# Brainy Sleuth vs Detective Mio

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Brainy Sleuth at none against Detective Mio's 4. Detective Mio's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 32 months) and ratings volume (305 vs 43). On price, rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Detective Mio sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Brainy Sleuth asks for nothing beyond the download.

Detective Mio holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Detective Mio has 305 ratings behind it against 43, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Brainy Sleuth ships an update every 32 months, Detective Mio every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Brainy Sleuth | Detective Mio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (43 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainy-sleuth-riddle-quest/id1571292903/reviews) | **[4.6 (305 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/detective-mio/id1577135213/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 43 | **305** |
| Positive reviews | — | 86.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 32 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 202 MB | 273 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [魂动天下](https://appshunter.io/developer/1395851580) | [1N1](https://appshunter.io/developer/1282816708) |

## What reviewers say

### Brainy Sleuth

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/brainy-sleuth-riddle-quest/id1571292903)

This puzzle game offers over 500 challenging levels with diverse gameplay mechanics. It combines various puzzle types with unique mobile interactions for an engaging experience. Enjoy a humorous and educational journey through brain-teasing riddles.

**Highlights:** 500+ challenging levels, Brain-teasing riddles, Find the difference and hidden object gameplay, Unique mobile interactions, Humorous scenarios and answers, Educational content

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Detective Mio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/detective-mio/id1577135213)

Solve puzzles and quizzes to find hidden animals in various imaginative locations. This interactive game requires tapping, swiping, and dragging to uncover clues and complete illustrations. Decorate your detective office with earned items and enjoy offline play.

**Highlights:** Hidden object finding, Nonsense quizzes and puzzles, Interactive tap, swipe, drag mechanics, Animal rescue missions, Detective office decoration, Offline play

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| hint item 10 | $0.99 | one-time |
| hint item 25 | $1.99 | one-time |
| remove interstitial ads pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove all ads package | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Adorable and cute art style with charming character design
- 🧩 Engaging puzzle mechanics that blend detective work with hidden object finding
- 😌 Relaxing and healing gameplay experience
- 🎮 Well-balanced difficulty level - challenging but not frustrating
- 😸 Lovable cat characters throughout the game

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Extremely short game - only 20 levels completed in 1-2 hours
- 💰 Poor value for money - $5 ad removal purchase for limited content
- 🚫 No updates for over a year despite active player base
- 📖 Small text in clues difficult to read without zoom option
- 🎯 Some puzzle mechanics are unintuitive and confusing

**Reported bugs**

- Haunted house level prevents progression to next case
- Ad countdown timer runs without showing actual ad
- Some objects don't respond to required interactions
- Hint system shows incorrect or already-solved clues
- Touch input fails to register on certain objects

**Requested features**

- Add significantly more levels and cases
- Implement regular content updates
- Increase office/detective space for more decoration options
- Add zoom feature for reading clues more clearly
- Create seasonal or holiday-themed cases


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Brainy Sleuth free?

Brainy Sleuth is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Detective Mio free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Brainy Sleuth or Detective Mio?

Detective Mio is rated higher. Brainy Sleuth averages 4.4 out of 5 from 43 ratings, while Detective Mio averages 4.6 from 305 ratings.

### Do Brainy Sleuth or Detective Mio have ads?

Both Brainy Sleuth and Detective Mio show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Brainy Sleuth or Detective Mio?

Brainy Sleuth ships an update every 32 months, and Detective Mio every 2 weeks. Most recently, Brainy Sleuth was updated on November 3, 2026 and Detective Mio on November 3, 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.*