Power Grid Boardgame vs Maracaibo Digital
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Power Grid Boardgame
Engage in a strategic simulation of the energy industry, managing power grids across diverse global maps. Challenge AI or friends in real-time or turn-based matches, with a comprehensive tutorial and helpful in-game assistance for all skill levels.
- Global energy market simulation
- Multiple map variants for diverse gameplay
- AI and real-time/turn-based multiplayer
- In-depth tutorial and context-sensitive help
- Achievement system for challenges
- Includes Recharged version with variants
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Dive into the world of the energy industry with the Power Grid app, designed by award-winning author Friedemann Friese. Global Domination: Conquer energy markets worldwide on maps such as USA, Germany, France, Benelux, Eastern Europe, South Africa, Italy and the Middle East. Each map brings unique gameplay that will put your strategic skills to the test. Tutorial & Help: Whether you're an experienced Power Grid player or a beginner, the game features a detailed tutorial that walks you through the basics step-by-step. And if you have any questions while playing, context-sensitive help is available to make sure you're always on the right track. Achievements: Challenge yourself by unlocking a variety of achievements. These achievements range from strategic feats to special challenges. Recharged Version: The app includes the Recharged version with Against the Trust and MAGA variants that make the gameplay even more diverse and challenging. Exciting Gameplay: Challenge AI opponents or play against friends in real-time or turn-based. Online Domination: The Power Grid app allows you to compete against friends or rivals from around the world. The app gives you the opportunity to compete with players from all over the world. Choose your path: a variety of maps and map variants are available to customize and refine your strategy. Adapt to the specifics of each and outsmart your opponents to get to the top of the power industry. The Power Grid app has been carefully designed to seamlessly bring the charm of the board game to your smartphone or tablet. The intuitive interface ensures a smooth gaming experience for both experienced players and novices. Don't miss out on the electrifying fun and challenges offered by the Power Grid app! Download the app now and embark on a journey to conquer the power market one move at a time. Whether you're playing alone and looking for a challenge or you're a player looking to engage in epic duels with friends, the Power Grid app offers all that and more.
Maracaibo Digital
Embark on a swashbuckling adventure across the Caribbean. Upgrade your ship, complete quests, and battle opponents. Strategize with hundreds of unique cards on a dynamic board that changes each round.
- Interactive tutorial
- Solo play against Automa
- Pass and play multiplayer
- Campaign Mode with permanent changes
- Includes 'La Armada' expansion cards
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Play as an adventurer and sail around the Caribbean! Upgrade your ship, complete quests, and engage in combat. Every card you buy will unlock new abilities and bonuses to outwit your opponents. The board changes every round, and your strategy will have to keep up. Will you play slowly, buying as many cards as you can? Or will you race to the final space to catch your opponents by surprise? ABOUT THE GAME • Ranked in the Top 50 board games of all time • Easy to start playing, difficult to master • Strategize around hundreds of unique cards • Play on a board that changes every game FEATURES • Learn the game's rules with an interactive tutorial • Play solo against the Automa at 5 levels of difficulty • Pass and play for 2 to 4 players on the same device • Uncover the story of Maracaibo in Campaign Mode, where your decisions permanently change the board • Includes all cards from the "La Armada" mini-expansion! DOES NOT include Online Multiplayer features or AI opponents other than the Automa
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Maracaibo Digital at 3.5 against Power Grid Boardgame's 2.5. Maracaibo Digital also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and review sentiment (43% vs 33%). Power Grid Boardgame's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 7 months). On ratings volume, ads, monetization model 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
Power Grid Boardgame costs $8.99 and Maracaibo Digital $7.99 up front. Power Grid Boardgame sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Maracaibo Digital asks for nothing beyond the download.
Maracaibo Digital holds the better App Store score, 3.5 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 26 and 51 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Power Grid Boardgame's written reviews are positive against 43% of Maracaibo Digital's.
