# Shapes & Numbers — A Swift Playgrounds Experiment

> Timed shape and number matching puzzle game developed on iPad. (iPhone/iPad app by John Davenport.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shapes-and-numbers/id1623506538 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [John Davenport](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526004845)
- Category: Games, Puzzle, Strategy
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.67/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 2 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.5 · 8 MB
- Languages: English
- Released: 2022-06-06
- Data updated: 2026-06-05
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shapes-and-numbers/id1623506538/reviews.md

## What is Shapes & Numbers?

Shapes & Numbers is a game about matching the correct shape & number combination within a set time period. Clear the 3x3 board in the time and you'll have to do it again, but faster. Be careful though wrong answers will reduce how much time you have left to complete the puzzle. Clear the board without making a single mistake and you'll earn a perfect clear bonus!

Shapes & Numbers was created out of a challenge to create a game and publish it to the AppStore using only the Swift Playgrounds app for iPad. While Swift Playgrounds is not designed with game development in mind it does not mean a game can't be created and Shapes & Numbers is a proof of that theory. That being said there are some unnecessary design and functionality restrictions in place with Swift Playgrounds that do limit ability to the game that I wanted to make. Some examples of this include the inability to add Game Center integration for leaderboards, lack of .sks file support for particle effects, and no way to easily lock the rotation of the game to portrait mode - yeah don't rotate your device (it's not a good time). 

That being said, this is early days for Swift Playgrounds, and I do hope that Apple is already working on Swift Playgrounds 5 with the hope that they are going to build a unique, simple, and elegant way to make casual games like Shapes & Numbers.

If you enjoyed this game, or the idea of making a game on your iPad, please consider rating Shapes & Numbers 5 stars on the AppStore and sharing it with friends and family. Let them know that this is the kind of stuff that even they could learn to do with a little time and effort and if Apple can figure out ways to make these tools even easier to use I do think we'll see the barrier to entry for game development come down even further.

## Key features

- Timed shape and number matching
- 3x3 board puzzles
- Perfect clear bonuses
- Increasing difficulty
- iPad development showcase

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tips Welcome | $2.99 | one-time |


## Recent user reviews (2 of 2)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shapes-and-numbers/id1623506538/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Prefect ap

*2024-04-09*

Love it.

### 4/5 — Fun little game with bugs

*2023-10-20*

On iOS 17, at least, the menu/score area gets erased to a blank when it updates. Rotating your phone makes it clear up. Probably easily fixable.

## Frequently asked questions about Shapes & Numbers

### What is the main gameplay mechanic in Shapes & Numbers?

The core gameplay involves matching the correct shape and number combination on a 3x3 board within a set time limit. Players must clear the board quickly to advance to the next, faster round.

### How does difficulty increase in Shapes & Numbers?

Difficulty increases as you progress through rounds. Each subsequent round requires you to clear the board faster than the previous one, demanding quicker reflexes and decision-making.

### Can I play Shapes & Numbers offline?

The provided description does not specify offline play capabilities. However, as it was developed using Swift Playgrounds on an iPad, it is likely designed for single-player use and may function offline.

### Does Shapes & Numbers have leaderboards or multiplayer?

Unfortunately, Shapes & Numbers does not feature Game Center integration for leaderboards or any multiplayer modes. This limitation is noted as a restriction of the Swift Playgrounds development environment.

### What are the system requirements for Shapes & Numbers?

Shapes & Numbers is available for iPhone and iPad devices. It has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of players.

### How often is Shapes & Numbers updated?

The latest version, 2.0, was released on August 13, 2024. The app was initially released on June 6, 2022, suggesting a development cycle that allows for updates.

### Does Shapes & Numbers have ads?

No, Shapes & Numbers does not contain advertisements. The developer has indicated that the app is free to download and play without ad interruptions.

### What makes Shapes & Numbers unique?

This game is notable for being created entirely on an iPad using the Swift Playgrounds app, demonstrating the potential for game development on mobile devices.

## Version history (last 2 releases)

### 2.0 — 2024-08-13

Shapes & Numbers 2.0 takes the app out of Swift Playgrounds and into Xcode!

This transition allowed me to add Game Center integration to provide leaderboards and some fun achievements. 

I've also added a "Tip the Dev" button if you want to show me your support directly. 

Finally I've cleaned up some of the long standing bugs from the Swift Playgrounds build of this game to allow for a smoother and more fun experience. 

Thanks for playing!

### 1.0 — 2022-06-06

No release notes.

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## More apps by John Davenport

- [ZER0ED](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zer0ed/id1526004843)
- [Flowify: Focus & Habit Tracker](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flowify-focus-and-habit-tracker/id6505125831)
- [WxNmbr: Weather, Simplified](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wxnmbr-weather-simplified/id6642662501)
- [Rppl. Daily Journaling](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rppl-daily-journaling/id6749874833)

All apps by John Davenport: https://appshunter.io/developer/1526004845

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-05.*