# Upward: Number Merge Puzzle — Drop, double, chain & climb

> Number merge puzzle game with chain reactions and multiple play modes. (iPhone/iPad app by StackForge Studios.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upward-number-merge-puzzle/id6775192115 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [StackForge Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896315914)
- Category: Games, Casual, Puzzle
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.50/5 from 2 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 15.1 · 46 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-09-04
- Data updated: 2026-10-24
- Monetization: freemium
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upward-number-merge-puzzle/id6775192115/reviews.md

## What is Upward?

Drop a number. Set off a chain. Climb to Orbit.

Only the bottom rungs ever fall. Drop a number into one of five columns, watch equal numbers double where they touch, and let gravity chain one merge into the next — climbing 2 Pebble all the way to 512 Orbit.

NO ADS. NO LIVES. NO BOOSTS.
No ads, no consumable lives to wait out, and nothing you can buy to raise a score. Pro is a one-time unlock or a Play Pass — or nothing at all.

PLAN THE CLIMB
See the piece in hand and the next two pieces before you commit. Choose a column, set up connected matches, and build chain reactions that can transform the whole board.

ONE SHARED DAILY
Every player starts with the same Daily seed and 50-drop rules. Later pieces respond to your climb, so planning the ladder matters.

16 FIXED CHALLENGES
Learn Upward through four chapters of authored, repeatable boards. The four-stage Trailhead chapter is free. Pro opens Ridgecraft, Thin Air, and Orbit School, with XP and board-theme rewards along the way.

FIVE WAYS TO PLAY
• Daily Climb — the shared 50-drop board
• Classic — an open climb to Orbit
• Blitz — two minutes, no take-backs
• Chain Hunt — 50 drops with bonus points for deep cascades
• Rising Sky — safe board space contracts every 10 drops

BUILT TO FEEL GOOD
Number-first tiles stay readable across every theme. Landing feedback, escalating haptics, rising chain tones, danger states, and a full Orbit celebration make every important move clear.

WHAT FREE INCLUDES
Free players receive the full Daily Climb, the Daily and Classic leaderboards, three Classic starts per day, the four-stage Trailhead, missions, achievements, and recent local progress. Upward Pro adds unlimited Classic, three specialty modes, 12 advanced challenges, 500-run history, two years of Daily archives, the Blitz leaderboard, friend challenges, Daily history sync, and two more board themes.

Choose a one-time Upward Full Game Unlock, or StackForge Play Pass (monthly or annual) — Pro in every StackForge game plus One Good Thing. Prices and renewal terms appear before purchase.

Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Privacy Policy: https://stackforgestudios.com/privacy

## Key features

- Number merging and doubling
- Chain reaction mechanics
- Multiple game modes
- Daily challenges
- Progressive difficulty
- Visual and haptic feedback

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| StackForge Play Pass Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| StackForge Play Pass Annual | $14.99 | per year |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upward Full Game Unlock | $4.99 | one-time |


## Is Upward safe?

Not enough ratings yet to assess Upward.

## Is Upward legit?

Upward: Number Merge Puzzle appears legitimate, with a few gaps. The AppsHunter Legitimacy Score for Upward is 65 out of 100 points across 7 verification signals from App Store and developer data.

## Recent user reviews (1 of 1)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upward-number-merge-puzzle/id6775192115/reviews.md

### 5/5 — A unique game.

*2026-10-06*

This is a unique game that  really leaves me in a state of flow.

## Frequently asked questions about Upward

### How do you play Upward?

You drop numbers into columns, and equal numbers double where they touch. The goal is to create chain reactions and climb to higher numbers, like 512 Orbit. The game features five distinct ways to play, including Daily Climb and Classic modes.

### Does Upward have ads?

No, Upward is advertised as having NO ADS. The game focuses on a pure puzzle experience without interruptions from advertisements.

### What is the difference between free and Pro in Upward?

Free players get access to the Daily Climb, leaderboards, three Classic starts daily, and the Trailhead chapter. Upward Pro unlocks unlimited Classic mode, three specialty modes, advanced challenges, extended history, and additional themes.

### What are the subscription options for Upward Pro?

Upward Pro can be accessed through the StackForge Play Pass, which offers both monthly ($2.99/P1M) and annual ($14.99/P1Y) subscription plans. These passes also grant access to other StackForge games.

### Can I play Upward offline?

The provided description does not explicitly state whether Upward can be played offline. However, features like leaderboards and daily challenges might require an internet connection.

### What is the age rating for Upward?

Upward has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of players. The game's mechanics are designed to be accessible and engaging for younger audiences as well.

### How often is Upward updated?

The latest version of Upward is 1.0.4, and it was last updated on October 5, 2026. This indicates a recent update, suggesting the developer is actively maintaining the game.

### What devices does Upward support?

Upward is supported on iPhone and iPod devices. The game is designed to run on these Apple mobile platforms.

## Version history (last 4 releases)

### 1.0.4 — 2026-10-05

A fresh Summit Night world, a new mountain crest, and a transparent gold wordmark.

• Vivid numbered tiles, clear landing targets, and satisfying cascade effects
• A more compact pause screen with run details on demand
• Consistent buttons, centered theme previews, and clearer rankings
• More reliable Pro access during startup, purchase, and restore
• Preserve your Daily after Undo and keep hidden gameplay paused
• A dedicated board-theme gallery with clearer palette labels

### 1.0.3 — 2026-09-29

• New rank ladder with rewards.
• Polished progression and gameplay screens.
• Reliable streak reminders and fixes.

### 1.0.2 — 2026-09-21

Clearer screens throughout: scores with thousands separators, labelled challenge chapters, a plainer How to Play and Daily Archive, and a Free vs Pro table that now lists every mode and challenge.

### 1.0.1 — 2026-09-04

No release notes.

## Apps similar to Upward

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## More apps by StackForge Studios

- [PlateStack: Food & Workout Log](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/platestack-food-and-workout-log/id6766692469)
- [Nineward: Daily Sudoku](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nineward-daily-sudoku/id6774396277)
- [Tenward: Make 10 Survival](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tenward-make-10-survival/id6775086863)
- [Starward: Orb Merge Puzzle](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starward-orb-merge-puzzle/id6779761122)
- [Ionstorm: Horde Survival](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ionstorm-horde-survival/id6779769785)

All apps by StackForge Studios: https://appshunter.io/developer/1896315914

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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 2026-10-24.*