Sudoku.com by Easybrain is a market leader in the puzzle category with over 1.8M ratings, currently ranked #12 Free in its primary US category. It balances a 'brain training' value proposition with 'stress relief' messaging, supported by strong live-ops like Seasonal Events. However, the app is facing a sentiment crisis due to aggressive monetization, specifically mid-game ads and a high $18 ad-removal fee, which is driving a declining trend in user satisfaction despite strong chart positions.
Product velocity
Maintenance
Daily rank 🇺🇸
#74
▼4Games · free
Sentiment
4.8
1.8M reviews
Nemesis
Sudoku Puzzle - Brain Games
The App DNA
What makes this app unique?
For Casual gamers and puzzle enthusiasts of all skill levels looking for a convenient, stress-relieving way to exercise their brain on the go.
Key features
Provides a recurring daily puzzle with unique trophies to encourage long-term retention
Time-limited events that allow players to win unique medals and badges
Automatically updates notes in cells as numbers are filled in
Includes custom ninja-themed stickers for use in iMessage
How much does it cost?
The app utilizes a high-volume ad model but has set an aggressive $18 price point for ad removal, which users perceive as 'greedy' compared to the casual market standard.
Velocity
Maintenance developmentperformanceShow more...
The app has released only minor updates over the past two months, with no new features or content introduced. The development cadence is limited to stability patches and performance optimizations. Given the lack of major feature releases in the observed data, the app appears to be in a maintenance phase.
Who built it?
Easybrain
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Differences - Find & Spot Them
Easy Game - Brain PuzzlesUser Sentiment
What do users think recently?
Fresh user feedback skews frustrated. Users appreciate core gameplay & ui, but report excessive ad frequency.
How are ratings & reviews evolving?
What users say, by theme
- Core Gameplay & UI
Unlock 1 more frustration theme, each backed by review evidence.
Access the full report for freeCompetition
Competitive landscape for Sudoku.com - Number Games
How's the Games market?
The rivals identified
By Guru Puzzle Game
The most direct scale rival with over 500K ratings and a matching release cadence (2 updates in 6 months), maintaining a high-velocity 'Brain' training positioning.
- Positioned as a 'Brain' and 'Logic' utility rather than just a casual game, targeting a more academic/self-improvement audience.
- Aggressive metadata targeting of 'Solver' keywords to capture users looking for puzzle assistance tools.
- Maintains a higher update recency (April 2026) compared to this app's March 2026 update.
Unlock the head-to-head verdict: where this rival wins, and where it loses.
Access the full report for freeThe Analyst's Read
Key takeaways for Sudoku.com - Number Games
Where is it heading?
- Users report: User sentiment is 'Upset' due to mid-game ads and malicious pop-ups, indicating a high churn risk.
- v7.12.0 (Mar 2026) focused only on stability, suggesting a lack of recent feature innovation.
- Rankings show a #12 Free position, indicating strong current organic reach despite sentiment issues.
The SWOT
- 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
- Introduce 'Brain Training' utility mode to counter Guru Puzzle Game
- Implement 'Solver' tools to capture high-intent search traffic
- Introduce a lower-priced ad-removal tier
Next best moves
Eliminate mid-game ad interruptions
+ 2 more prioritized movesFeature gaps
Puzzle Solver tools (available in Guru and Oakever) +2
Since the last report: Users report: The app has transitioned into a maintenance phase, marked by a price hike for ad removal and a critical shift in user sentiment from general ad annoyance to security concerns regarding malicious ad content.
Bottom line
Users report: If I were the PM, I would immediately pivot from aggressive mid-game monetization to a 'clean gameplay' promise to protect the app's massive 1.8M-rating moat. While the app is currently climbing grossing charts (#83), the 'Upset' sentiment and reports of malicious ads pose a terminal risk to retention that competitors like Guru and NYT are positioned to exploit.
Unlock 3 critical frictions, 3 market threats, 2 more prioritized moves and the analyst’s take.
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