Clockmaker is a Victorian-themed match-3 puzzle game for adults, available on iOS and Android.
Product velocity
Maintenance
Daily rank 🇺🇸
#68
Games · grossing
Sentiment
4.8
723k reviews
Nemesis
Jewels of Rome・Match-3 Gems
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
It removes the friction of connectivity-dependent play for users who want to engage with a mystery narrative during short, offline sessions.
For Adult puzzle game enthusiasts who enjoy narrative-driven match-3 gameplay and Victorian-themed aesthetics.
What does it look like?
Key features
Core gameplay loop involving matching three or more jewels or gems to clear levels
Story-driven progression through two towns and 52 unique buildings with character-led quests
Core puzzle levels accessible without an active internet or Wi-Fi connection
How much does it cost?
Freemium model relies on optional IAP for progression acceleration and event-based passes to monetize engagement.
Velocity
Maintenance developmentseasonal eventsmonetizationUX improvementsShow more...
The app has been silent for 91 days, with the last release occurring in late April 2026. Prior to this period of inactivity, the developer maintained a steady cadence of updates focused on seasonal events and monetization passes. The current lack of activity suggests a shift away from active development or a move toward server-side content delivery that bypasses the App Store. Given the 91-day gap, the app is classified as maintenance.
Who built it?
Samfinaco
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Train of Hope: Survival GameUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Review voice lately leans frustrated. Users appreciate diverse puzzle mechanics keep the core gameplay loop engaging and prevent boredom during long sessions and visually appealing graphics and a simple interface create a relaxing environment for casual puzzle players, but report excessive and lengthy advertisements interrupt the flow of play and force users to restart the application.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Diverse puzzle mechanics keep the core gameplay loop engaging and prevent boredom during long sessions
- Visually appealing graphics and a simple interface create a relaxing environment for casual puzzle players
- Excessive and lengthy advertisements interrupt the flow of play and force users to restart the application
110 of 156 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Frustrated overall
Read the full review analysisUnlock 2 more frustration themes and 1 user request, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for Clockmaker: Match 3 Puzzles
How's the Games market?
Clockmaker holds a #66 Grossing position in the US Puzzle category, with 156 recent reviews highlighting a clear tension between its engaging narrative loop and aggressive ad-load. The gap between its discovery reach and monetization friction suggests that current ad-density is cannibalizing long-term player value.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
By G5 Entertainment AB
The most direct rival, mirroring the core loop of jewel-matching, city restoration, and a historical mystery narrative.
- Historical mystery narrative depth
- City restoration meta-progression
Project MakeoverContender
Manor Matters: Adventure GameContender
Lily’s Garden: Match & DesignContender
GardenscapesContenderUnlock the head-to-head verdict: where this rival wins, and where it loses.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for Clockmaker: Match 3 Puzzles
Where is it heading?
The casual puzzle market is consolidating around high-fidelity restoration titles that offer more frequent live-ops updates. Clockmaker's current maintenance-mode cadence leaves it exposed to rivals that can iterate faster, meaning the PM must prioritize technical stability to prevent further churn.
- Broken ad-exit mechanics in the latest release erode the daily active habit, compounding the rating drag already visible on Android.
- The maintenance-only release cadence (no new features in 91 days) leaves the app vulnerable to rivals with active live-ops.
The SWOT
- Victorian-specific aesthetic provides a cohesive atmosphere
- Offline-play capability reduces churn in low-connectivity segments
- Localized social-gifting mechanics could mirror retention loops of category rivals
- Deepening city-restoration meta-game could increase long-term LTV
Next best moves
Audit ad-exit logic because broken ad-exits are the #1 churn driver → stabilize DAU
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The app's offline-first design is a retention lever…
Read the full takeFeature gaps
Social-gifting mechanics (available in Jewels of Rome but absent here)
Since the last report: Clockmaker has entered a maintenance-mode state, characterized by a 91-day absence of new feature releases and a sharp decline in sentiment score from 75 to 35. The primary driver of this shift is the emergence of broken ad-exit mechanics and increased player frustration with monetization pressure.
Bottom line
Clockmaker's narrative-driven loop provides a defensible niche, but the current ad-load is actively cannibalizing the player base. Stabilizing the ad-exit experience would unlock higher retention, allowing the team to shift focus from ad-monetization to long-term LTV via social-gifting.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 2 market threats, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is Clockmaker still fun for adults in 2026?
What is the difference between Clockmaker and Jewels of Rome?
Does Clockmaker have intrusive ads?
What is a free alternative to Clockmaker?
Sources
- [1] Play Store listing, source
Report last updated