# Puzzle Catcher vs Backyard Baseball '97

The clearest difference is price: Puzzle Catcher at Free against Backyard Baseball '97's $4.99. Puzzle Catcher also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.0) and review sentiment (93% vs 65%). Backyard Baseball '97's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9) and update cadence (every 10 days vs every 11 months). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Puzzle Catcher is free to download; Backyard Baseball '97 costs $4.99 up front. Puzzle Catcher sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Backyard Baseball '97 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Puzzle Catcher holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backyard Baseball '97 has 1.6K ratings behind it against 33, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of Puzzle Catcher's written reviews are positive against 65% of Backyard Baseball '97's.

Puzzle Catcher ships an update every 11 months, Backyard Baseball '97 every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Puzzle Catcher | Backyard Baseball '97 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.9 (33 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/puzzle-catcher/id1238784454/reviews)** | [4.0 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-baseball-97/id6740349666/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 33 | **1.6K** |
| Positive reviews | **92.9% of reviews** | 65.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 11 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#6** |
| Size | 100 MB | 326 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Blitwise Productions, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/311466557) | [Playground Productions LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1789636577) |

## What reviewers say

### Puzzle Catcher

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/puzzle-catcher/id1238784454)

This vibrant tile-sliding game offers a relaxing yet engaging experience inspired by mosaic art. Spin colorful glass tiles into place to create beautiful designs across a variety of lighthearted levels. Choose between casual play for relaxation or challenge mode for a timed experience.

**Highlights:** Colorful tile sliding gameplay, Mosaic art inspiration, Casual and challenge modes, Unlockable levels with diverse themes, Color blind mode, Screen brightness controls

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fire Diamonds Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Color Blocks Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hexagon Sky Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Interlock Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tromino Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Rolling Stars Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Super Brilliance Pack - Deluxe | $0.99 | one-time |
| Super Brilliance Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Catcher Deluxe | $4.99 | one-time |


### Backyard Baseball '97

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-baseball-97/id6740349666)

**Currently charting:** #6 Top Paid · Sports, #11 Top Paid · Family, #133 Top Paid · Games (US App Store)

Relive the classic baseball game with iconic characters, fun power-ups, and intuitive controls. Play quick games, practice batting, or manage a full season with unique game modes and simplified rules.

**Highlights:** Iconic character roster, Power-ups and special pitches, Pick-up and single game modes, Full season management, Batting practice mode, Simplified T-ball mode

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Nostalgia and great memories
- 👍 Faithful recreation of the original game
- 💡 Potential for future updates and expansions
- 👍 Seamless mobile experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 👎 Difficult controls and input issues
- 👎 Limited screen size and visibility
- 👎 Lack of new features or modes

**Reported bugs**

- Gameplay freezes and crashes
- Inconsistent fielding and throwing mechanics
- Hitting mechanics feel unresponsive
- Inability to save progress after crashes

**Requested features**

- Full-screen mode
- Improved controls and input responsiveness
- New game modes (e.g., home run derby, playoffs)
- Ability to select home field
- Option to mute all sounds


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Puzzle Catcher free?

Puzzle Catcher is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Backyard Baseball '97 free?

Backyard Baseball '97 costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Puzzle Catcher or Backyard Baseball '97?

Puzzle Catcher is rated higher. Puzzle Catcher averages 4.9 out of 5 from 33 ratings, while Backyard Baseball '97 averages 4.0 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Puzzle Catcher or Backyard Baseball '97 have ads?

Neither Puzzle Catcher nor Backyard Baseball '97 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Puzzle Catcher or Backyard Baseball '97?

Puzzle Catcher ships an update every 11 months, and Backyard Baseball '97 every 10 days. Most recently, Puzzle Catcher was updated on October 24, 2026 and Backyard Baseball '97 on October 24, 2026.

---

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