# Starlace — Calm word search, zero timers

> Calm word search puzzle game with no timers or lives. (iPhone/iPad app by John Rouda.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starlace/id6798901138 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [John Rouda](https://appshunter.io/developer/396597129)
- Category: Games, Casual, Word
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.0 · 5 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-09-30
- Data updated: 2026-10-09
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases

## What is Starlace?

Starlace is a word puzzle that lets you breathe.
 
Every level is a night sky. The stars carry letters, and hidden among
them are words - not in straight lines, but bending and turning through
the grid. Press a star and drag through its neighbours to lace a word
together. Each word you find leaves a glowing thread behind, and when
you find them all, the threads become a constellation with a name of
its own: The Lantern. The Ferryman. The Copper Hare.
 
There is no timer. There are no lives, no hearts to refill, no streak
that punishes you for missing a day. You cannot lose Starlace. You can
only take longer, and taking longer is the point.
 
HOW IT PLAYS
 
- Trace between neighbouring stars - sideways, up, down, diagonally
- Words bend as they go, so you learn to read whole neighbourhoods
- Slots at the top show you how long each hidden word is
- Every real word you spot that isn't on the list pays a bonus find
- Grids grow from four by four up to seven by seven as your eye sharpens
- Sixty named constellations, and more nights beyond them
 
QUIET BY DESIGN
 
Ambient pads drift under a slowly turning starfield. Letters chime
softly as you drag through them. If you would rather have silence, or a
calmer background, or larger and brighter letters, all of it is in
Settings - including a left-handed layout and a reduced motion mode.
 
PLAY ANYWHERE
 
Starlace works completely offline. No account, no sign-in, no
connection needed. Your progress is saved on your device, and the
puzzles are identical for everyone, forever - night 40 is night 40
whether you play it today or next year.
 
STUCK IS FINE
 
Spend stardust to reveal a single letter or a whole word, or watch a
short video for more. You earn stardust just by playing, and by finding
bonus words. Nothing is locked behind a wall.
 
Starlace is a game about noticing things. Take it slowly.
 
---
 
Optional purchases include stardust packs, a one-time purchase to
remove ads, and the Stargazer Pass - an auto-renewing monthly
subscription that removes ads and adds stardust weekly. Subscriptions
renew automatically unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the
period ends. Manage or cancel in your device Settings.
 
Terms of use: https://johnrouda.com/terms
Privacy policy: https://johnrouda.com/privacy

## Key features

- Bendable word tracing
- Constellation creation
- No timers or lives
- Offline play
- Customizable settings
- Stardust hints

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Removes every ad | $4.99 | one-time |
| 300 Stardust | $0.99 | one-time |
| 9,000 Stardust | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1,000 Stardust | $2.99 | one-time |
| 3,600 Stardust | $7.99 | one-time |


## Is Starlace safe?

Not enough ratings yet to assess Starlace.

## Is Starlace legit?

Starlace appears legitimate, with a few gaps. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Starlace is 75 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data.


## Frequently asked questions about Starlace

### What is Starlace?

Starlace is a word puzzle game where you find hidden words by tracing paths between lettered stars. It's designed to be a calm and relaxing experience with no timers or pressure to rush.

### Does Starlace have ads?

Yes, Starlace contains advertisements. There is an option to remove ads through an optional one-time purchase or via the Stargazer Pass subscription.

### Can I play Starlace offline?

Yes, Starlace works completely offline. No account, sign-in, or internet connection is needed to play, and your progress is saved on your device.

### How do I get hints in Starlace?

You can spend stardust to reveal a letter or a whole word, or watch a short video for more hints. Stardust is earned by playing and finding bonus words.

### What devices does Starlace support?

Starlace is available on iPhone and iPad, indicated by its support for iOS devices.

### How often is Starlace updated?

The latest version of Starlace is 1.1, which was last updated on October 1, 2026. This suggests relatively frequent updates to improve the game.

### What is the Stargazer Pass in Starlace?

The Stargazer Pass is an auto-renewing monthly subscription that removes ads and provides weekly stardust. It can be managed or canceled in your device's settings.

### Is Starlace suitable for children?

Starlace has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for young players. The game's gentle pace and word-finding mechanics are designed to be accessible.

## Version history (last 2 releases)

### 1.1 — 2026-10-01

bug fixes...and star gazing.

### 1.0 — 2026-09-30

No release notes.

## More apps by John Rouda

- [Sudoku Game Unlimited](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sudoku-game-unlimited/id396597126)
- [Drop Blocks](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drop-blocks/id403305812)
- [Subnet Mask Calc](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subnet-mask-calc/id406375326)
- [Drop Blocks - matching game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drop-blocks-matching-game/id408297400)
- [Bubble Pops Strategy Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/bubble-pops-strategy-game/id413427295)
- [Daily Bible Read](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/daily-bible-read/id424442645)

All apps by John Rouda: https://appshunter.io/developer/396597129

---

*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 2026-10-09.*