My Experience with Highrise: Virtual Metaverse
Last Thursday night, I was stuck on a late bus home and bored out of my mind. I opened Highrise just to kill time, and somehow ended up sitting on a virtual bench in some neon-lit park area with a random person named “Luna_Spark.” We didn’t even talk much—just did silly dances with our avatars and watched a player-made band play weird covers. It was simple, but it made me smile after a long day. I’ve been using this app for a little over a month now, mostly late at night when I’m winding down or on lazy Sunday afternoons. It replaced another social app that got too bloated and buggy for me. Highrise isn’t perfect, but it feels more like a place to actually hang out than just scroll.
Features Worth Noting
The avatar customization is pretty deep. I spent way too long picking out the perfect jacket and sunglasses for my little 3D self. You can change your hair, skin tone, body shape, and even walk style. There are tons of rooms to explore—like a coffee shop, a rooftop party, or a quiet forest with glowing trees. The game stuff is okay; there are little mini-games like bubble popping and trivia that give you coins to buy more clothes or furniture for your own room. I decorated my tiny apartment with a lava lamp and a beanbag chair, and honestly, it felt oddly satisfying. I also like that you can attend scheduled events like concerts or dance parties, even though I showed up late to one and the music was still playing. The interface is mostly smooth on my iPhone 14, though sometimes it lags when too many avatars are in one spot.
What Needs Work
Okay, the biggest thing that bugged me? I tried to contact support about a glitch where my avatar’s outfit kept resetting to the default pink shirt for three days. I messaged them on a Tuesday and got a reply on Friday that basically said “please check your internet connection and close the app.” Not helpful at all. That made me feel like they don’t really care about little issues that ruin the vibe. Another thing—the game feels a bit pay-to-show-off. You earn coins slowly, and all the really cool stuff costs a premium currency called “gold” that you have to buy with real money. It’s not awful, but it’s a little annoying when you see someone wearing a legendary outfit you know you’ll never afford. Also, the chat can get chaotic in public rooms; I’ve had a couple people spam nonsense or be weird, but the mute button is easy to use.
Pricing
The app is free to download, which is great. You start with some basic coins to buy a few items, but the real scarcity is gold. Gold costs real cash—I think it’s like $4.99 for a small pack, up to $99.99 for a big one. I haven’t spent a cent, and I’m still having fun, but I can feel the pressure to buy in when I see new limited-time outfits. You can also earn small amounts of gold through events or daily logins, but it’s super slow. For a free app, it’s fair enough, but just know you’ll either grind or pay if you want the flashy stuff.
Developer Notes
From what I can tell, Pocket Worlds updates the app every couple weeks with new items or events. They’re active with seasonal stuff like Halloween costumes or winter decorations, which keeps it fresh. But I wish they’d listen to user feedback more. I saw a ton of people complaining about the same glitch I had on their Discord, and it took weeks to fix. They seem nice, but slow on the real fixes. Also, the app is careful about saying you can’t share personal info in chat, which I guess is good for safety.
Security & Privacy
You have to make an account with an email or your Apple login. I used the Apple login because I don’t trust random apps with my info. They say they collect data for ads and personalization, which is pretty standard. There’s a filter that blocks bad words in chat, and you can report or block people easily. I haven’t had any security scares, but I’d still not give them my real name or location. For a social app, it feels about as safe as any other.
How does avatar customization work in Highrise?
Highrise offers deep avatar customization, letting you change hair, skin tone, body shape, walk style, and clothing like jackets and sunglasses. You can spend coins earned from mini-games to buy items, but premium outfits require gold, a paid currency.
What kind of events and rooms can I explore in Highrise?
You can explore various user-created rooms like a coffee shop, rooftop party, or a quiet forest with glowing trees, and attend scheduled events such as concerts and dance parties. Even if you arrive late, the music and activities continue, making it easy to join in.
My avatar's outfit keeps resetting to the default pink shirt—how do I fix this?
This is a known glitch that support may not resolve quickly; try closing and reopening the app, and check your internet connection first. If the issue persists, you can report it again, but be aware that support responses can be slow and generic.
How can I deal with spam or weird behavior in public chat rooms?
Highrise has an easy-to-use mute button that lets you silence disruptive users instantly. If someone is spamming or acting inappropriately, simply mute them to keep your experience enjoyable.
How does Highrise compare to other social apps like Second Life or IMVU?
Highrise feels less bloated and more focused on casual hangouts than apps like IMVU, with simpler mini-games and a cleaner interface. However, it shares a similar pay-to-show-off model where premium items cost real money, though you can still have fun without spending anything.
