# Grim Tales 17 vs Mystery Files

The clearest difference is ads: Grim Tales 17 at none against Mystery Files's shown. Mystery Files's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (5.8K vs 428). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Grim Tales 17 sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Mystery Files sells 20 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Grim Tales 17 against 4.6 for Mystery Files. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mystery Files has 5.8K ratings behind it against 428, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of Grim Tales 17's written reviews are positive against 58% of Mystery Files's.

Grim Tales 17 ships an update every 6 months, Mystery Files fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Grim Tales 17 | Mystery Files |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (428 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grim-tales-17-hidden-objects/id1479177379/reviews)** | [4.6 (5.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mystery-files-hidden-objects/id1589094825/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 428 | **5.8K** |
| Positive reviews | **63.6% of reviews** | 58.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 810 MB | 431 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Elephant Games AR LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1615019125) | [DO GAMES LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1542346466) |

## What reviewers say

### Grim Tales 17

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grim-tales-17-hidden-objects/id1479177379)

Embark on a thrilling detective adventure to uncover the source of a deadly tragedy threatening a family. Solve intricate puzzles, find hidden objects, and explore mysterious locations to unravel secrets before it's too late.

**Highlights:** Hidden object scenes, Solve puzzles, Find lost items, Mystery detective gameplay, Explore unusual locations, Mini-games, Collector's Edition bonuses

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Content | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ❤️ Affordable and enjoyable gameplay
- 👍 Good storyline and puzzles
- 🌟 High-quality graphics and design
- 🤩 Series continuity is appreciated
- 💡 Engaging and addictive gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📉 Bonus chapter continuity issues
- ⏳ Games can feel too short
- 🤔 Some plot points lack explanation
- 💰 Perceived high price for game length
- 😵 Difficulty finding morphing objects

**Reported bugs**

- 🐛 Screen sliding/unlocked on iPhone
- 🐛 Game won't start, logo spins
- 🐛 Game not available in US (despite prior play)
- 🐛 Bonus game is buggy
- 🐛 Game play screen doesn't load

**Requested features**

- Longer game duration for the price
- More explanation in bonus chapters
- Improved continuity in bonus chapters


### Mystery Files

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mystery-files-hidden-objects/id1589094825)

Engage in free-to-play detective puzzles and brain teasers. Discover hidden objects in various locations and choose from a library of interactive stories and quests. Earn achievements and collect unique items as you unravel mysteries.

**Highlights:** Hidden object puzzles, Point-and-click adventures, Interactive stories, Brain teasers and mini-games, Achievement system, Collectible items

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (20)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A Handful of Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pack of useful things | $1.99 | one-time |
| A Handful of Crystals | $2.99 | one-time |
| A Pouch of Coins | $3.99 | one-time |
| A Pinch of Gems | $3.99 | one-time |
| Handful of useful things | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pack of useful things | $4.99 | one-time |
| Chalice of Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Currency box | $4.99 | one-time |
| Heap of Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Heap of Gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| A Handful of Gems | $5.99 | one-time |
| A Pouch of Gems | $6.99 | one-time |
| A Bag of Coins | $7.99 | one-time |
| A Bag of Gems | $7.99 | one-time |
| Bandbox of Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bandbox of Gems | $9.99 | one-time |
| A Chest of Coins | $11.99 | one-time |
| Handful of useful things | $12.99 | one-time |
| Jewelry Box | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Continuous levels
- 👍 No ads
- 👍 Multiple games in one app
- 👍 Challenging puzzles
- 👍 Enjoyable stories

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and bugs
- 🐛 Unresponsive controls
- 🐛 Broken hint system
- 🔑 Excessive use of keys/coins to progress
- 🔑 Long wait times for keys

**Reported bugs**

- Puzzles not working as intended
- Scenes/items disappearing or becoming uninteractable
- Game progress being reset or lost
- Crashes and freezes when using in-app purchases

**Requested features**

- More ways to earn hints/coins without paying
- Better instructions for mini-games
- Ability to skip difficult puzzles


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Grim Tales 17 free?

Grim Tales 17 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Mystery Files free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Grim Tales 17 or Mystery Files?

Grim Tales 17 is rated higher. Grim Tales 17 averages 4.7 out of 5 from 428 ratings, while Mystery Files averages 4.6 from 5.8K ratings.

### Do Grim Tales 17 or Mystery Files have ads?

Mystery Files shows ads; Grim Tales 17 does not.

### Which is updated more often, Grim Tales 17 or Mystery Files?

Grim Tales 17 ships an update every 6 months, and Mystery Files fortnightly. Most recently, Grim Tales 17 was updated on September 21, 2026 and Mystery Files on September 25, 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.*