Power Grid Boardgame ships an update monthly, Maracaibo Digital every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Power Grid Boardgame | Maracaibo Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $8.99 | $7.99 — better |
| Rating | 2.5 (26 ratings) | 3.5 (51 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 32.6% of reviews | 43.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 26 | 51 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 7 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 141 MB | 49 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | BrettspielWelt | Spiralburst Studio, LLC |
Customer experience
Power Grid Boardgame
Maracaibo Digital
User reviews
Power Grid Boardgame
From 26 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Faithful to board game
- 🚀 Games play fast
- 💡 Customizable UI layout
- 🌟 Great source material
- 🤖 Good AI players
Room to improve
- 🐛 Cluttered interface
- 🤔 Confusing UI
- 😵 Non-intuitive controls
- 📉 Poor user experience
- 💸 Expensive for current state
Maracaibo Digital
From 51 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Faithful board game adaptation
- 👍 Good tutorial
- 👍 Thematic music
- 👍 Smooth gameplay (when not buggy)
- 👍 Helpful developers (on Discord)
Room to improve
- 🐛 Unplayable due to bugs
- 🐛 Screen orientation issues
- 🐛 Missing AI opponents
- 🐛 Limited undo functionality
- 🐛 Poorly managed screen real estate
Bugs and requests
Power Grid Boardgame
Reported bugs
47 issues- Achievements disappear
- Cannot build houses
- Game cards difficult to recall when minimized
- Movable mini-window UI is buggy
- Requires force restart
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- Automatic next action clipboard issues
- BeNeLux 5th ecoplant "extended market" doesn't work
- Blocks PiP and Music player
- Game crashes when starting
- Cannot return to saved games
- UI broken, unplayable
- Unresponsive menus and interface
- Does not progress or explain rules
- AI is buggy (invisible buildings/powerplants)
- Fatal bug: cannot overbid in auction
- Separate save system, no iCloud syncing
- Info board scaling and drag broken
- Game doesn't work, crashes on start
- Cannot confirm city choice
- Unstable UI, can lose map display
- Crashes in phase III of online games
- Online play unstable
- Doesn't work half the time
- Cannot resume saved local game
- Cannot edit local profile name
- Crashes randomly when starting game
- AI players do funny things
- Power plant auction window not displayed
- Bugs fixed, but still issues
- Gameplay is awful
- GUI is non-standard but intuitive
- Initial screen in German
- Crashing issues resolved, but UI irritating
- No music or sound effects during game
- Poor instructions
- Third player when selecting 2 player game
- Tutorial is limited
- App crashes when accessing help
- Crashes frequently
- Parts in English and German
- Lost games
- Screens flash, unclear round/phase
- Crashes after pressing help
- Cannot reload game
- No games in online lobbies
- Untranslated German text in menus
- Online connection not available
Requested features
7 requests- Add a proper tutorial for gameplay
- Include music and sound effects during gameplay
- Allow saving and resuming local games
- Enable editing of local profile names
- Add iCloud syncing for save games
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- Improve UI dismiss functionality
- Add a clear indicator for round/phase
Maracaibo Digital
Reported bugs
12 issues- App stuck in portrait/landscape orientation
- Game freezes or locks up
- Screen locked, half the game off-screen
- Cannot scroll down to see the bottom of the board
- Card drawing issues
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- Camera at the top of the screen during tutorial
- Game hangs after first automa move
- Display bugs on iPhone 14 Pro Max
- Cannot redraw cards after planning
- Game doesn't scale to screen consistently
- Cannot access buttons on the right side of the screen
- App doesn't work on iPad (portrait/landscape issue)
Requested features
9 requests- Add computer AI opponents
- Implement online multiplayer (real-time and asynchronous)
- Add undo/restart turn functionality
- Include a back button in the tutorial
- Improve handling of larger system fonts
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- Add content from expansions and promos
- Turn log feature
- Full screen on iPhones
- Option to hide notch/status bar
In-app purchases
Power Grid Boardgame
- 1. Expansion$5.99
Maracaibo Digital
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Power Grid Boardgame free?
Is Maracaibo Digital free?
Which has better reviews, Power Grid Boardgame or Maracaibo Digital?
Do Power Grid Boardgame or Maracaibo Digital have ads?
Which is updated more often, Power Grid Boardgame or Maracaibo Digital?
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