Comparison

The Guides Compendium vs Cipher Command

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

The Guides Compendium

This illustrated and photographic novel offers supplementary details and clues for the primary game, The Guides. While not essential for progression, it provides inspiration for solving puzzles and continuing your cryptic journey.

Highlights
  • Illustrated and photographic novel
  • Supplementary game details
  • Provides clues
  • Inspiration for puzzle-solving
  • Cryptic journey assistance
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The Guides Compendium is the illustrated and photographic novel intended to give supplementary detail to the primary game, The Guides. Though not essential to progressing and solving puzzles in the primary game, The Guides Compendium provides clues and may serve as an inspiration to help you continue your cryptic journey. Peculiar, isn't it?

About

Cipher Command

Immerse yourself in WWII codebreaking. Decrypt authentic historical messages using real encryption techniques, from Caesar shifts to the Enigma machine. Learn about wartime operations and advance through ranks as you master cryptanalysis.

Highlights
  • Decrypt 7 historical cipher types
  • 30+ WWII-themed missions
  • Interactive cipher wheel
  • Learn historical context
  • Progress through ranks
  • Frequency analysis tools
Features
Read full description

Step into the shoes of a Bletchley Park codebreaker. Cipher Command is an immersive puzzle game where you decrypt authentic World War II cipher messages using historical encryption techniques. CRACK REAL CIPHERS Master seven historically accurate cipher systems — from the classic Caesar shift to the legendary Enigma machine. Each puzzle uses a real encryption method employed during wartime operations. 30+ HISTORICAL MISSIONS Decode intercepted messages spanning D-Day preparations, Pacific Theater intelligence, Eastern Front communications, and Cold War-era signals. Every mission is grounded in real historical events. INTERACTIVE CIPHER WHEEL Spin the beautifully crafted Caesar dial to decrypt messages letter by letter. Tap individual cipher letters, rotate the wheel, and watch the plaintext emerge — no shortcuts, just pure codebreaking skill. LEARN AS YOU PLAY Each mission briefing provides historical context about the operation, the cipher technique, and the stakes. The built-in Codex reference covers every cipher type with examples and history. EARN YOUR RANK Progress from Unclassified to Most Secret difficulty levels. Collect achievement badges as you hone your cryptanalysis skills and rise through the ranks. FAIR BY DESIGN No ads. No energy meters. No subscriptions. The opening missions are free, and each historical theater is a one-time purchase you keep forever. FEATURES - 7 cipher types: Caesar, Substitution, Rail Fence, Vigenere, Playfair, ADFGVX, Enigma - 30+ missions across 4 historical theaters - Interactive cipher wheel with tactile feedback - Guided tutorial for new codebreakers - Frequency analysis and substitution mapping tools - Historical briefings and outcome reveals - Achievement badge collection - Atmospheric radio voice narration - Dark parchment-themed UI inspired by wartime documents

Screenshots

The Guides Compendium4 screens
Cipher Command4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Cipher Command at Free against The Guides Compendium's $0.99. Cipher Command also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.2) and review sentiment (100% vs 70%). The Guides Compendium's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and chart position (#99 vs unranked). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Cipher Command is free to download; The Guides Compendium costs $0.99 up front. Cipher Command sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. The Guides Compendium asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cipher Command holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Guides Compendium has 18 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of The Guides Compendium's written reviews are positive against 100% of Cipher Command's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

The Guides Compendium ships an update every 25 months, Cipher Command every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
The Guides Compendium versus Cipher Command: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThe Guides CompendiumCipher Command
Price$0.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (18 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews70.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings18 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 25 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#99 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS8.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size13 MB87 MB
Age rating4+12+
Developer2 Fountains LLCDaniel McCarthy

Customer experience

The Guides Compendium

All ratings18 ratings
Positive72.2%
Neutral11.1%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive70.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative10.0%

Cipher Command

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

The Guides Compendium

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Cipher Command

One-time5
  • Pacific Theatre$2.99
  • D-Day$2.99
  • Eastern Front$2.99
Show 2 more
  • Premium Puzzles$3.99
  • Cold War$3.99

Questions

Is The Guides Compendium free?
The Guides Compendium costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cipher Command free?
Cipher Command is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, The Guides Compendium or Cipher Command?
Cipher Command is rated higher. The Guides Compendium averages 4.2 out of 5 from 18 ratings, while Cipher Command averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do The Guides Compendium or Cipher Command have ads?
Neither The Guides Compendium nor Cipher Command shows ads.
Which is updated more often, The Guides Compendium or Cipher Command?
The Guides Compendium ships an update every 25 months, and Cipher Command every 2 days. Most recently, The Guides Compendium was updated on September 26, 2026 and Cipher Command on September 27, 2026.

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