Hole Stars is a casual puzzle game for Android and iOS where players guide a black hole to consume objects within time-limited levels.
Product velocity
Active
Daily rank 🇺🇸
#116
▼19Puzzle · free
Sentiment
4.7
77k reviews
Nemesis
Hole Em All: Collect Master
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
The game removes the friction of complex strategy, serving players who want a quick, satisfying, and visually simple way to pass time.
For Casual puzzle gamers seeking short, satisfying, and relaxing gameplay sessions.
What does it look like?
Key features
Swallow objects to increase hole size, enabling the collection of larger items within levels.
Levels require clearing objects before a countdown timer expires.
Power-ups available to assist in clearing difficult obstacles or tight time constraints.
How much does it cost?
Freemium model relies on ad-supported gameplay and IAP-driven progression boosters.
Velocity
Active developmentnew contentplatform expansionShow more...
The app is currently in its initial launch phase, shipping 2 releases within the last 19 days. This cadence suggests an active development cycle as the publisher rolls out the game across platforms. The latest release provides no specific feature details, focusing on the initial rollout of the core gameplay loop. Development is currently focused on platform expansion and initial stability.
Who built it?
Moon Active
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Reality Bay: Merge & DiscoverUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Recent user voice shows a mixed sentiment. Users appreciate satisfying core gameplay loop provides an engaging way for players to pass time during short sessions and bright and beautiful graphics keep the visual experience fresh across many different level designs, but report aggressive ad frequency after every level completion disrupts the flow and frustrates long-term players.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
Weekly average review rating
What users say, by theme
- Satisfying core gameplay loop provides an engaging way for players to pass time during short sessions
- Bright and beautiful graphics keep the visual experience fresh across many different level designs
- Aggressive ad frequency after every level completion disrupts the flow and frustrates long-term players
87 of 99 recent reviews analyzed · high confidence · Mixed 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 Hole Stars: Puzzle Game
How's the Puzzle market?
Hole Stars operates in the competitive casual puzzle category with a 4.68 rating on Android and 4.84 on iOS. The disparity in content ratings (Everyone vs 17+) suggests inconsistent store-level positioning that may confuse this app casual audience.
Read the market outlookThe rivals identified
By BRAINWORKS PUBLISHING PTE. LTD.
Both apps target casual puzzle gamers with physics-based black hole mechanics, competing for short-session engagement in the same category.
- Hole Em All includes social multiplayer features like team-based chat and gift sharing.
- Hole Em All lacks offline play, creating a gap for users without constant connectivity.
All in Hole: Black Hole GamesContender
Holy Hole!Contender
Suck it Up ™ - Hole Them AllContender
Hole Puzzle: Collect em allContender
Hole Rush Classic GameContender
Hole Them AllContender
Hole Devour: Collect AllContender
Tiles In Hole: Black HoleContender
Unlock 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 Hole Stars: Puzzle Game
Where is it heading?
The casual puzzle market is consolidating, and Hole Stars faces pressure from established titles with more transparent monetization. The current reliance on aggressive ads and gated progression will likely compress the user funnel as the initial novelty of the black hole mechanic fades.
- Aggressive ad frequency after every level completion disrupts the flow and frustrates long-term players, leading to potential long-term retention decay.
- Users report: Deceptive marketing complaints regarding unfeatured mechanics misrepresent the game, which risks store-level policy enforcement and user trust erosion.
The SWOT
- Satisfying core black hole mechanic creates immediate, addictive engagement for casual users
- Implement a time-carryover mechanic to address top player requests
Next best moves
Reduce ad frequency per level because it is the top-cited churn driver → increase long-term retention
+ 1 more prioritized moveThe counter-intuitive read
The high rating on iOS is a risk…
Read the full takeSince the last report: The analysis now incorporates a content rating disparity between platforms and a more critical assessment of the game's long-term retention potential. These updates reflect a shift in focus from initial launch stability to the risks posed by inconsistent store positioning and aggressive monetization.
Bottom line
Transitioning from aggressive ad-gating to a balanced progression model would address the primary churn driver, allowing the satisfying core loop to drive long-term retention rather than immediate ad revenue.
Unlock 2 critical frictions, 1 market threat, 1 more prioritized move and the analyst’s take.
Access the full report for freeFAQ
Is Hole Stars suitable for casual play?
Does Hole Stars contain intrusive ads?
Are there ways to progress without paying?
Sources
- [1] Play Store listing, source
Report last updated