# Mahjong Tiny Tales vs Runes

The clearest difference is ads: Mahjong Tiny Tales at none against Runes's shown. Mahjong Tiny Tales also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (2.9K vs 576). Runes's advantage is update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mahjong Tiny Tales sells 15 one-off in-app purchases and Runes sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mahjong Tiny Tales holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mahjong Tiny Tales has 2.9K ratings behind it against 576, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Mahjong Tiny Tales's written reviews are positive against 83% of Runes's.

Mahjong Tiny Tales ships an update every 4 months, Runes every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mahjong Tiny Tales | Runes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mahjong-tiny-tales/id1327461719/reviews)** | [4.5 (576 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runes-hidden-objects-games/id1484061991/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.9K** | 576 |
| Positive reviews | **86.4% of reviews** | 83.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 120 MB | 186 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.2** | 13.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Qublix](https://appshunter.io/developer/597486104) | [Crisp App Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1143551614) |

## What reviewers say

### Mahjong Tiny Tales

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mahjong-tiny-tales/id1327461719)

Embark on a magical adventure to rescue a king from an evil sorceress by solving Mahjong puzzles. Match tiles, unlock clues, and complete tasks to progress through enchanting tales and train your memory.

**Highlights:** Mahjong tile matching puzzles, Unlock new worlds and adventures, Train memory skills, Play offline or online, Discover magical characters

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 3000 Coins 24h Unlimited Life | $1.99 | one-time |
| Small Coin Package | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sale Bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| 4,500 Coins+2h Lives+Booster | $5.99 | one-time |
| 8,000 Coins 1h Unlimited Life | $7.99 | one-time |
| Medium Coin Package | $9.99 | one-time |
| Sale Bundle | $9.99 | one-time |
| 10,000 Coins+4h Lives+Booster | $11.99 | one-time |
| 16000 Coins 2h Unlimited Lives | $13.99 | one-time |
| Large Coin Package | $18.99 | one-time |
| Sale Bundle | $18.99 | one-time |
| 35000 Coins 3h Unlimited Lives | $28.99 | one-time |
| Sack of Coins Package | $46.99 | one-time |
| 95000 Coins 6h Unlimited Lives | $69.99 | one-time |
| Barrel of Coins Package | $94.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun and mentally stimulating
- 👍 Relaxing and challenging
- 🤩 Addictive and enjoyable
- 🧠 Keeps the mind sharp
- 🎨 Cute and colorful graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Progress resets or disappears
- 💰 Game becomes a money pit
- 🔋 Battery draining
- 🤔 Confusing or unclear mechanics

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes or freezes
- Levels not loading properly
- Incorrect or missing game data
- Sync issues across devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to continue progress after breaks
- More level variety and challenge
- Better save/load functionality
- Improved in-game support and communication


### Runes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/runes-hidden-objects-games/id1484061991)

Uncover the secrets of a mysterious town by searching intricately illustrated scenes for hidden objects and solving puzzles. Follow a detective through a captivating storyline with unique challenges and unlock magical artifacts as you progress. Play at your own pace with optional hints.

**Highlights:** Search hand-painted scenes for hidden objects, Spot subtle differences, Solve puzzles and brain teasers, Follow a twisting storyline, Collect magical artifacts, Play at your own pace with hints

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Instant Hint | $0.99 | one-time |
| Handful of Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bag with Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| Infinity Energy + No Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Сhest with Gems | $2.99 | one-time |
| Master Pack Special | $3.99 | one-time |
| Master Pack: All-included | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great graphics
- 🧠 Exercises the brain
- 🤩 Fun to play
- 🧘‍♀️ Relaxing gameplay
- 🔍 Interesting hidden object puzzles

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Energy/ads require purchases
- 🕰️ Too many interruptions
- 🌃 Dark and blurry scenes
- 🤔 Unclear progression/navigation

**Reported bugs**

- Energy recharge issues
- Purchase rejections

**Requested features**

- Restart option
- Clearer level progression


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mahjong Tiny Tales free?

Mahjong Tiny Tales is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Runes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Mahjong Tiny Tales or Runes?

Mahjong Tiny Tales is rated higher. Mahjong Tiny Tales averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.9K ratings, while Runes averages 4.5 from 576 ratings.

### Do Mahjong Tiny Tales or Runes have ads?

Runes shows ads; Mahjong Tiny Tales does not.

### Which is updated more often, Mahjong Tiny Tales or Runes?

Mahjong Tiny Tales ships an update every 4 months, and Runes every 6 weeks. Most recently, Mahjong Tiny Tales was updated on October 28, 2026 and Runes on October 26, 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.*