Lights vs Merge 42
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Lights
This game offers a modern twist on a classic electronic memory challenge. It features over 15 game modes, including local multiplayer, and tests your memory and reflexes. Track your progress with achievements and global leaderboards.
- Over 15 game modes
- Local multiplayer
- Achievements
- Online leaderboards
- Daily play reminders
- 11 language translations
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A fresh take on a classic electronic game. Easy to play, difficult to master. Over 15 game modes, including local multiplayer. Up to 12 buttons, and a variety of sound options. Lights offers much more than a simple "repeat after me" challenge by testing your memory, reflexes, and more. Can you conquer them all? Unlock Achievements and see how you compare to friends or the world with online Leaderboards. Improve your memory by challenging yourself regularly. Set a schedule in the app to remind you to play for a few minutes daily, weekly, or anything in between. Now translated to 11 languages, including Ukrainian!
Merge 42
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Merge 42 is a grid-merge game: swipe to slide every ball at once, and two matching balls that meet merge into the next one. Easy to pick up, built to be replayed without ever pushing you to. 42 BALLS TO DISCOVER Every new color you reach is added to your Collection, with its name and a short bit of lore. The last one — The Answer — has to be earned. YOUR PROFILE, NO ACCOUNT Pick your nickname and avatar: your game history, best score and collection stay on your device, no account required. LEADERBOARD Look back at your best games and compare them with your friends'. COLLECTIBLE POWER-UPS From level 7 onwards, earn tactical power-ups to explode, move or swap balls, undo a move, sweep away small balls or drop a random ball. At level 10, choose to expand your board to 5×5 and keep your run going. FRIENDS, NO SOCIAL NETWORK NEEDED Share a code with friends to compare scores and unlocked balls, challenge them to a duel, or watch a live game — no account to create, no social network required. Fully optional: off until you open the Friends tab. RESPECTFUL, FULL STOP No ads. No in-app purchases. No account required. Nothing is sent anywhere by default — everything stays on your device, unless you choose to turn on the friends system, which only ever shares what a friend has agreed to see: your name, avatar, and scores once you're both connected, or your live game if you accept their request to watch. Available in French and English.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Merge 42 at none against Lights's 1. Merge 42 also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. Lights sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Merge 42 asks for nothing beyond the download.
Lights ships an update every 6 weeks, Merge 42 every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lights | Merge 42 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (180 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 180 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.4 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 66 MB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Lee Phillips | Alexandre DUBAR |
In-app purchases
Lights
- Disable ads$1.99
Merge 42
No in-app purchases
