Comparison

Universal Library vs Tree(3)

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

Head to head
About

Universal Library

Features
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This game is a simulation of the universal library described in a short story, "The Library of Babel", by Jorge Luis Borges. The story can be found in several published collections and websites. As described, the Library contains all books of a certain size whose text is any possible sequence of lower-case letters and simple punctuation, even if it is nonsense. This simulation is of an interesting corner of the Library, tiny compared to the Borges vision, but large enough to get lost in. The game is an explorable virtual environment with a few treasure-hunt-like activities leading to books with meaningful content. There is a book that players can erase and rewrite to make into their own "personal vindication", and a book with a practically infinite number of pages. Individual books are searchable. You can mark and return easily to any alcove with an interesting book.

About

Tree(3)

This puzzle game challenges you to build sequences of abstract shapes based on a single rule: no earlier shape can be found within a later one. Compete for high scores, solve daily puzzles, and challenge friends in a game inspired by a massive mathematical concept.

Highlights
  • Build unique shape sequences
  • Solve daily puzzles
  • Challenge friends
  • Learn game mechanics
  • Earn high scores
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Tree(3) is a puzzle game built on one of the largest numbers in mathematics. You build a sequence of small trees, one at a time. Each tree may use one more node than the last, and its nodes come in three colors. There is one rule: no earlier tree may ever be found inside a later one. The moment a shape repeats, the sequence ends. Kruskal's tree theorem proves every such sequence must end. TREE(3) is how long the longest one could run — a number so large it cannot be written down in the observable universe. Your score is how far you get before the rule catches you. MAIN GAME — Pure TREE(3). Start from a single node and extend as far as you can. Every game is a new best-score attempt. PUZZLES — A position and a bank of candidate trees. Pick the ones that don't repeat an earlier shape. Three tiers; the skill is reading embeddings at a glance. DAILY — One puzzle a day, the same for everyone. Share your result without spoiling it. CHALLENGES — Invite a friend and take turns extending one shared sequence. The player who repeats a shape loses. LEARN — Short lessons on the rule, the trap in the first move, and why the game has to end. Tree(3) is free to play. Optional coins buy hints and avatars; ads can be removed with a one-time purchase. Nothing you can buy is ever won from another player.

Screenshots

Tree(3)4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Universal Library at none against Tree(3)'s 4. Universal Library also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). Tree(3)'s advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 40 months). On price 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. Tree(3) sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Universal Library asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Universal Library ships an update every 40 months, Tree(3) every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Universal Library versus Tree(3): the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterUniversal LibraryTree(3)
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 40 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size180 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJonathan MillenThicket Studios LLC

In-app purchases

None

Universal Library

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Tree(3)

One-time4
  • 100 Coins$0.99
  • Remove Ads$3.99
  • 550 Coins$4.99
Show 1 more
  • 1,200 Coins$9.99

Questions

Is Universal Library free?
Universal Library is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Tree(3) free?
Tree(3) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Universal Library or Tree(3) have ads?
Tree(3) shows ads; Universal Library does not.
Which is updated more often, Universal Library or Tree(3)?
Universal Library ships an update every 40 months, and Tree(3) every 2 weeks. Most recently, Universal Library was updated on November 7, 2026 and Tree(3) on November 10, 2026.

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