Coin Master Review 2024 - Best Free Slot App
Overall Score:
8/10
Coin Master, developed by Moon Active and released in 2015, is the number-one slots game on iPhone and Android. We’ve played the wildly popular game for several weeks to add to our mobile slot app reviews, which is plenty of time to measure how the title works and stacks up against the competition.
Unlike most mobile slot apps, Coin Master has a town-building and raiding element that features prominently in the chase for coins. But at its core, it remains a genuine online slots experience. In our outline of the Coin Master app, you’ll get the skinny on what the hype’s all about, how much this free slots game actually costs to play, and whether or not you should add it to your app library.
Is It Legal To Play Coin Master Online?
Yes! Coin Master is a legal, free slots app available on the App Store and Google Play store in most countries worldwide. Currently, Coin Master is not available in the Facebook App Center, though the reason for this is unclear.
While the IAP (in-app purchase) model used by slots apps is often legally challenged, most governments do not consider Coin Master and similar games to constitute illegal gambling.
Yes, critics do equate Coin Master to gambling, but the fact that players cannot win real money means the game is – by definition – not a gambling product.
Coin Master Game Types
Most “Vegas” mobile slots apps have a selection of dozens or even hundreds of differently themed electronic slot machines to choose from. Coin Master doesn’t follow this model, as the slots experience is more or less static throughout the game.
Instead, you play the main Coin Master slot machine to win more spins, earn coins, and raid villages to earn even more coins. There is also a card collecting and trading element to the game, which is compelling for completionist players.
How To Play Coin Master
In Coin Master, you spin the slots to earn coins with which you build your village. Each village element is tiered and upgradeable by spending more coins, and each upgrade earns a star. After you earn 20 stars in one village, you unlock the next village.
In between spins, you “raid” other villages built by other players on the network. Attacks can be blocked, and you can earn blocks to defend your own village by scoring three shields on the slot machine reels. You can hold a maximum of three shields at any given time.
Coin Master also has “pets” you can earn. Strong fortifications – and strong pets – help you progress through the game’s levels (or villages), of which there are over 300 to date. More villages are added to the game with each update.
For the best app experience, you’ll want to link your Facebook account to Coin Master. The game uses Facebook to provide a much broader selection of real-world opponents. Non-Facebook users won’t have nearly as much fun playing Coin Master.
Coin Master Mobile Platforms
There are three main platforms on which you can play Coin Master: iPhone, iPad, and Android. Each has their benefits and detriments, but the game is remarkably similar across all three modes, regardless of how you’ve set up your navigation preferences.
Moon Active has outdone itself to make sure Coin Master runs smoothly across a variety of screen sizes and tech specs, and the game is not as data hungry as many other mobile slots tend to be. Whether your mobile device is a brand-new flagship or a five-year-old budget model, you can enjoy Coin Master exactly as the game was intended to be played.
With tens of millions of daily iPhone players logging in and spinning for coins each day, it was important for Moon Active to make a game that would work on new and old devices equally well.
Currently, iOS 9.0 or higher is required to play Coin Master, so you can enjoy the game on the following devices: iPhone 4S, 5, 5C, 5S, SE, 6, 6+, 6S, 6S+, 7, 7+, 8, 8+, SE, X, XR, XS, XS Max, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12, 12 Mini, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max.
On iPad, Coin Master is designed for every size of the popular Apple tablet line. Regardless of model, you’ll get a custom build that fits your display down to the last pixel.
While we prefer the iPad experience thanks to its bigger screen, Coin Master is engineered to be a true mobile, on-the-go game. Of course, because the title is cross-platform, you can play on iPad while your friends play on iPhone or Android, and everything just works.
Every iPad except the original 2010 model will run Coin Master, though gameplay might be sluggish on devices more than 4-5 years old.
Coin Master is the highest grossing game for Android, and this is true in Google Play stores around the world. While the iOS versions are built around Apple’s developer guidelines, the navigation model of Android itself has necessitated some small tweaks.
Still, the core gameplay (tap to spin, tap to upgrade, tap to attack, etc.) remains intact, making those switching from iOS to Android feel right at home.
If your Android device is running Android 4.1 or higher (released mid-2012), you should be able to play Coin Master. Newer devices will load and run the game more smoothly, but as long as your Android was manufactured in the last five years or so, you are definitely good to go.
Because Coin Master is so heavily reliant on Facebook for the complete experience, it is recommended that you have a Facebook account and link it to your Coin Master app.
Coin Master Features
Game Selection
Unlike most mobile slot games, Coin Master is a linear title. One three-reel slot machine handles all spins and serves as the main hub for all gameplay. N/A
Ease-of-Use
Coin Master menus and slots mechanics are extremely simple. This is a major strength compared to other slots games for Apple and Android. 10/10
Accessibility
The Coin Master app is easy for players of all skill levels. But if you don’t have a Facebook account, you’ll miss out on most of the game. 4/10
User Interface
The Coin Master UI is a masterpiece of casual mobile game design. Easy to pick up, hard to put down. 10/10
User Experience
Coin Master’s UX – when you actually have spins – is top-notch. The game is engaging and nothing feels like a chore. But you can’t play for long without buying more spins. 6/10
Graphics
Coin Master is made to work with many older devices, so it’s not graphically intensive. But the simple, cartoony visuals fit the theme perfectly. 8/10
Audio
The Coin Master sound effects are poppy and satisfying, with a soundtrack that’ll get stuck in your head. 9/10
Load Times
There are virtually no Coin Master load times, which means you can play immediately anytime you want. 10/10
Account Requirements
To get the full Coin Master experience, you really need an active Facebook account. You can play as a Coin Master “Guest,” but these sessions are limited in scope (though your progress is saved). 4/10
Cross-Platform Compatibility
With a Facebook account, Coin Master is 100% compatible across all platforms. You can play on any computer or mobile device with all progress saved. 8/10
Pop-Ups
Coin Master pop-ups are everywhere. You also get constant notifications, text alerts, emails, etc. You can disable most of these, but not the in-game pop-ups. You often have to clear three or four pop-ups to continue playing. 3/10
Ad Support
Coin Master does not run ad banners inside the game, so you’ll never have your full-screen experience interrupted. 10/10
Player Review Score
Coin Master has 340,000 ratings on the App Store with an average score of 4.6 out of 5. On Android, Coin Master has a lifetime rating of 4.3 out of 5 across 4.8 million reviews. On Facebook, Coin Master has over 16 million likes to date. 10/10
Real-Money Payouts
Coin Master cannot legally offer real-money payouts. If you want to win real money playing online slot apps, you must join a legitimate online casino site. N/A