# Cardinal Chains vs The Castle Path

The clearest difference is rating: Cardinal Chains at 4.9 against The Castle Path's 4.7. Cardinal Chains also leads on ratings volume (24 vs 3) and price ($2.99 vs $4.99). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Cardinal Chains costs $2.99 and The Castle Path $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Cardinal Chains holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cardinal Chains has 24 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Cardinal Chains ships an update every 5 months, The Castle Path every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cardinal Chains | The Castle Path |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.9 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cardinal-chains/id1339737509/reviews)** | [4.7 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-castle-path/id1559889135/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **24** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 months** | Every 7 months |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 101 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Nora](https://appshunter.io/developer/1199363689) | [Sylvain Seccia](https://appshunter.io/developer/511618543) |

## What reviewers say

### Cardinal Chains

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cardinal-chains/id1339737509)

A minimalist puzzle game where players link numbers in non-decreasing sequences to fill a monochrome grid with color. It offers a relaxing experience with a handcrafted soundtrack and elegant design, free from timers or ads.

**Highlights:** 500 unique handcrafted puzzles, Non-decreasing sequence gameplay, Chill-out soundtrack, Minimalist design, Customizable color themes, Achievements and cloud saves

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### The Castle Path

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-castle-path/id1559889135)

Engage your mind with a puzzle game where strategic choices unlock paths through challenging levels. Navigate obstacles, manipulate the environment, and reach the treasure by selecting the correct route.

**Highlights:** Puzzle and anticipation gameplay, Environmental state modification, Obstacle-based level design, Switch-activated path clearing, Star collection for progression, 60 unique levels

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cardinal Chains free?

Cardinal Chains costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Castle Path free?

The Castle Path costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Cardinal Chains or The Castle Path?

Cardinal Chains is rated higher. Cardinal Chains averages 4.9 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while The Castle Path averages 4.7 from 3 ratings.

### Do Cardinal Chains or The Castle Path have ads?

Neither Cardinal Chains nor The Castle Path shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cardinal Chains or The Castle Path?

Cardinal Chains ships an update every 5 months, and The Castle Path every 7 months. Most recently, Cardinal Chains was updated on October 8, 2026 and The Castle Path on October 18, 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.*