# The Istrys vs Zen Cube 3D

The Istrys and Zen Cube 3D both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 51% of The Istrys's written reviews are positive against 0% of Zen Cube 3D's. The Istrys also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). Zen Cube 3D's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Istrys sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month and Zen Cube 3D sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for The Istrys against 4.7 for Zen Cube 3D. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Istrys has 742 ratings behind it against 39, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 51% of The Istrys's written reviews are positive against 0% of Zen Cube 3D's.

The Istrys ships an update monthly, Zen Cube 3D every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Istrys | Zen Cube 3D |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (742 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-istrys/id1324155284/reviews) | **[4.7 (39 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-cube-3d-match-3-game/id6446023213/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **742** | 39 |
| Positive reviews | **50.7% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Monthly** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 148 MB | 165 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Match 2 LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/591937406) | [Albayoo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1634207926) |

## What reviewers say

### The Istrys

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-istrys/id1324155284)

Experience a collection of 3D match-2 puzzle games. Enjoy various single-player modes, co-op, and versus play. New puzzles are unlocked with a subscription.

**Highlights:** 3D match-2 puzzle gameplay, 17+ singleplayer modes, Co-op and versus modes, Collection of 40+ puzzles, New puzzles via subscription

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Istrys Plus Subscription. | $3.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 😊 Relaxing and calming
- 👍 Engaging and addictive gameplay
- 💡 Variety of game modes
- 🧠 Helps with memory and cognition

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Lack of updates and new content
- 🤨 Subscription model not worth it
- 🐛 Orientation issues and app crashes
- 🙅‍♀️ No Apple Pencil support

**Reported bugs**

- App freezing and not loading games
- Broken game modes (e.g. Dinostry)
- Orientation issues after updates

**Requested features**

- Option to purchase games individually
- Ability to see previous scores
- Customizable art styles


### Zen Cube 3D

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zen-cube-3d-match-3-game/id6446023213)

Engage in a relaxing 3D matching puzzle experience. Find and match identical cubes from a vast collection of colorful objects. This game offers brain-training levels to improve memory and concentration, making your free time valuable.

**Highlights:** 3D cube matching gameplay, Vast collection of colorful objects, Brain trainer levels, Improves memory and concentration, Auto-saving system, Unique backgrounds

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Special Offer | $1.99 | one-time |
| Piggy Bank 300 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Piggy Bank 600 | $2.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $6.99 | one-time |
| Activity VIP | $9.99 | one-time |
| Coin 2000 | $19.99 | one-time |
| Mega Bundle | $24.99 | one-time |
| Coin 4000 | $39.99 | one-time |
| Giant Bundle | $49.99 | one-time |
| Legendary Bundle | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Istrys free?

The Istrys is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Zen Cube 3D free?

Zen Cube 3D is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The Istrys or Zen Cube 3D?

Zen Cube 3D is rated higher. The Istrys averages 4.7 out of 5 from 742 ratings, while Zen Cube 3D averages 4.7 from 39 ratings.

### Do The Istrys or Zen Cube 3D have ads?

Zen Cube 3D shows ads; The Istrys does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Istrys or Zen Cube 3D?

The Istrys ships an update monthly, and Zen Cube 3D every 4 months. Most recently, The Istrys was updated on November 2, 2026 and Zen Cube 3D on November 3, 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.*