I used to go on an interior design app that was more of a fun creative tool than a game. I think their problem (in the competitive online market) was that it was free to play and the options for what spaces one could design were almost unlimited. Then they brought in a subscription fee for an "upgraded" version. I think I tried it for one month but wasn't enthused about the value of a regular subscription - it was about $5 a month I think. Not worth it for something I'll never actually do anything real with - I will never be designing a real high end room or buying high end furniture to put in it - and no real art with any value was being created unless someone else used my design for a real room (which is fine with me if I gave someone a good idea. It was a sharing community) - it was just fun for me.
When I found it I was going through a really hard time and it was creative, and almost meditative. I created spaces I wanted to be in, that felt comfortable or cheerful or interesting, some designs expressed my mood - and that helped me - if that makes sense.Then they went under. I miss that "game". There was no real competition just interest and support - supportive comments by other users, tips on what one could do or how to do it. People would share their techniques and room templates. Plus, real designers got free advertising for their furniture and accessories - one could use a real photo of an empty room and plan a real design with virtual items they could inquire about where to buy or order in real life if they wanted to. It was a tool that was community oriented and fun and, originally, cost no money - and served a marketing purpose just for designers. A win-win. But, then, not so lucrative for the app company.
I went looking for something similar because I really enjoyed that app - now there's an actual game. I suspect it might be the same company rebranded because stylistically it's similar and the designers of the furniture are familiar names - but this one involves challenges and virtual prizes and in-game purchases of items needed to complete challenges (or watch ads to collect virtual, non-redeemable for cash, money). For example they might say you need four antique items and a leather couch by xyz designer, to complete the challenge - if you haven't collected enough virtual currency to buy it and don't have it in your inventory - they can nickel and dime you (not to death - there are limits they put on it and you can play for free by watching ads to collect virtual currency). It's addictive but definitely not as creative. They give you the template you're to work from. The good thing is there's a daily limit on how many challenges one can enter. They only put out so many - incrementally- so you can't play all day even if you wanted to.
There's an imitation of the original app I liked - but the items are not as nice and the tools (cropping, rotating, moving items back to front like placing a floor lamp behind a couch or a book on a table, etc, and in the right perspective) are not as good or as available.
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