Item: Daddy Was A Thief
Rating: 87
Author: Dinsun

Our Site Score

87/100

Daddy Was A Thief is a charmingly chaotic 'one-tap' vertical platformer that stands out for its humor and destructible environments. You play as a father who, after losing his job, decides to rob a bank. The gameplay involves smashing through floor after floor of an apartment building to escape the police. The physics of smashing through floors and furniture feel weighty and satisfying.

The game is packed with personality—from the way 'Daddy' bounces off objects to the weird power-ups like a shrink ray or a giant bathtub. It’s an endless runner at heart, but the verticality and the environmental hazards (like old ladies with rolling pins and laser-wielding cops) keep it feeling fresh. It’s a great example of how a simple mechanic can be elevated by great art and a quirky sense of humor.

Reviewed on: Sun May 19 2024

Dinsun Review

I wasn't expecting much from a game titled 'Daddy Was A Thief,' but I was pleasantly surprised. It’s got a great sense of momentum. The mechanic is simple—swipe down to smash through the floor—but the way the physics interact with furniture, appliances, and enemies makes every run feel slightly different. It’s a very 'vertical' take on the endless runner genre that actually feels fresh.

The art style is clean and characterful, and there’s a surprising amount of variety in the obstacles, from angry old ladies to shrink rays. It’s a bit shallow, of course, and the difficulty spikes can feel a bit random when the screen gets cluttered, but for a mobile game, it has a lot of heart. It’s the kind of game I would have loved to have on a Game Boy back in the day, albeit with fewer explosions.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Satisfying smash physics
Great sense of momentum
Charming and funny art style

Unpredictable difficulty spikes
Repetitive over long sessions
Limited long-term goals

Technical Report

Performance: Very smooth; physics calculations don't seem to impact the frame rate.

Accessibility:

Simple swipe-based controls
High contrast characters

Audience Fit

Buy if: You enjoy high-speed arcade games with physics-based destruction.

Skip if: You prefer a slow pace or structured level progression.

Similar Games:

Jetpack Joyride
Doodle Jump
Burrito Bison

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, 40-year-old conservative gamer
Hardware: iPhone 15 Pro
Playtime: 6 hours
Status: Unlocked all power-ups

The Game

Available on: iPhone, iPad, iPod

607648590

$1.99 13+★4.6 203 reviews

Author : Cezary Rajkowski

Pubish Date : Thu Apr 25 2013

Last Update Date : Fri Jan 30 2026

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 2.0.4Fri Jan 30 2026

This update contains improvements and bug fixes.
Bank staff is usually friendly and polite. This time something went wrong! Gain as much money as you can! Hurry! Everyone try to catch you, but you are clever, aren’t you? Find combo speed boosts, shortcuts and grab power-ups to survive.
Awesome FEATURES:
- Smashable obstacles: walls, furnitures and more! Gain as much destructions as you can! Crash through walls, floors and watch the pieces fly all over!
- Playable thieves and crazy power-ups to unlock
- Retina display graphics
- Different every time you play!
- Just one finger control! (swipe up and down) Quick pick-up-and-play
- Game Center achievements and leaderboards
- Universal: iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch native
Are you ready for the biggest, craziest and wildest adventure yet?
"as far as iPhone games that can be used as time-killers, Daddy Was A Thief is perfectly suited to make you miss your subway stop or not realize the line in front of you has been moving" David Wolinsky, Touch Arcade
"This one's pretty simple and casual, and its lighthearted feel and graphics make it great for all ages" Phil Hornshaw, Appolicious
"Colorful polished graphics and cute animations" Appsmile
Requires iOS 13.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Bank staff is usually friendly and polite. This time something went wrong! Gain as much money as you can! Hurry! Everyone try to catch you, but you are clever, aren’t you? Find combo speed boosts, shortcuts and grab power-ups to survive.
Awesome FEATURES:
- Smashable obstacles: walls, furnitures and more! Gain as much destructions as you can! Crash through walls, floors and watch the pieces fly all over!
- Playable thieves and crazy power-ups to unlock
- Retina display graphics
- Different every time you play!
- Just one finger control! (swipe up and down) Quick pick-up-and-play
- Game Center achievements and leaderboards
- Universal: iPad, iPhone & iPod Touch native
Are you ready for the biggest, craziest and wildest adventure yet?
"as far as iPhone games that can be used as time-killers, Daddy Was A Thief is perfectly suited to make you miss your subway stop or not realize the line in front of you has been moving" David Wolinsky, Touch Arcade
"This one's pretty simple and casual, and its lighthearted feel and graphics make it great for all ages" Phil Hornshaw, Appolicious
"Colorful polished graphics and cute animations" Appsmile

Ratings & Reviews

4.6 out of 5 with 203 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 13+

Daddy Was A Thief is an arcade game where players swipe down to smash through the floors of a skyscraper. Along the way, you must dodge obstacles, collect coins for upgrades, and utilize wacky power-ups to stay ahead of the police. The game features fully destructible environments and a fun, cartoonish art style.

Features

Unique one-swipe smash gameplay

Destructible environments

Unlockable costumes and power-ups

Dynamic obstacles and enemies

Tips

Avoiding the Laser

When you see the red laser targeting you, smash through the next floor immediately. Staying on one level for too long makes you an easy target.

Promotion Videos

Daddy Was A Thief - Universal - HD Gameplay Trailer - YouTube

News on this game

Endless Faller Daddy Was A Thief Is Kid APProved [Video]

This week, it's endless faller, Daddy Was A Thief, from indie dev Cezary Rajkowski. It's available in the App Store for $1.99 now. Ezoic.

Cult of Mac - Sun Aug 30 2015

The 50 Best iOS Games Of 2017

Card Thief. Arnold Rauers. The board game is composed of three rows and three ... Dragon Hills 2. Cezary Rajkowski. Jump into a mechanical dragon and get ready...

AppAdvice - Mon Dec 30 2019

Gameplays

Combo Smashing

Smash through multiple floors in a single jump to build up a 'Fire' mode. This makes you temporarily invincible and allows you to crash through everything.