I am excited to introduce you to a new blog series, AnonyMouse's App Pick of the Month. Modeled after the AppleVis Editorial Team App Pick of the Month (a feature that ran in the early days of AppleVis), each month I will share a noteworthy new app or update.
This month, my pick is Home Quest - Idle Adventure, a game that has quietly become one of my favorite titles on iOS. Developed by CodeSTREAM and first submitted to AppleVis on June 28, 2020, Home Quest has steadily grown into a wonderfully unique experience that blends relaxing idle gameplay with strategic decision-making.
From the first time I played Home Quest, I loved the way the game invites you to guide a community from humble beginnings into a thriving kingdom. You expand your settlement, lead armies, and uncover a world filled with mythic adventures. What really sets Home Quest apart for me is that it isn’t just mindless tapping—you’re encouraged to think about how to grow, when to expand, and how best to prepare for what lies ahead.
Community Roots and Accessibility
I first noticed Home Quest when it was submitted to AppleVis over five years ago, and I was struck by how many people immediately recommended it. The feedback from the community was overwhelmingly positive, with players highlighting how enjoyable and surprisingly deep the gameplay was.
Accessibility has always been a key reason why Home Quest has kept my interest and attention. The game is fully compatible with VoiceOver, and the developer has consistently listened to feedback from blind and low vision players. Over the years, unlabeled buttons were fixed, confusing menus were simplified, and the overall experience has become smooth and intuitive. This kind of attention to accessibility is rare in mobile gaming, and it demonstrates the care that the developer puts into making sure everyone can enjoy the adventure.
The Big 5.0 Update
This month brought something exciting: the 5.0 update. '5.0' is not just a change of version number or just a small patch; it adds a brand-new chapter to the story.
For longtime players like me, the 5.0 update is exactly the kind of meaningful content we were hoping for. The new chapter expands the journey into unexplored lands, introduces fresh challenges, and breathes new life into the adventure.
Even better, the 5.0 update continued to polish the accessibility. Buttons and menus were streamlined, making navigation even easier with VoiceOver. This is one of those updates that makes you feel like the developer is paying attention not just to the game’s growth, but to the needs of the community playing it.
Why I Love Playing Home Quest
What keeps me coming back to Home Quest is the balance. On one hand, it’s a relaxing idle game that you can check in on during the day without stress; on the other, it’s filled with just enough strategy to keep you thinking and planning ahead. As you progress, the game challenges you to make smart choices, adapt to new situations, and face tougher adventures.
That combination—fun, accessible, relaxing but challenging—is what makes Home Quest such a special title. And with the brand-new chapter added in version 5.0, there’s never been a better time to dive in.
Put it all together, and that’s why Home Quest - Idle Adventure is my App Pick of the Month for September 2025. It’s charming, it’s inclusive, and it proves that mobile games can be fun, meaningful, and accessible.
Download Home Quest
- Home Quest - Idle Adventure is available for iOS on the App Store.
- Platform: iOS only
- Price: Free to download, with optional in-app purchases
Now It’s Your Turn
I’d love to hear from you! Have you played Home Quest yet? If so, what stood out most to you? And for those who’ve already explored the brand-new chapter from the 5.0 update, what are your thoughts on the new content? Share your experiences, your strategies, and your personal review of the game in the comments below—I’m curious to see how others are enjoying the adventure!
Comments
Home Quest
Love this new blog series Thomas.
I’ve never played Home Quest but you have me interested to maybe give it a go.
When you say that in app purchases are optional, what kind of things do they give you? I’ve noticed that in some games, optional purchases turn out to be kind of essential if you want to succeed, while in other games they are truly optional.
Dave
love the new blog series
I'm interested what else is to come.
My honest review after playing since 2020
I’ve been playing this game since 2020, and I genuinely loved the content up through Chapter 3. The journey up to that point was exciting, and Chapter 3 delivered a fantastic ending that felt like the true conclusion to the entire world.
