Comparison

Dots & Boxes vs Cloisters

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Dots & Boxes

Features
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DOTS & BOXES Do you like puzzle games and strategy games? Then you will like "Dots & Boxes". Dots and Boxes is a pencil-and-paper game for two players. It was first published in the 19th century by French mathematician Édouard Lucas, who called it la pipopipette. It has gone by many other names, including the game of dots, dot to dot grid, boxes, and pigs in a pen. The game starts with an empty grid of dots. Usually two players take turns adding a single horizontal or vertical line between two unjoined adjacent dots. A player who completes the fourth side of a 1×1 box earns one point and takes another turn. The game ends when no more lines can be placed. The winner is the player with the most points. FEATURES: - 3 different board sizes (4x4, 5x5 and 6x6) - Play versus the computer or versus a friend on the same device - Competitive Artificial Intelligence - Multi-language: English, Spanish, French More games: http://www.pegolandia.com

About

Cloisters

Features
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Cloisters is a strategy game that offers a battle of wits between two players. Challenge your friends to see who comes out on top, either on the same device or online with your Game Center account. Robot players are also available to practice against.

Screenshots

Dots & Boxes3 screens
Cloisters1 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Cloisters at none against Dots & Boxes's shown. Cloisters also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). Dots & Boxes's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.4). On price, in-app purchases 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

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

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dots & Boxes ships an update every 8 months, Cloisters every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 3 level
Dots & Boxes versus Cloisters: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDots & BoxesCloisters
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.4
Further details — not scored
Size75 MB1 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperJose MoratoBen Balcomb

In-app purchases

None

Dots & Boxes

No in-app purchases

None

Cloisters

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dots & Boxes free?
Dots & Boxes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cloisters free?
Cloisters is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Dots & Boxes or Cloisters have ads?
Dots & Boxes shows ads; Cloisters does not.
Which is updated more often, Dots & Boxes or Cloisters?
Dots & Boxes ships an update every 8 months, and Cloisters every 3 weeks. Most recently, Dots & Boxes was updated on October 9, 2026 and Cloisters on October 7, 2026.

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