# Falling Blocks vs Retrogram

The clearest difference is rating: Retrogram at 4.4 against Falling Blocks's 3.0. Retrogram also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (66% vs 35%). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Falling Blocks sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and Retrogram sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Retrogram holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Retrogram has 320 ratings behind it against 44, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 35% of Falling Blocks's written reviews are positive against 66% of Retrogram's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Falling Blocks | Retrogram |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (44 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/falling-blocks-puzzle-game/id1474442643/reviews) | **[4.4 (320 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrogram/id1537372328/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 44 | **320** |
| Positive reviews | 35.5% of reviews | **66.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 123 MB | 145 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [loay setrak](https://appshunter.io/developer/923932983) | [in Color](https://appshunter.io/developer/1537372330) |

## What reviewers say

### Falling Blocks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/falling-blocks-puzzle-game/id1474442643)

Engage your mind with this addictive puzzle game where you strategically move and rotate falling blocks to form complete horizontal lines. Compete with friends, unlock new themes, and enjoy a brain-training experience with multiple difficulty levels.

**Highlights:** Swipe to move blocks, Tap to rotate blocks, Form horizontal lines to clear, Challenge friends on Game Center, Unlock theme packs, Multiple difficulty levels

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Stars | $0.99 | one-time |
| 500 Stars | $1.99 | one-time |
| 1,000 Stars | $2.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Stars | $3.99 | one-time |
| 2,500 Stars | $4.99 | one-time |
| 5,000 Stars | $7.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $9.99 | one-time |
| 7,500 Stars | $9.99 | one-time |
| 10,000 Stars | $12.99 | one-time |


### Retrogram

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retrogram/id1537372328)

Challenge your vocabulary with a daily word puzzle. Create as many words as possible from seven letters. Enjoy a stylish, retro-themed experience designed to sharpen your mind and introduce you to new words.

**Highlights:** Daily hand-made puzzles, Solve puzzles together via SharePlay, Apple Watch compatibility, No ads, Discover new words

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Apple Watch app, SharePlay

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Daily Puzzle (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Daily Puzzle (Yearly) | $29.99 | per year |
| Where in the World | $3.99 | one-time |
| 80s Dinner Party | $4.99 | one-time |
| Gaming Icons | $4.99 | one-time |
| Stone Cold | $4.99 | one-time |
| Flower Power | $4.99 | one-time |
| Dear Reader | $4.99 | one-time |
| Outer Rim | $4.99 | one-time |
| Daily Puzzle (For Life) | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Retro aesthetic and clean interface design
- 👍 Simple and intuitive gameplay mechanics
- 🧠 Challenging and brain-stimulating puzzles
- 📚 Interesting word definitions and fun comments
- 🎮 Daily puzzle provides consistent engagement

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription pricing ($30-$80)
- 🚫 Misleading free-to-play model with paywall
- 📖 Inconsistent and limited word dictionary
- 🔄 Words accepted one day but rejected another
- ⏰ Only one puzzle per day (limited content)

**Reported bugs**

- Words marked as missed that were actually found
- Puzzle letters changing when spinning the wheel
- Apple Watch app no longer functioning
- Game progress deletion without explanation
- Inconsistent word acceptance across different puzzles

**Requested features**

- Access to previous/archived puzzles
- Multiple puzzles per day or puzzle difficulty levels
- Statistics tracking (completion rate, pangram frequency)
- Hint system that doesn't impact streak
- Word find rate percentages for context


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Falling Blocks free?

Falling Blocks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Retrogram free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Falling Blocks or Retrogram?

Retrogram is rated higher. Falling Blocks averages 3.0 out of 5 from 44 ratings, while Retrogram averages 4.4 from 320 ratings.

### Do Falling Blocks or Retrogram have ads?

Falling Blocks shows ads; Retrogram does not.

### Which is updated more often, Falling Blocks or Retrogram?

Falling Blocks ships an update every 3 weeks, and Retrogram every 3 weeks. Most recently, Falling Blocks was updated on October 17, 2026 and Retrogram on October 18, 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.*