Item: Pocket Bandit
Rating: 82
Author: Dinsun

Dinsun Review

Dinsun here. Most 'games' on the Apple Watch are garbage—they’re either too complex for the screen or just plain boring. Pocket Bandit is the exception. It understands the hardware. Using the Digital Crown to feel for clicks is a stroke of genius; it actually feels like you're cracking a safe. The haptics are the star of the show here. It’s simple, it’s tactile, and it’s perfectly suited for those thirty seconds you spend waiting for the bus.

However, let’s not pretend it’s more than a distraction. It’s a mini-game. The variety is thin, and once you've cracked a few dozen safes, you've seen everything the game has to offer. It’s a 74 because it’s a perfect execution of a very small idea. It’s worth the dollar just to see what the Watch can actually do when someone designs a game for it, rather than just porting one to it.

Overall Stats

Pros & Cons

Exceptional use of the Digital Crown and haptics
Perfectly sized for short play sessions
Charming pixel art style

Extremely limited depth
Can be repetitive over time
Watch-only experience limits its reach

Technical Report

Performance: Very responsive on Apple Watch; minimal battery impact.

Accessibility:

Haptic Feedback
Simple Controls
One-handed Play

Audience Fit

Buy if: You have an Apple Watch and want a clever, tactile way to kill a few minutes.

Skip if: You don't own an Apple Watch or want a deep, story-driven game.

Similar Games:

Lifeline
Rules!
Cosmos Rings

Reviewer Context

Reviewer: Dinsun, wearable tech critic
Hardware: Apple Watch Series 8
Playtime: 3 hours
Status: Collected most treasures

The Game

Available on: Apple Watch, iPhone, iPod

1185830542

$0.99 4+★3.6 65 reviews

Author : Seele Games

Pubish Date : Mon Dec 19 2016

Last Update Date : Thu Oct 22 2020

Support Languages : English

Genres :

Version 1.3Thu Oct 22 2020

- Optimized for WatchOS 7
- New content! 20 more treasures to find.
- Gameplay improvements
- Bugs fixing
"Pocket Bandit is a hidden gem" - Eurogamer
Top 11 Best Apple Watch Games : "It’s such a smart use of the device’s most distinctive feature" - Mac World
Top 15 Apple Watch games you should play : "It’s clever, and, as a plus, requires no actual lawbreaking." - Tom's Guide
"Best Apple Watch games list " - Techradar
"Best Apple Watch games list " - iMore
Pocket Bandit is a fun and fast-paced puzzle game for Apple Watch. To orchestrate your heist, the Apple watch will be the key : use the crown to move and vibrations to find the good combination !
Each successful heist will give you a treasure and there is more than 100 of them : Steal'em all to become the King of Bandits !
Note : You will need an Apple Watch to play Pocket Bandit (you dont need an iPhone).
FEATURES
* The perfect puzzle game for Apple Watch : quick, fun and deep gameplay !
* More than 100 treasures to find. This month, steal Santa Claus factory !
* Complications for Apple Watch and 10 stickers for iMessage.
* Beautiful and stylish visuals.
* Pay Once and play forever ! Events and new content are on the way...
HOW TO PLAY THE GAME
* Use the digital crown to move the cursor
* When the Apple watch starts vibrating, it means that you are on a good number.
* Touch the Apple Watch to validate the number.
* If it's the good number, the safe will open !
* You win a treasure. There's more than 100 to collect !
DEVELOPER
Seele games is a company specialized in iPhone and AppleWatch games. We make great games on small devices, with outside the box concepts, created with love, passion and generosity.
Thank you !
http://seelegames.com/
Requires iOS 12.0 and watchOS 4.0 or later. Compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.
Feel, Steal, Loot!
"Pocket Bandit is a hidden gem" - Eurogamer
Top 11 Best Apple Watch Games : "It’s such a smart use of the device’s most distinctive feature" - Mac World
Top 15 Apple Watch games you should play : "It’s clever, and, as a plus, requires no actual lawbreaking." - Tom's Guide
"Best Apple Watch games list " - Techradar
"Best Apple Watch games list " - iMore
Pocket Bandit is a fun and fast-paced puzzle game for Apple Watch. To orchestrate your heist, the Apple watch will be the key : use the crown to move and vibrations to find the good combination !
Each successful heist will give you a treasure and there is more than 100 of them : Steal'em all to become the King of Bandits !
Note : You will need an Apple Watch to play Pocket Bandit (you dont need an iPhone).
FEATURES
* The perfect puzzle game for Apple Watch : quick, fun and deep gameplay !
* More than 100 treasures to find. This month, steal Santa Claus factory !
* Complications for Apple Watch and 10 stickers for iMessage.
* Beautiful and stylish visuals.
* Pay Once and play forever ! Events and new content are on the way...
HOW TO PLAY THE GAME
* Use the digital crown to move the cursor
* When the Apple watch starts vibrating, it means that you are on a good number.
* Touch the Apple Watch to validate the number.
* If it's the good number, the safe will open !
* You win a treasure. There's more than 100 to collect !
DEVELOPER
Seele games is a company specialized in iPhone and AppleWatch games. We make great games on small devices, with outside the box concepts, created with love, passion and generosity.
Thank you !
http://seelegames.com/

Ratings & Reviews

3.6 out of 5 with 65 Counts

★★★★★

Age Rating 4+

Pocket Bandit is a game designed exclusively for Apple Watch. You play as a clever thief trying to crack safes across various levels. Use the Digital Crown to rotate the dial and feel the vibrations as you get closer to the combination. Be quick! If the timer runs out or you make too much noise, the police will catch you. Discover over 100 treasures and work your way up the ranks to become the greatest bandit in history.

Features

Optimized for Apple Watch and Digital Crown

Intense haptic feedback mechanics

Over 100 unique treasures to collect

Fast-paced arcade gameplay

Increasing difficulty with laser grids and alarms

Tips

Mastering the Digital Crown

The key to success is listening to the haptic clicks. Slowly rotate the Digital Crown; when you feel a distinct 'thump' or see a visual cue, stop immediately to set the tumbler. Speed is essential as the security levels increase in later vaults.

Promotion Videos

Trailer Pocket Bandit - YouTube

News on this game

Pocket Bandit game lets you use your Apple Watch to crack safes

Every once in awhile a game is published that uses technology in a way you wouldn't have imagined, one such game is the Pocket bandit...

Geeky Gadgets - Sat Jun 29 2019

Gameplays

Looting and Rankings

Each safe contains a variety of loot, from common coins to rare artifacts. Collecting loot increases your score and bandit rank. As you progress, safes become more complex, requiring more combinations and offering less time to complete the job.