Comparison

Sudoku 17 vs Cracking the Cryptic

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

Head to head
About

Sudoku 17

This game offers an extremely challenging Sudoku experience with levels proven to have unique solutions using the minimum number of clues. It's designed for players who enjoy difficult logic puzzles and have strong reasoning skills.

Highlights
  • Minimum 17 clues for unique solutions
  • 49,151 challenging levels
  • Designed for advanced logic players
  • Focus on difficult game levels
  • Tests logical reasoning skills
Features
Read full description

Mathematicians have proven that Sudoku requires at least 17 cues to have a unique solution. Sudoku 17 collects all the hardest game levels, with a total of 49,151 levels, all with only 17 tips. For players who like challenges, this will be a very good experience. Sudoku 17 is not a game for novices, it is a very difficult game. If you think you have enough logical reasoning, try the hardest Sudoku.

About

Cracking the Cryptic

This app offers a curated collection of handcrafted Sudoku puzzles from world-renowned constructors. Explore classic and unique variants, with new puzzle packs released regularly. A free introductory pack is included with download.

Highlights
  • Handcrafted Sudoku puzzles
  • Curated by expert constructors
  • Classic and unique variants
  • Regularly released puzzle packs
  • Free introductory puzzle pack
Features
Read full description

OUR NEWEST PACK – CLASSIC VOLUME #2! Classic sudoku is where it all began, and there is still lots of skill to be deployed to solve classic puzzles, and new techniques to be explored. Nikoli, the Japanese puzzle house, named and popularised sudoku from 1984, and we have commissioned 20 puzzles from them for this Classic Sudoku 2 app. We have also created 20 ourselves, and sourced 20 more from Sam Cappleman-Lynes, the brilliant British sudoku expert. The result is a wonderful 60-puzzle pack which will delight and challenge you. -------------------- Welcome to the brand new Sudoku app from the most popular Sudoku channel, Cracking The Cryptic. Unlike other Sudoku apps, we feature handcrafted and curated puzzles from the world’s best Sudoku constructors. Each collection features puzzles made by various authors that are now familiar names to those who follow the channel. Authors like Phistomefel, Clover, Sam Cappleman-Lynes, Christoph Seeliger, Richard Stolk, jovi_al, Qodec, Prasanna Seshadri and of course, Simon and Mark! Downloading Cracking the Cryptic will give you access to our first free collection – a variety pack by Prasanna Seshadri featuring 7 puzzles inspired from our previous Sudoku apps; Sandwich, Classic, Chess, Thermo, Miracle, Killer and Arrow Sudoku. We also have purchasable packs designed for all skill levels and featuring many unique variants not seen previously. We’ll be releasing more free and paid packs in the future so keep an eye on the app for more Sudoku content from Cracking The Cryptic!

Screenshots

Sudoku 173 screens
Cracking the Cryptic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cracking the Cryptic at 72% against Sudoku 17's 0%. Cracking the Cryptic also leads on rating (4.4 vs 3.0) and ads (none vs shown). Sudoku 17's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). On price 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

Both are free to download. Cracking the Cryptic sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Sudoku 17 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Cracking the Cryptic holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cracking the Cryptic has 210 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Sudoku 17's written reviews are positive against 72% of Cracking the Cryptic's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sudoku 17 ships an update every 12 months, Cracking the Cryptic every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Sudoku 17 versus Cracking the Cryptic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSudoku 17Cracking the Cryptic
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (2 ratings)4.4 (210 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews72.1% of reviews — better
Number of ratings2210 — better
Update frequencyEvery 12 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB234 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer梓彬 陈Nick Carney

Customer experience

Sudoku 17

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Cracking the Cryptic

All ratings208 ratings
Positive84.1%
Neutral6.3%
Negative9.6%
Written reviews147 reviews
Positive72.1%
Neutral13.6%
Negative14.3%

Bugs and requests

Sudoku 17

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Cracking the Cryptic

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Puzzle progress and purchases disappearing after updates
  • Incorrect rules or hints in certain puzzles
  • Crashes and freezes, especially on older devices or Macs
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between portrait and landscape modes

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more color options for pencil marking and highlighting
  • Implement a way to clear progress or start puzzles from scratch
  • Integrate all CTC apps into a single app for better organization
  • Add keyboard support, especially on Mac
  • Improve the quality and clarity of hints

In-app purchases

None

Sudoku 17

No in-app purchases

13 purchases

Cracking the Cryptic

One-time13
  • CTC Worms - James Sinclair$0.99
  • CTC Worms - Marty Sears$0.99
  • CTC Worms - Zetamath$1.99
Show 10 more
  • CTC Worms - Blobz$1.99
  • CTC Worms - Michael Lefkowitz$1.99
  • CTC Worms - Phistomefel$1.99
  • GAS Volume #1$2.99
  • GAS Volume #2$2.99
  • CTC Approachable Sudoku #1$2.99
  • Domino Sudoku Pack$4.99
  • Lines Variety Pack$4.99
  • Classic Volume #2$4.99
  • CTC Fog Pack #1$4.99

Questions

Is Sudoku 17 free?
Sudoku 17 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cracking the Cryptic free?
Cracking the Cryptic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sudoku 17 or Cracking the Cryptic?
Cracking the Cryptic is rated higher. Sudoku 17 averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Cracking the Cryptic averages 4.4 from 210 ratings.
Do Sudoku 17 or Cracking the Cryptic have ads?
Sudoku 17 shows ads; Cracking the Cryptic does not.
Which is updated more often, Sudoku 17 or Cracking the Cryptic?
Sudoku 17 ships an update every 12 months, and Cracking the Cryptic every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sudoku 17 was updated on October 7, 2026 and Cracking the Cryptic on October 20, 2026.

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