# Dear Reader vs Cornsweeper

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Dear Reader at 75% against Cornsweeper's 12%. Dear Reader also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.1) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). Cornsweeper's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

Dear Reader holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 572 and 264 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Dear Reader's written reviews are positive against 12% of Cornsweeper's.

Dear Reader ships an update every 3 months, Cornsweeper every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Dear Reader | Cornsweeper |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (572 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dear-reader/id1470280172/reviews)** | [4.1 (264 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cornsweeper/id1600387153/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **572** | 264 |
| Positive reviews | **74.7% of reviews** | 11.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 387 MB | 1006 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Local No. 12](https://appshunter.io/developer/1169662930) | [Robert Morrison](https://appshunter.io/developer/1600387155) |

## What reviewers say

### Dear Reader

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dear-reader/id1470280172)

Engage with classic literature through unique word puzzles. Unscramble passages, unlock new books, and complete challenges to discover special abilities. This game transforms beloved stories into interactive wordplay experiences.

**Highlights:** Play with over 130 classic books, Unlock dozens of wordplay puzzle types, Acquire new books from a rotating selection, Earn Rare Books by completing goals, Embark on Research missions for abilities, Solve daily word challenges

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Engaging word puzzles
- 📚 Variety of classic books
- 👍 Relaxing gameplay
- 💡 Unique concept of 'playing books'
- 🤓 Helps improve reading and language skills

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🤔 Heavily abridged book excerpts
- 🙄 Repetitive daily challenges
- 💰 Expensive rare books

**Reported bugs**

- Game progress being deleted
- Inability to exit the library
- Crashes when trying to purchase rare books

**Requested features**

- Add more modern and popular book titles
- Option to read full unabridged books
- Dark mode
- Ability to report typos and errors
- More varied and engaging goals/achievements


### Cornsweeper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cornsweeper/id1600387153)

Pop delicious popcorn kernels while avoiding explosions in this meditative mind-sweep-em-up game. Enjoy a beautifully illustrated aesthetic and a chill, lo-fi soundtrack across 70 handcrafted levels. Discover secrets and unlockable modes for a whimsical gaming experience.

**Highlights:** Beautifully illustrated aesthetic, Chill, lo-fi inspired OST, 70 Handcrafted levels, Unlockable Arcade Mode, Collect 28 purchasable items, Classic gameplay with unique twists, Toy-like sense of discovery

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Game Controller support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Relaxing gameplay
- 👍 Visually appealing design
- 🎨 Unique take on minesweeper
- 🎶 Good music and sound effects

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and unstable
- 🤔 Unclear mechanics and lack of instructions
- 🕹️ Frustrating controls and input issues
- 🧠 Overly challenging and relies on guessing
- 🔍 Confusing and unintuitive user interface

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes or freezes
- Language randomly changes to Arabic
- Levels not registering as completed
- Upgrades not working as expected
- Inconsistent behavior and visual glitches

**Requested features**

- Ability to mark/flag suspected kernels
- Option to disable certain upgrades/features
- Randomized levels instead of pre-set puzzles
- Better onboarding and in-game tutorials
- Improved performance and stability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Dear Reader free?

Dear Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Cornsweeper free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Dear Reader or Cornsweeper?

Dear Reader is rated higher. Dear Reader averages 4.5 out of 5 from 572 ratings, while Cornsweeper averages 4.1 from 264 ratings.

### Do Dear Reader or Cornsweeper have ads?

Neither Dear Reader nor Cornsweeper shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Dear Reader or Cornsweeper?

Dear Reader ships an update every 3 months, and Cornsweeper every 3 weeks. Most recently, Dear Reader was updated on September 29, 2026 and Cornsweeper 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.*