| Core Identity |
| Developer | The Chess Solitaire Sudoku Factory Ltd | Easybrain Ltd | Hungry Studio | PeopleFun CG, LLC | Oakever Games | Maple Media Apps, LLC | MobilityWare | Fanatee | Vita Studio |
| Category | Games | Games | Games | Games | Games | Games | Games | Games | Games |
| Platform | iOS, Android | iOS | Android, iOS | Android, iOS | iOS | Android, iOS | iOS, Android | Android, iOS | iOS, Android |
| Store Metrics |
| Rating | 4.6 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 | 4.9 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 | 4.7 / 5 | 4.8 / 5 |
| Ratings Count | 599 | 1,816,450 | 69,473 | 651,692 | 294,310 | 58,540 | 33,840 | 283,379 | 458,435 |
| Price | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free | Free |
| Release Date | May 18, 2012 | Mar 30, 2017 | Apr 7, 2022 | May 7, 2010 | Nov 29, 2018 | Feb 18, 2011 | May 20, 2020 | Mar 8, 2017 | Apr 25, 2023 |
| Last Updated | Mar 15, 2026 | Mar 24, 2026 | Apr 20, 2026 | Apr 30, 2026 | Apr 23, 2026 | Feb 7, 2026 | Mar 11, 2026 | May 5, 2026 | May 14, 2026 |
| Sentiment & Reviews |
| Sentiment | mixed | negative | negative | negative | mixed | - | mixed | mixed | mixed |
| Score | 65/100 | 22/100 | 25/100 | 35/100 | 48/100 | - | 55/100 | 35/100 | 65/100 |
| Praises | - Difficulty level selection allows players to choose between relaxing or challenging brain exercise sessions
| | - Logical puzzle mechanics provide a satisfying brain training experience for casual players
| - Long-term engagement with the core puzzle mechanics keeps veteran players returning for years
| - Educational Hints
- UI Clarity
| - | - Engaging Gameplay
- Visual Design
| - Educational crossword mechanics provide a relaxing and mentally stimulating daily habit for long-term players
| - Large card visuals and clear layout design assist seniors in maintaining focus during long play sessions
|
| Complaints | - Screen scaling issues cause text and board elements to appear cropped on various devices
| - Excessive Ad Frequency
- Malicious Ad Content
| - Aggressive ad frequency interrupts flow and breaks concentration during active puzzle solving
| - Aggressive mid-game video advertisements interrupt the flow and concentration required for complex puzzle solving
| - Excessive Ad Frequency
- Intrusive Mid-Game Ads
| - | - Aggressive/Broken Ads
- Lack of Ad-Free Option
| - Aggressive ad frequency and intrusive ad behavior disrupt the core gameplay loop post-update
| - Aggressive advertisement frequency and deceptive exit buttons disrupt the flow of the game for many users
|
| Requests | - Mistake correction or undo functionality for players to fix typos during challenging puzzle sessions
| - | - Optional ad-free purchase tier to remove interruptions during gameplay sessions
| - Paid ad-free experience or alternative monetization models to restore the original game quality
| - | - | - | - Permanent ad-free purchase option requested to replace the current high-cost monthly subscription model
| - One-time purchase option to permanently remove advertisements and support the developers without ongoing interruptions
|
| Strategic Intel |
| Strengths | - Manual newspaper import functions as a unique utility barrier for traditionalist users
- Advanced hint library for expert patterns sustains power-user session duration
- Six-tier difficulty scaling accommodates both casual and expert logic-puzzle segments
| - Massive scale (1.8M+ ratings) providing high ASO authority
- Strong live-ops via Seasonal Events and Daily Challenges
- Clean, preferred UI for core Sudoku gameplay
| - 40,000+ puzzle library sustains long-term content consumption
- Offline-first architecture maintains session frequency
| - 36,000-puzzle library functions as a content-volume barrier
- Game Center integration drives social network effects
- Decade-long user history sustains organic install velocity
| - Educational hint system teaching strategy names
- Unique variants (Killer/Letter Sudoku)
- Real-time multiplayer tournaments
| - | - Unique color-coded logic system
- Strong developer reputation (MobilityWare)
- Effective progressive onboarding for beginners
| - Narrative-driven world progression sustains long-term retention
- 11-language library functions as a B2B distribution barrier
- Trivia-based crossword mechanics provide a high-frequency daily habit
| - Large-card accessibility design reduces friction for the senior demographic
- Minimalist interface minimizes cognitive load for long-term retention
|
| Weaknesses | - Screen scaling regressions on modern devices hinder basic usability
- Lack of undo functionality forces punitive restarts during complex puzzle attempts
- Menu unresponsiveness post-game prevents new session initiation
| - Aggressive mid-game ad interruptions
- High $18 ad-removal price point
- Lack of Dark Mode for night-time play
| - Aggressive ad-frequency interrupts core gameplay flow
- No cloud-save functionality for progress persistence
- Missing paid ad-free tier
| - Mid-game ad frequency drives high churn
- Forced internet connectivity prevents offline play
- Performance regressions post-update
| - Aggressive mid-game ad placement
- Contradictory 'Ad-Free' marketing claims
- Lack of cloud-syncing for progress
| - | - Intrusive and technically flawed ad implementation
- Lack of a one-time purchase ad-removal tier
- Declining sentiment trend due to monetization friction
| - Aggressive ad frequency disrupts the core gameplay loop
- Technical instability post-update causes loading failures
- No permanent ad-free purchase option for loyal users
| - Aggressive ad-frequency drives negative sentiment
- Lack of one-time purchase option limits conversion
|
| Pricing | freemium | freemium | freemium | free | free | freemium | freemium | freemium | freemium |
| Momentum | Intense | Maintenance | Intense | Active | Maintenance | Active | - | Active | Maintenance |
| Update Cadence | 5 versions | 2 versions, ~29d avg | 5 versions, ~6d avg | 4 versions, 1 majors/6mo, ~15d avg | 4 versions, ~12d avg | 5 versions | - | 5 versions, 5 majors/6mo, ~16d avg | 5 versions, ~10d avg |
