# Picachu vs Animal Link Classic

The clearest difference is rating: Animal Link Classic at 4.5 against Picachu's 3.5. Animal Link Classic also leads on ratings volume (392 vs 45) and review sentiment (48% vs 37%). Picachu's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Animal Link Classic sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Picachu asks for nothing beyond the download.

Animal Link Classic holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Animal Link Classic has 392 ratings behind it against 45, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 37% of Picachu's written reviews are positive against 48% of Animal Link Classic's.

Picachu ships an update every 2 weeks, Animal Link Classic every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Picachu | Animal Link Classic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.5 (45 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/picachu-pikachu-2016-version/id1037943775/reviews) | **[4.5 (392 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/animal-link-classic/id1509872509/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 45 | **392** |
| Positive reviews | 36.8% of reviews | **48.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 63 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PPCLINK Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/833424538) | [VNPLAY](https://appshunter.io/developer/1431254892) |

## What reviewers say

### Picachu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/picachu-pikachu-2016-version/id1037943775)

A classic puzzle game with enhanced graphics and animations. It offers multiple themes, 30 challenging levels, and special game modes like Time Attack. Enjoy a visually appealing and engaging experience for all ages.

**Highlights:** Classic interface with better animation, Bigger cards with better quality design, 4 themes: Animal, Noel, Halloween & Fruit, 30 levels with varied gameplay, Time Attack and Hints, Supports all screen types

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Animal Link Classic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/animal-link-classic/id1509872509)

Connect matching animal images within a time limit using up to three straight lines. This classic puzzle game offers offline play, is lightweight, and suitable for all ages. Utilize helpful items to overcome increasingly difficult levels and compare your scores.

**Highlights:** Connect similar images, Up to 3 straight lines, Time-limited levels, Offline play, Lightweight design, Help and swap items

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pack 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gift Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pack 3 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Supply Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| Advance Pack | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🧩 Engaging puzzle mechanics with moving tiles
- 🧠 Mentally stimulating gameplay
- 😌 Relaxing and addictive experience
- 🎨 Unique tile variations and animations
- ⏰ Unpredictable board movements keep gameplay fresh

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📺 Excessive ads every 3 minutes
- 🔊 Ads play sound even when game is muted
- 💰 Pay-to-win mechanics after level 120
- 🐛 Game resets to level 1 after losing
- ⚙️ Upside-down display after updates

**Reported bugs**

- Game opens upside down after update
- Progress resets to level 1 unexpectedly
- Game freezes at high scores (200,000+)
- Video ads don't play but still consume progress
- Game reverts to level 1 after closing app

**Requested features**

- Tile customization options
- Music and sound effect toggle/selection
- Ability to choose holiday themes or disable them
- More help/hints when stuck
- Save progress at current level instead of resetting to level 1


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Picachu free?

Picachu is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Animal Link Classic free?

Animal Link Classic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Picachu or Animal Link Classic?

Animal Link Classic is rated higher. Picachu averages 3.5 out of 5 from 45 ratings, while Animal Link Classic averages 4.5 from 392 ratings.

### Do Picachu or Animal Link Classic have ads?

Neither Picachu nor Animal Link Classic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Picachu or Animal Link Classic?

Picachu ships an update every 2 weeks, and Animal Link Classic every 6 weeks. Most recently, Picachu was updated on October 14, 2026 and Animal Link Classic on October 15, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*