Comparison

Exception; 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

Exception;

Engage in a unique single-player game where you program AI units to overcome challenges and defeat enemies in a virtual world. Strategize and code different unit types to progress through levels and uncover the secrets of a seemingly perfect system.

Highlights
  • AI programming gameplay
  • Strategic unit control
  • Challenging single-player levels
  • Virtual world exploration
  • Uncover system secrets
Features
Read full description

Exception is a game about AI programming. During the game, the player assists the units to defeat their enemies in the virtual world. However, the player needs to control the units by programming instead of controlling them directly. This is a challenging single-player game. In each level, the player needs to think about the strategy and program the units accordingly. The player needs to program different types of units to beat the level. ************************** In a virtual world where everything operates steadily under an omnipotent system, you will play the role of an operator named 159, who oversees and maintains the system. Nevertheless, there is no perfect system. You find an exception in the program one day. What is stranger is that the program made a request… You will discover the secret underneath this cyber world. ************************** [LEVEL SOLUTION] [WHEN] Success Rate = 100% [DO] Next level :D [WHEN] Success Rate ≠ 100% [DO] Optimize it :3 [/LEVEL SOLUTION] ************************** Contact us:support@kunpo.cc [Code monkeys change the world]

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

Exception;4 screens
Cracking the Cryptic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Cracking the Cryptic at Free against Exception;'s $2.99. Exception;'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and rating (4.8 vs 4.4). On update cadence, ads 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

Cracking the Cryptic is free to download; Exception; costs $2.99 up front. Cracking the Cryptic sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Exception; asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Exception; holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Exception; has 2.7K ratings behind it against 208, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Exception;'s written reviews are positive against 72% of Cracking the Cryptic's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Exception; ships an update fortnightly, Cracking the Cryptic every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Exception; versus Cracking the Cryptic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterException;Cracking the Cryptic
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (2.7K ratings) — better4.4 (208 ratings)
Positive reviews82.1% of reviews — better72.1% of reviews
Number of ratings2.7K — better208
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size79 MB234 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKunpoNick Carney

Customer experience

Exception;

All ratings2,654 ratings
Positive97.2%
Neutral1.4%
Negative1.4%
Written reviews190 reviews
Positive82.1%
Neutral7.4%
Negative10.5%

Cracking the Cryptic

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

User reviews

Exception;

From 2.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Interesting and challenging gameplay
  • 🚀 Smooth and fluid animations
  • 💡 Unique programming-based mechanics
  • 🤖 Good introduction to programming concepts
  • 🎨 Visually appealing design

Room to improve

  • 🔒 Most levels locked behind paywall
  • 🐛 Inconsistent bot behavior
  • 💰 Game feels like a demo with limited content

Cracking the Cryptic

From 208 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Best sudoku app
  • 👍 Great variety of puzzles
  • 👍 Excellent user interface
  • 👍 Challenging and fun puzzles
  • 👍 Constant updates with new puzzles

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Hints are often incorrect or unhelpful
  • 🐛 Bugs and crashes, especially after updates
  • 🔋 Battery draining issues
  • 🔒 Too many in-app purchases required to access content

Bugs and requests

Exception;

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Bots not responding to commands as expected
  • Scripting errors when retreating

Requested features

4 requests
  • Sandbox mode to create custom levels
  • Hint system for difficult levels
  • Ability to sync progress across devices
  • Multiplayer or co-op modes

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

Exception;

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 Exception; free?
Exception; costs $2.99, 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, Exception; or Cracking the Cryptic?
Exception; is rated higher. Exception; averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.7K ratings, while Cracking the Cryptic averages 4.4 from 208 ratings.
Do Exception; or Cracking the Cryptic have ads?
Neither Exception; nor Cracking the Cryptic shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Exception; or Cracking the Cryptic?
Exception; ships an update fortnightly, and Cracking the Cryptic every 3 weeks. Most recently, Exception; was updated on October 17, 2026 and Cracking the Cryptic on October 18, 2026.

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