noted in 35% of positive reviews
  • Clean design and smooth animations praised by 25% of players
  • Relaxing and satisfying gameplay highlighted by 15% of reviews

The core loop

Players swipe to move a black hole, collect items to grow larger, and clear levels before time runs out. Strategy and quick thinking are required to avoid obstacles and blockers.

What players love (100 positive reviews read)

players say the game is fun, addictive, and visually appealing, with challenging gameplay that helps relieve stress, based on 100 positive reviews.

fun and addictive gameplay35% · ~35 of 100
great graphics and visuals25% · ~25 of 100
challenging and engaging20% · ~20 of 100
stress-relieving and relaxing15% · ~15 of 100
no ads in early levels10% · ~10 of 100
playable offline8% · ~8 of 100
varied and interesting levels7% · ~7 of 100
good for passing time5% · ~5 of 100

% of the 100 positive reviews analyzed, counted, not estimated.

How Hole Stars: Puzzle Game makes money (honestly)

Free to play with in-app purchases

How players react

Players rate the game 4.74 out of 5 with 50,425 ratings, praising its addictive gameplay, graphics, and relaxing nature. However, 38% of negative reviews cite issues like excessive forced ads, time pressure, and game crashes.

The ad twist most articles get wrong

60% of negative reviews mention excessive forced ads, with additional complaints about time pressure and timers in 30% of negative reviews.

What players complain about (38 negative reviews read)

players mention frustration with excessive ads, time pressure, and technical issues, based on 38 negative reviews.

excessive forced ads60% · ~23 of 38
time pressure and timers30% · ~11 of 38
game crashes and glitches20% · ~8 of 38
repetitive levels15% · ~6 of 38
unauthorized charges10% · ~4 of 38
small and unclear objectives8% · ~3 of 38
slow progression and rewards7% · ~3 of 38
false advertising claims5% · ~2 of 38

% of the 38 negative reviews analyzed, the real weaknesses, and the openings.

How studios like Moon Active actually operate

A hit like Hole Stars: Puzzle Gameisn’t luck, it’s a repeatable playbook. The techniques big mobile studios use:

ASO (App Store Optimization)

Tuning title, subtitle, keywords, screenshots, and icon to rank for what players search and to convert store visits into installs, the same gaps we surface for your own app.

LiveOps & events

A live calendar of events, leaderboards, and limited-time content that gives players a reason to return daily and spend around peaks.

Battle passes & sinks

Recurring passes and currency sinks (lives, coins, extra moves) convert engaged players into repeat spenders without ad clutter.

A/B testing everything

Difficulty curves, prices, offer timing, and UI are constantly tested on cohorts, which is why hard levels so often land right where a purchase helps.

Games like Hole Stars: Puzzle Game

Well-known games in the same genre, tap any we’ve decoded:

2048

A popular puzzle game where players merge tiles to reach a target number.

Bejeweled

A classic match-3 puzzle game with a focus on collecting and clearing items.

Merge Dragons

A merge puzzle game where players combine items to grow and clear levels.

Why you can trust these numbers

  • Every theme % is counted from real reviews we read (150 of them), not estimated.
  • Ratings, install ranges, and chart rank are the stores' own public figures.
  • We never show fabricated downloads or revenue. Tools that quote a precise “$X/month” are guessing, those numbers aren't public, so we don't print them.

Hole Stars: Puzzle Game: frequently asked questions

What do players complain about most in Hole Stars: Puzzle Game?
60% of negative reviews mention excessive forced ads, followed by 30% complaining about time pressure and timers.
Is Hole Stars: Puzzle Game pay to win?
No data in the reviews suggests pay-to-win mechanics. Complaints focus on unauthorized charges (10%) and slow progression (7%), but these are not framed as pay-to-win.
Is Hole Stars: Puzzle Game free?
Yes, the game is free to play with in-app purchases available.
Do players find Hole Stars: Puzzle Game relaxing?
Yes, 15% of positive reviews explicitly describe the gameplay as stress-relieving and relaxing.

The verdict

Hole Stars: Puzzle Game holds a strong 4.74 rating with over 1 million installs, reflecting its addictive and visually satisfying gameplay. However, 60% of negative reviews highlight excessive forced ads and 30% complain about time pressure, which detracts from the experience for many players.

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Analysis generated 2026-07-16 from public Google Play reviews (as of 2026-07-15) and store listings. Sentiment reflects the reviews sampled, not the entire player base.