Boxes vs Microscopya
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Solve 20 original puzzle boxes
- Explore a mysterious mansion
- Intricate machinery and controls
- Cryptic atmosphere
- Test your resolve and skills
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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.
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.
- Cellular exploration
- Molecular mechanism puzzles
- Character customization
- Science-themed adventure
- Original music score
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Boxes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Microscopya asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
Boxes ships an update monthly, Microscopya every 2 days. Both last shipped on September 28, 2026.
| Parameter | Boxes | Microscopya |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (13K ratings) — better | 4.6 (27 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 85.1% of reviews — better | 77.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 13K — better | 27 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.1 GB | 522 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Snapbreak Games AB | Beata Mierzwa |
Customer experience
Boxes
Microscopya
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
Boxes
- Full Game$8.99
Microscopya
No in-app purchases









