Comparison

Strong Mind Mazes vs Bold Moves

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

Head to head
About

Strong Mind Mazes

This app offers clinical-grade brain training exercises designed to enhance cognitive functions like concentration, working memory, and problem-solving. It features progressive difficulty levels and over a million maze variations, built on decades of cognitive neuroscience research.

Highlights
  • Cognitive neuroscience-based training
  • Enhances concentration and attention
  • Improves working memory
  • Develops multi-variable problem solving
  • Hierarchical difficulty levels
  • Over 1 million maze variations
Features
Read full description

Clinical-grade brain training built on 40 years of cognitive neuroscience. Used by Dr. Donalee Markus with concussion and traumatic brain injury patients, NASA scientists, and corporate executives since 2003. Strong Mind Mazes is not a casual puzzle game. It is a hierarchical cognitive-restructuring exercise designed to engage neuroplasticity through deliberate, progressive challenge. The same approach featured in Clark Elliott's "The Ghost in My Brain." WHAT IT TRAINS • Concentration and sustained attention • Working memory and mental manipulation • Multi-variable problem solving • Reduced impulsivity through deliberate planning • Carryover skills that translate to daily life THE PROGRAM • 5 hierarchical difficulty levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Accelerated, Advanced, and Expert • Over 1,000,000 maze variations for ample rehearsal • A wide palette of colors, patterns, and graphics that promote engagement without overstimulation WHO IT'S FOR • Concussion and post-concussion recovery • Traumatic brain injury (TBI) rehabilitation • Stroke recovery • Adults seeking cognitive maintenance and resilience • Executives, professionals, and athletes wanting a sharper edge • Used by clinicians as an adjunct to standard rehabilitation THE SCIENCE Effective problem-solving and decision-making are based, at least in part, on the number of variables a problem solver can evaluate at once. With deliberate rehearsal, individuals can learn to increase that number — reducing impulsivity and developing the mental filter that supports planning before acting. This is built on a neurocognitive model emphasizing Attention, Intention, and Rehearsal — three pillars drawn from Dr. Markus's clinical practice and from her post-doctoral training under Reuven Feuerstein, the father of teachable intelligence. ABOUT THE DEVELOPER Dr. Donalee Markus earned her Ph.D. at Northwestern University in 1983 and has been in clinical practice in cognitive restructuring ever since. Her work has been featured in Psychology Today, in Clark Elliott's book "The Ghost in My Brain," and in peer-reviewed publication in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America. Institutional clients include NASA, the U.S. Federal Court System, Los Alamos National Laboratory, and Encyclopaedia Britannica.

About

Bold Moves

This game combines match-3 mechanics with word puzzles and inspirational quotes. Match colored tiles to collect letters, break obstacles, and solve phrases to discover motivational messages. Earn rewards, progress through levels, and enjoy a relaxing yet challenging experience.

Highlights
  • Match 3 color puzzles
  • Collect letter tiles
  • Solve phrases
  • Unlock inspirational quotes
  • Earn rewards and boosters
  • Progress through chapters
  • Limited-time events
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

What do you get when you combine match 3, word puzzles, and inspirational quotes? A match 3 made in heaven! Get your daily dose of positivity with Bold Moves; the positively relaxing (and challenging) match 3 word puzzle game. Match 3 colors to collect letter tiles, break through obstacles, and solve the phrase to find inspiration from motivational quotes and positive affirmations. Earn rewards and boosters, progress through chapters of puzzles, and win limited-time events. CHALLENGE YOUR BRAIN AND YOUR MINDSET Easy to play but tough to master! Triumph over hundreds of fun match 3 puzzle games set in calming, nature-inspired levels. Earn rewards and achievements with weekly events centered around messages of inner strength, self-reflection, mindfulness, self-care, personal well-being, and life adventures Put your strategy skills to the test to match, swap, and collect letter tiles Make matches of three in a row or more to clear colors, remove blocks, and form words Solve the phrase to reveal celebrity quotes, win games, reach milestones, and move on to the next level of your journey RECHARGE YOUR SOUL EVERY DAY Match 3 games CAN be self-care, for sure! Enjoy encouragement and relaxation with daily rewards and inspiring affirmations to set you on a path of personal growth and empowerment. Immerse yourself in tranquil, zen-like landscapes and peaceful environments, perfect for a meditative escape Casual gameplay with dazzling combos and power-ups provides a much-needed mental escape, whether for 5 minutes or 5 hours A refreshing spin on a classic game, Bold Moves’ quote cards can even serve as a journal or diary full of inspiration for a rainy day! SPREAD JOY Share your favorite quotes with friends and spark joy, hope, and happiness “Soooo many people have told me how much they love a good game. And, if you didn’t already know, I LOVE a great quote! So we mixed the two together! OWN presents Bold Moves, a brand-new game that challenges you to solve captivating puzzles and unlock hundreds of quotes that you can share with your friends. It’s already one of my Favorite Things… I hope it becomes one of yours, too!” – Oprah Winfrey Download Bold Moves now and start on your path to a happier, more positive you.

Screenshots

Strong Mind Mazes4 screens
Bold Moves4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Bold Moves at 57% against Strong Mind Mazes's 0%. Bold Moves also leads on price (Free vs $29.99) and rating (4.5 vs 2.3). Strong Mind Mazes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On update cadence 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

Bold Moves is free to download; Strong Mind Mazes costs $29.99 up front. Bold Moves sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Strong Mind Mazes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Bold Moves holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 2.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Bold Moves has 13K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Strong Mind Mazes's written reviews are positive against 57% of Bold Moves's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Strong Mind Mazes ships an update every 2 months, Bold Moves every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Strong Mind Mazes versus Bold Moves: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStrong Mind MazesBold Moves
Price$29.99Free — better
Rating2.3 (3 ratings)4.5 (13K ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews56.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings313K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank—#89 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.2 — better
Further details — not scored
Size17 MB750 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDonalee MarkusRED GAMES CO, LLC

Customer experience

Strong Mind Mazes

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Bold Moves

All ratings13,069 ratings
Positive88.1%
Neutral5.3%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews529 reviews
Positive56.5%
Neutral15.9%
Negative27.6%

Bugs and requests

Strong Mind Mazes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Bold Moves

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Game freezing and crashing
  • Loading issues and getting stuck at certain levels
  • Losing progress and accumulated boosters
  • Inconsistent performance across updates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ad-free version for purchase
  • More levels and new content updates
  • Better explanation of booster functionality
  • Ability to undo moves
  • Improved daily reward system

In-app purchases

None

Strong Mind Mazes

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Bold Moves

One-time10
  • Fistful of Gems$0.99
  • Starter Pack$1.99
  • Small Sale Pack$3.99
Show 7 more
  • Pile of Gems$4.99
  • Small Featured Pack$5.99
  • Medium Sale Pack$6.99
  • Medium Combo Pack$7.99
  • Cup of Gems$9.99
  • Medium Featured Pack$9.99
  • Large Combo Pack$14.99

Questions

Is Strong Mind Mazes free?
Strong Mind Mazes costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bold Moves free?
Bold Moves is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Strong Mind Mazes or Bold Moves?
Bold Moves is rated higher. Strong Mind Mazes averages 2.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Bold Moves averages 4.5 from 13K ratings.
Do Strong Mind Mazes or Bold Moves have ads?
Bold Moves shows ads; Strong Mind Mazes does not.
Which is updated more often, Strong Mind Mazes or Bold Moves?
Strong Mind Mazes ships an update every 2 months, and Bold Moves every 5 weeks. Most recently, Strong Mind Mazes was updated on November 2, 2026 and Bold Moves on November 10, 2026.

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