Mr. Bullet - Spy Puzzles
Common Sense says
Parents say
Kids say
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Common Sense is a nonprofit organization. Your purchase helps us remain independent and ad-free.
Get it now on
Searching for streaming and purchasing options ...
Did this review miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive, diverse representations in books, TV shows, and movies. Want to help us help them? Suggest a diversity update
Suggest an update Spy Puzzles
A lot or a little?
The parents' guide to what's in this app.
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Mr. Bullet - Spy Puzzles is a free-to-play puzzle game for iOS and Android devices with violence at its core. The title character is a spy, so the idea is to use him to kill enemies by shooting, explosions, or blunt-force trauma. Killed enemies bleed, and players are awarded stars for efficient killing. The app is packed with ads for other games (ads play every three levels). An in-app store contains optional purchases, such as an ad-free version of the game and currency to purchase additional player character skins. Read the developer's privacy policy for details on how your (or your kids') information is collected, used, and shared and any choices you may have in the matter, and note that privacy policies and terms of service frequently change.
Stay up to date on new reviews.
User Reviews
- Parents say
- Kids say
If this were blobs and rocks it would be fine, but it's shooting, tanks, grenades and other war scenarios that aren't "fun"
Another game for children inciting violence and terrorism. After all the gun violence, who in their right mind would market such violence.
Fine
What's it about?
MR. BULLET – SPY PUZZLES is a freemium physics puzzler where players must kill all enemies in a level with a limited number of bullets or grenades. Settings range from cities to jungles, and enemies range from zombies to ninjas. Puzzles involve bouncing bullets and grenades off angled surfaces, manipulating moving platforms and dropping exploding boxes on targets. Players are given stars (which unlock additional modes) and currency, with which they can purchase additional character skins. Unlockable modes include Minigame puzzles; Missions (multistage gauntlets); Hostage, where the object is to kill enemies without hurting bystanders; and Duel, where players face off online.
Is it any good?
This puzzle app is like soft-serve ice cream, with super-simple physics puzzles that take very little thought or skill to solve, serving less as entertainment and more as a backdrop to a torrent of ads. Mr. Bullet - Spy Puzzles tends to abandon the traditional methods of puzzle games. The first few levels of most games are expected to be easy, giving players a chance to learn the mechanics and the rules. After that, though, players tend to enjoy the feeling of a rising challenge. Unfortunately, Mr. Bullet - Spy Puzzles doesn't know the meaning of the word "difficulty" or -- when it comes to ads -- "restraint." Levels start with straight shots at enemies and progress to having obstacles: platforms (both moving and stationary), destructible boxes, rolling balls, and exploding TNT. The latter are meant to increase the difficulty, to force players to think more and anticipate how bullets and grenades will ricochet off of them. Unfortunately, over-simple setups mean puzzles generally take about two seconds to solve. This is bothersome enough when you're hoping for a challenge, but worse when you're forced to watch an ad every three levels.
There's no other word for it: Ads in the free version of Mr. Bullet are relentless. If you opt not to spend $2.99 to get rid of them, you'll spend far more time watching ads than solving puzzles. This gives a sense of rank repetitiveness that's tough to handle, and though there's some sense of progress unlocking additional modes and character skins, ultimately, it's not enough to make up for the app's shameless overuse of ads. Despite some colorful art (and colorful blood that parents could rightly take issue with) and a range of different game modes, Mr. Bullet - Spy Puzzles isn't worth your mobile device's memory, especially since its creators' aim (pun intended) is more financial than fun.
Talk to your kids about ...
Families can talk about advertising strategies. Other than directly telling you to buy things, how else might ads push you to shop?
Think about games that reward players for killing. How might games like this affect your attitude toward violence?
Is the impact of the violence in Mr. Bullet - Spy Puzzles affected by the cartoonish art style of the game? Would the impact be intensified if the visuals were more realistic?
App details
- Devices: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, Android
- Pricing structure: Free (Contains optional in-app purchases, including ad-free version for $2.99.)
- Release date: March 3, 2019
- Category: Puzzle Games
- Size: 131.20 MB
- Publisher: Lion Studios
- Version: 2.4
- Minimum software requirements: Requires iOS 9.0 or later; Android 5.0 and up
- Last updated: July 11, 2020
Our editors recommend
For kids who love puzzle games
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.