# The Jackbox vs Mystery Box 5

The clearest difference is rating: The Jackbox at 4.6 against Mystery Box 5's 3.6. The Jackbox also leads on ratings volume (751 vs 34) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Mystery Box 5's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 24 months). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Jackbox sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Mystery Box 5 sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Jackbox holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Jackbox has 751 ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 36% of The Jackbox's written reviews are positive against 33% of Mystery Box 5's.

The Jackbox ships an update every 24 months, Mystery Box 5 every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Jackbox | Mystery Box 5 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (751 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-jackbox/id1472996482/reviews)** | [3.6 (34 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mystery-box-5-elements/id6478146368/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **751** | 34 |
| Positive reviews | **35.9% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 24 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 422 MB | 439 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [MOBIPLAY OU](https://appshunter.io/developer/563180181) | [XSGames](https://appshunter.io/developer/1725979641) |

## What reviewers say

### The Jackbox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-jackbox/id1472996482)

Solve intricate mechanical puzzles and riddles within mysterious boxes before they explode. Uncover a spooky circus story and its secrets through over 60 unique challenges. Enjoy stunning graphics, an authentic soundtrack, and choose between single-player or cooperative multiplayer modes.

**Highlights:** Solve mechanical puzzles and riddles, Over 60 unique puzzle boxes, Stunning circus atmosphere graphics, Engaging mind-blowing story, Normal and AR modes, Single-player and multiplayer options

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| All Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces | $1.99 | one-time |
| Blue Box Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Yellow Box Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| White Box Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Purple Box Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Green Box Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Premium Pack | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Enjoyable puzzles
- 👍 Smooth gameplay
- 🎨 Nice graphics
- 🤡 Creepy/spooky theme

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lack of instructions
- 🔌 Overheating issues
- 🔦 Disruptive lighting/shaking effects
- 🕰️ Timed puzzles can be frustrating
- 🔁 Repetitive puzzles

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to progress past certain levels
- Ads not working properly
- Frequent crashes

**Requested features**

- Option to disable lighting/shaking effects
- Ability to collect all puzzle pieces
- More challenging puzzles
- Landscape mode support
- Cross-save functionality


### Mystery Box 5

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mystery-box-5-elements/id6478146368)

Embark on an unforgettable puzzle adventure exploring intricate boxes filled with enigmas and brain-teasing challenges. Enjoy a captivating soundtrack and get hints when you're stuck. Share your achievements with friends and the community.

**Highlights:** Intricate puzzle boxes, Brain-teasing challenges, Captivating soundtrack, Hint system, Share achievements, Elements Stone extra challenge

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock All levels | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All levels + Coffee | $4.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All levels + Love | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Jackbox free?

The Jackbox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Mystery Box 5 free?

Mystery Box 5 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The Jackbox or Mystery Box 5?

The Jackbox is rated higher. The Jackbox averages 4.6 out of 5 from 751 ratings, while Mystery Box 5 averages 3.6 from 34 ratings.

### Do The Jackbox or Mystery Box 5 have ads?

The Jackbox shows ads; Mystery Box 5 does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Jackbox or Mystery Box 5?

The Jackbox ships an update every 24 months, and Mystery Box 5 every 2 months. Most recently, The Jackbox was updated on October 15, 2026 and Mystery Box 5 on October 13, 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.*