An in-depth (and honest) review of Carnival Tycoon

Carnival Tycoon is a mobile game that is quickly gaining popularity. It’s mechanics are similar to Monopoly Go and Coin Master, two other games that took the mobile world by storm. We have been playing for a few months to give you the break-down on what to expect, what can be improved and what we like about the game.

Graphics and Visual Experience

First off, let’s talk about how the game looks. We think that Carnival Tycoon really nails the look and feel. The graphics are bright, colorful and full of personality. So, the branding is strong and recognisable. There are lots of little animations and attention to detail which make the game feel lively and dynamic. The UX is also carefully thought out, buttons are clear and big enough. The only detail we have trouble with, and I know other players do too, is the buttons to select cards to exchange. The plus and minus buttons are too small and take forever to be able to click on.

Customer Support Experience

Unfortunately, one area where Carnival Tycoon can really improve is customer service. The game is generally stable and doesn’t have a lot of bugs but when issues do come up, the support experience seems quite aggressive and condescending. Lots of players have reported feeling dismissed on social media when issues arise and they have tried to get help. We have also been in this experience where customer support doesn’t even answer simple questions and it feels like they are just trying to get rid of you. This can be very frustrating, especially when you have lost rewards or events have had glitches.

Free-to-play vs Pay-to-win balance

Like many similar games, Carnival Tycoon feels heavily pay-to-win at times. Progressing decently without spending money can be quite difficult as batteries, coins and cards become more and more difficult to collect. While the game does offer free rewards and events, the gap between paying and non-paying players is pretty noticeable. Also, non-paying players get ads to earn extra batteries but they disappear as soon as the player spends once. Again, many players have been complaining about this and it seems a shame that the game doesn’t compensate paying players like they should. The purchases also become more and more expensive as you go on.

Card Collection

Another frustrating part of the game is the card collection system. Unlike other games like Monopoly Go, where sticker packs often have new stickers, Carnival Tycoon seems to recycle the same cards over and over. This makes it very hard to complete sets, especially the higher end ones. This is very discouraging when you get 5 duplicates of the only gold card that you have.

Community and Social Media

On a more positive note, the developers are very active on social media, especially on Facebook and Discord. They frequently host giveaways, updates, and engage with their community, which shows they’re invested in the game’s future. They also regularly give out free Carnival Tycoon energy links. That said, some moderators have come off as rude or unhelpful, which can sour the experience for newer players looking for support or tips.

Partner Events and Community Engagement

One of the highlights of Carnival Tycoon is its partner events. These collaborations often come with fun mechanics, exclusive rewards, and a fresh layer of competition that keeps things interesting. Although, we must add that some players online are not satisfied with some of the partner events, especially the Wizard journey one which is very difficult to complete. But, the events tend to rally the large community behind them, creating a sense of camaraderie and excitement that adds to the game’s charm.

Final Thoughts

Carnival Tycoon is a game with a lot of potential. It’s visually appealing, has engaging mechanics, and boasts an enthusiastic player base. But it’s also weighed down by lackluster customer support, a pay-heavy progression system, and some social friction in its online communities.

With some tweaks—especially to improve card variety, support responsiveness, and free-to-play balance—it could easily compete with the heavy-hitters in its genre.