The short answer: yes.
In November 2022, I downloaded Mistplay hoping I'd get enough in Amazon gift cards to provide Christmas presents to my family.
Was I able to reach my goal? No.
I downloaded the first game and quickly got addicted to it. At one point the game became impossible to progress, so I paid to win I'm ashamed to report.
By the time I was able to cash out the $25 Amazon gift card, I was probably in the hole about $30. So all my efforts from trying to make money, and I ended up being negative $5.
After Christmas, I downloaded a different game and quickly got hooked. (Hello, addictive personality.) The same pattern emerged almost immediately.
You like the game. You play the game. It's hard enough to keep your attention, but easy enough to realistically reach the goals. Then the goals become increasingly impossible without paying for little things here and there.
Another thing about MistPlay, even when a game pays quickly compared to others, eventually the payout slows way down.
It seems to slow way down after you sunk your first bit of money in order to hit the goals.
So you're thinking I just have to keep playing this and I'll make back the money I spent really quickly. Actually, no. No you won't.
This app will certainly not replace anyone's full-time, or even part-time, income.
If you do want to make money this way, here's how to be successful:
Download and play the games for 2-3 days tops, then delete and start on the next game.
Do not pay for anything in game. It's a trap. It'll get progressively harder until that's the only way to progress. Then it'll turn into a sunk cost fallacy, where you'll justify putting more money in just because you've already put money in.
Have low expectations for how much money you'll actually make. You're not going to buy a house or pay off student loans playing app games. But treating yourself to a little bit of money via gift cards here and there can be fun.
Make sure you follow my blog. I'll be trying out and giving a realistic view of all the quick money making schemes we see everywhere.