The problem begins with Chapter 4. The developer took over a year to release content that, realistically, could have been completed in a few months at most. The result feels subpar. Nothing meaningful has changed in the world — just two new locations that don’t really impact gameplay. The core loop is the same fleet and army battles we’ve been doing for years, just with different names.
It took me (and others I’ve spoken with) less than ten days to finish the entire chapter. The storyline doesn’t add depth, expand the lore, or explain anything new. Honestly, if this chapter were removed from the game today, nothing would feel missing. There are no new features to be excited about, no major content additions, just recycled mechanics alongside three new materials and three new happiness resources.
And that’s not even the worst part. What has truly angered me, and the majority of the community, is the payment model for Chapters 3 and 4. Paying for extra content isn’t the issue; the problem is that our previous purchases were made meaningless. We were forced to buy access again, essentially repurchasing Chapter 3 along with the underwhelming Chapter 4. To make matters worse, the developer has refused to compensate players who already paid, and has no plans to change this policy.
Compared to earlier chapters, which always introduced at least one fresh, memorable feature, Chapter 4 falls flat. It doesn’t justify the year-long wait, it undercuts the value of prior purchases, and overall feels like a rushed, recycled update that should have been completed in under five months.
Idle games
Firstly, great new blog series and I look forward to the next.
But I don't really understand the appeal of idle games. They seemed designed to be addictive whilst offering up almost no gameplay or anything interesting to do. They just suck a lot of time over an extended period.
I've currently got Land of Livia on the go and it's really not much of a game. I just have to waste little bits of time all through the day. The worst bits are when there are like a minute or two left on a quest and you find yourself just waiting for it to count down wondering exactly what it is you am doing with your life. Then you grind and grind just to buy something that might allow you to grind and grind a little less than before, but really you are just doing the same thing forever. And yet I have this stupid feeling that I need to keep going until the bitter end. Why, I don't know.
I've been a gamer since the 80s - from BBC Micro, Amiga through to consoles. I had to give it up due to not being able to see and not really having the patience you need to try playing a mainstream game without sight, and not wanting to buy a new console just for one or two titles that may or may not work for me.
If HomeQuest is the game where you have to build up a village, then a town with huts, and you have little fights and so on, then I did try it back in the early days. I got so far and then it didn't seem to progress any more. I just ended up grinding over and over with nothing new opening up. I was convinced at the time it was a bug as I think I tried everything it was asking me to do. Maybe it is fixed now, but when I opened it up just now I was right at the very beginning. It's probably for the best or I'll just get addicted to it.
Anyway apologies for being down on it. I know lots of people seem to enjoy idle games. I just get addicted and have no idea why.
Re: Idle games
Unlike Mr. Grieves, I am the polar opposite. I tend to get bored with idol games. I have not played Home Quest, so I cannot comment on its gameplay, or how enjoyable it may, or may not be. I have played others in the past on iOS—Godville comes to mind here—however. For the ones I have played, they did not hold my attention very long. Also, like Mr. grieves, I have been a gamer since the 80s. Started out with the original Nintendo entertainment system, yes with that stupid little robot. As such I tend to prefer more action oriented games, ones where you have to make decisions more or less in real time as you proceed through the levels, with the exception to this rule being choose your adventure and puzzle games.
Great idea for a series!
Truth is, these games are built to fire off dopamine and keep you coming back. In many ways, it's low-grade gambling.
That said, if you enjoy it and understand that it is designed to tease you and, yes, make some money out of you, then game on!
I'm still kicking about on MistWorld, which I've ported over from Windows to my Mac. That's a bit more interactive,fighting, upgrading kit, big group online battles, and so on. It's a fun way to spend a couple of hours, but it is absolutely built to punish those who don't spend. There are even gambling games within it to upgrade equipment.
I'm a bigger fan of pay-up-front, and that's your lot. Last of Us one and two, for example.
Thank you for this suggestion. I'll check it out when I have a chance, though. I really should knock gaming on the head altogether. It's far too much procrastination for a procrastinator such as myself.