SongPop

SongPop 1 was shut down in November 2018, due to compatibility issues with iOS 12, with users being advised to move over to SongPop 2.[7] FreshPlanet, the NYC–based startup who develop the SongPop franchise, were acquired by Gameloft the following month.[8]

In 2022, SongPop 2 was renamed SongPop Classic and SongPop 3 became simply SongPop.[9] The VIP option was also renamed SongPop Plus[10] along with a significant increase in price (over double in some territories). A new "ad-free" subscription was later introduced[11] at roughly the price point of the old VIP option.

The game is played much like the popular TV show Name That Tune.[12] After selecting a themed playlist, five songs are played. Players compete against each other to be the first to select the correct song title or artist from a choice of four. iTunes links are provided for each song.[13] The faster a player guesses, the more points they get. Players can remove two songs by using "power ups."[14] In SongPop 2, users can play alone for the first time, competing against a computer-controlled opponent.[15]

SongPop was awarded Best Facebook Game 2012, Social Gaming People's Voice Winner 2013, and Best Online Game 2013 by the British Academy Games Awards.[16] Soon after its release, Mark Zuckerberg posted on Facebook "Song Pop is one of the most fun Facebook games I've played in a while."[17] Some songs may include explicit lyrics. For this reason, iTunes rates the game 12+[14] and it is rated 16+ by Common Sense Media.[2]

The game has come under criticism from fans because of the existence of bots. Typically, players are challenged by an opponent who appears to be a woman from New York with the same playlists as the player and 86% compatibility. On the surface, they appear to be real people but will model the player's style, scoring similar to them but never mastering a playlist. Some suspect there are bots in party mode to stack the odds against the player and persuade them to buy tickets in order to defeat the bots.[18]