MARLVEL

Detective Notes vs its rivals

Side-by-side comparison against Detective Notes's closest competitors — identity, store metrics, ratings & sentiment, and strategic intel.

Detective Notes
This App
GameVelvet: Dominoes, Spades
Nemesis
Boardspace.net
Contender
Hot Potato - family game
Contender
Gloomhaven Campaign Tracker
Contender
Ticket to Ride® Companion
Contender
Set
Peer
Parchisi - Classic Board Game
Peer
Tombola (Italian Bingo)
Peer
VoxParty: Sesli Tabu Okey
Peer
Core Identity
DeveloperKyeong Cheon YangMegaJogosDave DyerFantasy GamesGrzegorz DziembowskiMarmalade Game Studiopnlkcsohil kadevarMobile Safe AppsThor Teknoloji Dis Ticaret Ltd Sti
CategoryGamesCardGamesGamesGamesBoardCardGamesCasinoBoard
PlatformiOSAndroidiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidAndroid, iOSiOS, AndroidiOSAndroidAndroid
Store Metrics
Rating4.7 / 54.7 / 53.4 / 52.7 / 54.8 / 52.6 / 54.5 / 54.5 / 54.5 / 53.9 / 5
Ratings Count217147,8981861,8146732757211,122
PriceFreeFreeFree$0.99FreeFreeFreeFreeFreeFree
Release DateSep 22, 2023Sep 27, 2012Mar 14, 2016Feb 20, 2023Dec 1, 2017Oct 31, 2024Apr 6, 2020Dec 8, 2021May 10, 2022Apr 28, 2020
Last UpdatedDec 24, 2025May 13, 2026May 8, 2026Feb 22, 2023May 4, 2026May 13, 2026Feb 14, 2026Oct 10, 2025Feb 25, 2026May 19, 2026
Sentiment & Reviews
Sentiment--mixedmixedpositivenegative----
Score--65/10045/10085/10035/100----
Praises---
  • The core hot potato timer mechanic provides a simple and engaging experience for casual users
  • Deep, specialized support for complex Gloomhaven campaign tracking that generic dice games cannot replicate.
  • Local couch play functionality allows families to play together using individual mobile devices as controllers
----
Complaints---
  • Audio playback fails to trigger when the device is set to silent or muted mode
  • Application fails to launch or display content on certain device configurations
  • Manual entry requirements for complex Frosthaven rulesets create administrative friction.
  • Frequent connection failures between the companion app and the host console prevent players from joining games
  • Game state instability and freezing during active turns force players to abandon matches prematurely
  • Lack of persistent user profiles causes character and train customization to reset after every single match
----
Requests---
  • Users desire additional configuration options to customize the timer behavior and gameplay settings
-
  • Implementation of an undo button to prevent accidental train placement caused by minor physical handling errors
  • Integration of rule documentation within the companion app to allow mid-game reference without exiting
----
Strategic Intel
Strengths
  • Multilingual support functions as a B2B distribution barrier into international board game markets
  • Customizable setup enables mapping to any physical mystery board game configuration
-
  • Ad-free, non-commercial environment sustains a dedicated, purist user base
  • 100+ game library provides deep content variety
  • Physical board game integration drives high-intent user acquisition
  • Offline-first architecture ensures reliability in transit-heavy social settings
  • Specialized campaign-tracking logic for complex tabletop titles
  • Cross-platform server synchronization for persistent party data
  • Cross-platform utility layer increases value of core game purchase
  • Private hand management solves specific local multiplayer friction
----
Weaknesses
  • Manual entry model lacks the automation of competitors like Gloomhaven Scenario Viewer
  • No multi-device sync or server-side campaign tracking for gaming groups
-
  • 0.52 rating gap between iOS and Android platforms
  • Interface lacks tablet-optimized responsiveness
  • $0.99 iOS entry price creates an inconsistent barrier compared to the free Android model
  • Audio playback fails on silent-mode devices
  • Technical launch failures on specific devices erode user trust
  • Manual data-entry overhead for complex scenarios
  • Lack of social features to drive daily active usage
  • Persistent lobby connection failures reported in reviews
  • Lack of persistent user profiles forces repetitive setup
  • 2.87-star rating reflects high-frequency technical instability
----
Pricingfreefreemiumfreefreemiumfreemiumfreefreemiumfreefreefree
MomentumZombie-Maintenance-ZombieMaintenanceSteady---
Update Cadence1 versions-2 versions, ~1d avg-2 versions, ~974d avg5 versions, ~38d avg5 versions---

Compare Detective Notes head-to-head

Disclosure: Independent intel to help mobile builders succeed.

AI-powered analysis with editorial review, built from publicly available sources. Marlvel.ai is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Detective Notes, its developer, the app publisher, Apple, or Google Play. All trademarks, logos, and screenshots referenced remain the property of their respective owners.

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