# JAPAN MAP STACK vs Melty Bubble

The clearest difference is review sentiment: JAPAN MAP STACK at 88% against Melty Bubble's 46%. JAPAN MAP STACK also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 6 months). Melty Bubble's advantage is ratings volume (1.8K vs 6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

JAPAN MAP STACK holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Melty Bubble has 1.8K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of JAPAN MAP STACK's written reviews are positive against 46% of Melty Bubble's.

JAPAN MAP STACK ships an update every 3 weeks, Melty Bubble every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | JAPAN MAP STACK | Melty Bubble |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japan-map-stack/id1360634666/reviews)** | [4.6 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/melty-bubble-healing-puzzle/id6447538220/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **1.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **87.5% of reviews** | 46.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 93 MB | 153 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [YUUTA TAKI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1360634665) | [KAYAC Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/315952203) |

## What reviewers say

### JAPAN MAP STACK

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japan-map-stack/id1360634666)

A physics puzzle game where players stack colorful map pieces as high as possible. It features simple one-finger controls and is free to play.

**Highlights:** Physics-based stacking gameplay, Colorful map pieces, Simple one-finger controls, Free to play

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Melty Bubble

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/melty-bubble-healing-puzzle/id6447538220)

A relaxing puzzle game where you merge numbered bubbles to create larger ones. It's designed for casual play, offering a soothing experience with its jiggly visuals and simple mechanics. Perfect for short breaks and unwinding.

**Highlights:** Merge numbered bubbles, Create larger bubbles, Relaxing gameplay, Casual puzzle experience, Healing visuals

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive gameplay
- 💡 Satisfying bubble merging mechanics
- 🚀 Smooth performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🗑 Excessive ads after every level
- 🐛 Glitches causing game deletion
- 🚫 Impossible levels

**Reported bugs**

- Game deletion after completing level 1
- Incompatibility issues on some devices

**Requested features**

- Reduce ad frequency (e.g. after every 4 levels)
- Fix number display issues (8 is not greater than 8, 12 is not greater than 12)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is JAPAN MAP STACK free?

JAPAN MAP STACK is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Melty Bubble free?

Melty Bubble is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, JAPAN MAP STACK or Melty Bubble?

JAPAN MAP STACK is rated higher. JAPAN MAP STACK averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Melty Bubble averages 4.6 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do JAPAN MAP STACK or Melty Bubble have ads?

Both JAPAN MAP STACK and Melty Bubble show ads.

### Which is updated more often, JAPAN MAP STACK or Melty Bubble?

JAPAN MAP STACK ships an update every 3 weeks, and Melty Bubble every 6 months. Most recently, JAPAN MAP STACK was updated on September 29, 2026 and Melty Bubble on October 15, 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.*