Comparison

Steam Link vs DownWordz!

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

Head to head
About

Steam Link

Play your PC Steam games on your iPhone or iPad. Connect a controller and stream your library wirelessly from your computer to your mobile device. Enjoy your favorite titles on the go with this app.

Highlights
  • Stream Steam library to mobile
  • Use MFI or Steam controllers
  • Play on iPhone or iPad
  • Requires iOS 11.0+
  • Connect to PC on same network
Read full description

The Steam Link app brings desktop gaming to your iPhone or iPad. Just pair an MFI or Steam controller to your device, connect to a computer running Steam on the same local network, and start playing your existing Steam games. Requirements: * iPhone or iPad using iOS 11.0 or higher * Computer running Steam - Windows, Mac, or Linux * iOS device must be on the same local network as the computer running Steam For best performance: * Connect your computer using Ethernet to your 5Ghz WiFi router * Connect your iOS device to the 5GHz band of your WiFi network * Keep your iOS device within a reasonable range of your router

About

DownWordz!

A strategic word game where you rearrange letters to form words. Compete against the CPU in two distinct modes: emptying your hand first or scoring the most points. Build on existing words for added depth.

Highlights
  • Rearrange letters to form words
  • Two winning modes: Spread and Points
  • Build on existing words on the board
  • CPU opponents on Easy or Hard
  • Draw from deck or discard pile
  • Landscape play optimized
Features
Read full description

DownWordz! is a fast, strategic word card game built around spelling words, rearranging letters, and building on words already played. Play your cards, create bigger words, and outsmart your opponent with every move. TWO WAYS TO WIN Spread Mode — Be the first to play every letter from your hand. Every word counts toward emptying your rack. Points Mode — Score with Scrabble-style letter values. Race to 100 points while chaining multiple words on a single turn when the board is hot. BUILD ON WHAT’S ALREADY PLAYED Tap any word from the match history to load it as rail tiles on the board. Rearrange those letters and add from your hand to form a new, longer word — a fresh layer of strategy beyond simple anagrams. EASY TO LEARN, DEEP TO MASTER • Draw from the deck or take the face-up discard • Play words, pass, or discard to keep your hand moving • Face CPU opponents on Easy or Hard • Built-in How to Play walkthrough • Landscape play optimized for iPhone and iPad Optional Remove Ads purchase available for uninterrupted sessions. Whether you want a quick vocabulary workout or a tactical battle to the last tile, DownWordz! turns every rack into a puzzle worth solving.

Screenshots

Steam Link4 screens
DownWordz!4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: DownWordz! at 100% against Steam Link's 43%. DownWordz! also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). Steam Link's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (3K vs 8). On price, ads and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. DownWordz! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Steam Link asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

DownWordz! holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Steam Link has 3K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 43% of Steam Link's written reviews are positive against 100% of DownWordz!'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Steam Link ships an update every 3 weeks, DownWordz! every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Steam Link versus DownWordz!: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSteam LinkDownWordz!
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.3 (3K ratings)5.0 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews42.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3K — better8
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV, Vision Pro — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB172 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperValveHAPPS Software LLC

Customer experience

Steam Link

All ratings3,028 ratings
Positive52.8%
Neutral10.3%
Negative36.9%
Written reviews1,633 reviews
Positive42.7%
Neutral10.3%
Negative46.9%

DownWordz!

All ratings8 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Steam Link

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes on startup
  • Audio issues and sound problems
  • Controller mapping and input problems
  • Streaming quality and performance inconsistencies

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow playing games with PC off
  • Add remote access and PC control features
  • Improve touch screen controls and customization
  • Expand device compatibility

DownWordz!

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Steam Link

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

DownWordz!

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$0.99

Questions

Is Steam Link free?
Steam Link is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is DownWordz! free?
DownWordz! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Steam Link or DownWordz!?
DownWordz! is rated higher. Steam Link averages 3.3 out of 5 from 3K ratings, while DownWordz! averages 5.0 from 8 ratings.
Do Steam Link or DownWordz! have ads?
Neither Steam Link nor DownWordz! shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Steam Link or DownWordz!?
Steam Link ships an update every 3 weeks, and DownWordz! every 2 days. Most recently, Steam Link was updated on October 26, 2026 and DownWordz! on October 24, 2026.

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