Comparison

Boxes vs Microscopya

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

Head to head
About

Boxes

Step into the shoes of a legendary thief tasked with infiltrating a lavish mansion. Discover a series of intricate puzzle boxes that hold a deeper, more sinister secret. Escape the mansion and uncover the truth behind its mysterious purpose.

Highlights
  • Solve 20 original puzzle boxes
  • Explore a mysterious mansion
  • Intricate machinery and controls
  • Cryptic atmosphere
  • Test your resolve and skills
Features
Read full description

As a legendary thief, your next assignment lures you into a grand and lavish mansion. There you find a series of puzzle boxes, designed for an unknown purpose. Soon signs begin to emerge that you are no longer in control of what is unfolding, and perhaps never were. You start to doubt if this is an ordinary residence or a containment facility of some sort. What should have been a quick in-and-out, gradually turns into your own harrowing struggle for freedom and answers. Inspired by the cryptic atmosphere, intricate machinery and smooth controls of the best room escape games, we have created 20 original puzzle boxes that will test your resolve and skills in order to successfully navigate this mysterious and compelling journey. Each puzzle box is beautiful, unique, and a true delight to explore and figure out.

About

Microscopya

Embark on a science-themed adventure and puzzle game exploring the intricate world inside a cell. Solve challenges based on real molecular processes, personalize your avatar, and discover the wonders of life's building blocks.

Highlights
  • Cellular exploration
  • Molecular mechanism puzzles
  • Character customization
  • Science-themed adventure
  • Original music score
Features
Read full description

Microscopya is a science-themed adventure and puzzle game taking players on a journey through the inside of the cell. Explore the fantastical world, solve puzzles based on real molecular mechanisms, customize your character, and experience the beauty and complexity of what makes life possible. This is the first game from Beata Science Art, featuring music by the talented Jamie van Dyck of Earthside and programming by Atelier Monarch Studios. Follow @microscopyagame on social media or visit www.microscopya.com to learn more. Special thanks to the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Lyda Hill Philanthropies for making this project possible, and the American Society for Cell Biology for additional funding.

Screenshots

Boxes4 screens
Microscopya4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Microscopya at none against Boxes's 1. Microscopya also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs monthly) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Boxes's advantage is ratings volume (13K vs 27) and rating (4.9 vs 4.6). On price, review sentiment, ads 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. Boxes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Microscopya asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Boxes holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Boxes has 13K ratings behind it against 27, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 85% of Boxes's written reviews are positive against 78% of Microscopya's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Boxes ships an update monthly, Microscopya every 2 days. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Boxes versus Microscopya: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBoxesMicroscopya
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (13K ratings) — better4.6 (27 ratings)
Positive reviews85.1% of reviews — better77.8% of reviews
Number of ratings13K — better27
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1.1 GB522 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperSnapbreak Games ABBeata Mierzwa

Customer experience

Boxes

All ratings12,518 ratings
Positive97.8%
Neutral1.4%
Negative0.8%
Written reviews1,012 reviews
Positive85.1%
Neutral7.9%
Negative7.0%

Microscopya

All ratings27 ratings
Positive85.2%
Neutral7.4%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral16.7%
Negative5.6%

Bugs and requests

Boxes

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes on certain puzzles
  • Save progress issues
  • Compatibility problems on older devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • More levels and chapters
  • Difficulty settings
  • Replayability options
  • Expanded story and lore

Microscopya

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Boxes

One-time1
  • Full Game$8.99
None

Microscopya

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Boxes free?
Boxes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Microscopya free?
Microscopya is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Boxes or Microscopya?
Boxes is rated higher. Boxes averages 4.9 out of 5 from 13K ratings, while Microscopya averages 4.6 from 27 ratings.
Do Boxes or Microscopya have ads?
Neither Boxes nor Microscopya shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Boxes or Microscopya?
Boxes ships an update monthly, and Microscopya every 2 days. Most recently, Boxes was updated on September 28, 2026 and Microscopya on September 28, 2026.

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