Decodoku vs Eterna
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Decodoku
Engage in a unique puzzle game that doubles as a tool for scientific research in quantum error correction. Solve complex challenges to help advance the development of real-life quantum computers. Explore the science behind the game on the developer's website.
- Quantum puzzle gameplay
- Scientific research tool
- Quantum error correction
- Advance quantum computing
- Educational science content
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This is not just any puzzle game. This is a quantum puzzle game! You can just play it for fun, or you can use it to conduct scientific research in the field of quantum error correction. These are the puzzles that need to be solved to keep quantum computers free of errors. We need to work out the best way to do it. By becoming a master at this game, you could help build a real-life quantum computer. Check out our website for more details on the science behind the game. This app was developed by Dr James Wootton, a quantum error correction researcher at the University of Basel. It is supported by the NCCR QSIT.
Eterna
Engage in a citizen science game to design RNA molecules for medical research. Solve puzzles to unlock lab access and contribute to inventing new medicines through challenges.
- Design RNA molecules
- Solve scientific puzzles
- Participate in medical research
- Invent new medicines
- Unlock lab access
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Eterna is a citizen science game where players learn to design RNA molecules for medical research by solving puzzles. Complete introductory puzzles to unlock lab access and participate in challenges where you can invent medicine!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Decodoku at 100% against Eterna's 33%. Decodoku also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.7) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). Eterna's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and ratings volume (15 vs 3). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Decodoku holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Eterna has 15 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Decodoku's written reviews are positive against 33% of Eterna's.
Decodoku ships an update every 3 months, Eterna every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 17, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Decodoku | Eterna |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (3 ratings) — better | 3.7 (15 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 3 | 15 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 52 MB | 188 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | James Robin Wootton | Vital Mind Media |
Customer experience
Decodoku
Eterna
In-app purchases
Decodoku
No in-app purchases
Eterna
No in-app purchases
