# Cardinal Chains — Original minimalist puzzles > Minimalist puzzle game with non-decreasing sequences and handcrafted levels. (iPhone/iPad app by Daniel Nora.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cardinal-chains/id1339737509 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Daniel Nora](https://appshunter.io/developer/1199363689) - Category: Games, Puzzle - Price: $2.99 - Rating: 4.90/5 from 24 App Store ratings · 12 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.6 · 101 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2018-03-21 - Data updated: 2026-07-08 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cardinal-chains/id1339737509/reviews.md ## What is Cardinal Chains? Cardinal Chains is a minimalist puzzle game centering on the concept of non-decreasing sequences. Each puzzle begins with a monochrome grid of numbers, plus a few colored cells marked with an X. Starting at these cells, you must link up numbers in non-decreasing order until the whole grid is filled with color. • 500 unique, carefully handcrafted puzzles of varying difficulty, each with a single solution • Beautiful, lengthy chill-out soundtrack created by accomplished professional artists • Minimalist, elegant design without timers, ads, purchases or other hassles - just pure gameplay • Several built-in color themes, including colorblind options. Or... • ...make your own color themes - right from within the game! • Features achievements and cloud saves ## Key features - 500 unique handcrafted puzzles - Non-decreasing sequence gameplay - Chill-out soundtrack - Minimalist design - Customizable color themes - Achievements and cloud saves ## Recent user reviews (10 of 12) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cardinal-chains/id1339737509/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Great Aesthetic - Great Puzzles *2024-03-23* Good music, visuals, and satisfying sound effects. Puzzle logic is simple and fair. Got this on Linux from itch.io a few years back. It’s so good buying again to replay on the go now that I have an iPhone. Highly recommended. ### 5/5 — Entertaining *2022-03-14, version 1.1.0* Simple concept. I honestly didn’t think I’d enjoy this much. Seemed too easy, but they put together quite the variety of challenging puzzles that kept me engaged. Just wish there was a way I could skip a level and go back to it later. Gets kind of frustrating when you get stuck on one, but I always figure it out eventually. ### 5/5 — Great easy and challenging puzzle mix *2021-12-11* This game is so much fun. It starts easy. Afterward there is a mix of easy and hard puzzles — so that you can get a rest with an easy puzzle after solving a harder one. They’re challenging put not so hard as to be frustrating. Just get it if you like puzzles. ### 5/5 — Absolutely fantastic *2020-07-28, version 1.0.4* This is such a great puzzle game. The puzzles can be difficult but never feel unfair. It’s simple yet challenging, especially in the later levels. It is absolutely worth its inexpensive price given how many levels there are. I’ve gotten my money’s worth already, and I’ve only just scratched the surface of this gem! ### 5/5 — Great game, lovely interface *2019-10-21* The puzzle style has surprising depth, and is satisfying to solve- this is amplified by how well the interface works. Spend $2 on this instead of spending hours of your life watching ads on a free game. ### 5/5 — Quality and quantity *2018-07-30* Well worth the money. You get a ton of puzzles. The description says 500 and I’ve been playing it for a few weeks and am only on 150. Highly recommended! ### 5/5 — Simple Mechanics, Great Puzzle *2018-05-15* Not much to it, but a simply great puzzle game. Can find myself blasting through feeling like a genius then getting stuck on something so simple. Great mix and great fun. ### 5/5 — Very clean design, excellent level progression *2018-05-10* The only negative thing is “cloud saves” don’t seem to work? Do I have to sign into Game Center (bleck) for that? **Developer response:** Hi! Sorry, but yes, you have to sign into Game Center for cloud saves to work. Feel free to reach me out at support@danijmn.com if you experience any other difficulties! ### 5/5 — Fun relaxing puzzle game *2018-05-09* It’s just as the title says - this is a great little puzzle game that I love playing when I have a free moment. Nice sound effects and the visuals are clean and minimal. Love it! ### 5/5 — NerdCubed was right *2018-05-07* NerdCubed set me onto this with a recommends video. I love it ## Frequently asked questions about Cardinal Chains ### What is the core gameplay of Cardinal Chains? Cardinal Chains involves filling a monochrome grid by linking numbers in non-decreasing order, starting from marked cells. The goal is to color the entire grid with a single, correct solution for each puzzle. ### How many puzzles are included in Cardinal Chains? The game features 500 unique, carefully handcrafted puzzles. These puzzles are designed to offer varying levels of difficulty, ensuring a long-lasting challenge for players. ### Does Cardinal Chains have ads or in-app purchases? No, Cardinal Chains is designed for pure gameplay and does not feature any advertisements, in-app purchases, or other distractions. It is a premium experience focused solely on the puzzles. ### Can I customize the appearance of Cardinal Chains? Yes, Cardinal Chains offers several built-in color themes, including options for colorblind users. You can also create and apply your own custom color themes directly within the game. ### Is Cardinal Chains available offline? The game description does not explicitly mention offline play. However, its minimalist design and focus on single-player puzzles suggest it is likely playable without an internet connection. ### What devices can I play Cardinal Chains on? Cardinal Chains is supported on iPhone, iPad, and iPod devices. It is designed to run on Apple's mobile operating system. ### How often is Cardinal Chains updated? The latest version of Cardinal Chains is 1.1.3, last updated on October 15, 2025. This indicates a relatively recent update, suggesting ongoing support and potential for future improvements. ### What is the age rating for Cardinal Chains? Cardinal Chains has an age rating of 4+. This means it is suitable for children aged 4 and above, indicating its content is generally appropriate for a wide audience. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.1.3 — 2025-10-15 Minor compatibility improvements. ### 1.1.2 — 2025-08-18 This minor release brings some small compatibility improvements. Here's the list of features introduced in the last major release: • A beautiful new chill-out soundtrack created by professional artists • New built-in color themes, including colorblind options • The ability to create new color themes right from within the game • Several small improvements Thank you for playing Cardinal Chains. Enjoy the update! ### 1.1.1 — 2022-04-11 This minor release brings some small UI enhancements. Here's the list of features introduced in the last major release: • A beautiful new chill-out soundtrack created by professional artists • New built-in color themes, including colorblind options • The ability to create new color themes right from within the game • Several small improvements Thank you for playing Cardinal Chains. Enjoy the update! ### 1.1.0 — 2021-09-09 Major update! This release brings: • A beautiful new chill-out soundtrack created by professional artists • New built-in color themes, including colorblind options • The ability to create new color themes right from within the game • Several small improvements Thank you for playing Cardinal Chains. Enjoy the update! ### 1.0.4 — 2020-02-05 Thank you for playing Cardinal Chains! This release brings a few general improvements. 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User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-07-08.*