BADLAND is an atmospheric side-scrolling action platformer for mobile and TV, featuring physics-based survival mechanics and local multiplayer.
Product velocity
Dormant
Daily rank 🇺🇸
—
Games
Sentiment
4.2
1.6M reviews
Nemesis
Vector: Parkour Run
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
Players hire BADLAND for high-reflex, social-gaming sessions that function without internet, but the pay-to-progress gate forces a choice between paying or abandoning the loop.
For Casual and hardcore platformer fans who value atmospheric art and local social gaming experiences.
What does it look like?
Key features
Four-player support on single device.
Repository for 40,000+ user-made levels.
Full compatibility for Android TV.
How much does it cost?
Hybrid model using ad-supported mobile scale and premium desktop pricing.
Velocity
Dormant developmentopaqueShow more...
The development of this application has ceased, with the last recorded update occurring on January 26, 2026, which was a minor bug fix following a decade-long gap since the previous release in 2016. There is no evidence of active development, feature expansion, or live operations. The release history indicates a complete lack of momentum, classifying the app as a zombie project.
Who built it?
HypeHype Oy
6 apps tracked · Games
User Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Review voice lately leans excited. Users appreciate challenging core gameplay mechanics provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment for players with quick reflexes, but report aggressive monetization gates progress behind paywalls for later levels in the current build.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Challenging core gameplay mechanics provide a satisfying sense of accomplishment for players with quick reflexes
- Aggressive monetization gates progress behind paywalls for later levels in the current build
55 of 55 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Excited overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for BADLAND: Game of the Year Edition
How's the Games market?
BADLAND maintains a massive install base of over 1.6M ratings on Android, though the lack of recent chart-topping velocity suggests the title is now in a mature, maintenance-heavy lifecycle phase.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
By Nekki Limited
Maintains a high-velocity release cadence and massive user base in the side-scrolling action-adventure niche.
- Aggressive six-release cadence in the last six months signals a highly active live-ops strategy.
- Hyper-focused parkour animation system creates a distinct visual identity compared to this app's silhouette-based aesthetic.
Unlock the deeper market read.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for BADLAND: Game of the Year Edition
Where is it heading?
The atmospheric platformer market is consolidating around live-ops-heavy titles that provide constant content updates. BADLAND remains exposed due to its reliance on static content, so the PM must accelerate the live-ops cadence to prevent further churn to rivals like Vector.
- Aggressive monetization gates in the latest version trigger churn, which compounds the rating drag already visible on Android.
- Level World integration drives daily active usage through content discovery, providing a buffer against the lack of new core-level releases.
The SWOT
- Award-winning design heritage sustains organic install velocity
- Local-multiplayer social loop drives high-density sessions on single devices
- Untapped B2B potential in educational partnerships
- Missing wearable integration for quick-session tracking
Next best moves
Pivot monetization to reward-based ads because progression gates trigger churn → increase long-term retention
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The game's massive install base is a liability…
Read the full takeFeature gaps
RPG progression elements (available in Swordigo but absent here) +1
Since the last report: The application transitioned to a freemium monetization model that triggers user churn, while development activity has effectively ceased.
Bottom line
BADLAND retains a strong core through unique physics-based social play, but aggressive monetization gates in the latest version threaten to erode its massive user base, so the PM must prioritize shifting to reward-based ads to sustain long-term retention.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 2 market threats, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeReport last updated