Comparison

Sparrows vs Molecano

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

Head to head
About

Sparrows

Engage in a word-spelling puzzle game that combines elements of Mahjong and Scrabble. Earn points by forming words from letter tiles, strategically using score multipliers, and advancing through challenging levels. Multiple game modes offer varied gameplay experiences.

Highlights
  • Level progression with star ratings
  • Multiple game modes (Timed, Moves, Puzzle)
  • Score multipliers on letter/word tiles
  • Power-ups for score boosts
  • Daily goals and objectives
Features
Read full description

Sparrows – mahjong tiles meet wordplay! Spell words from letter tiles, earn score multipliers, and conquer challenging puzzles. Advance through levels, earn 1–3 stars, and master increasingly tricky boards. Multiple game modes – Timed, Moves, and Puzzle – keep gameplay fresh and engaging. Key Features: • Level Progression & Star Ratings: Tackle boards and earn 1–3 stars for top performance. • Game Modes: Timed, Moves, and Puzzle for varied challenges. • Score Multipliers: Double and triple letter/word tiles reward strategic play. • Power-Ups: Boost your score and overcome tough boards. • Daily Goals: Complete new objectives each day to stay challenged. • Relaxing, no timer needed – play at your own pace in Puzzle mode. • Plays great on iPhone and iPad. Relax or Compete: Whether you want a calm puzzle session or a fast-paced challenge, Sparrows offers a rewarding word game experience for every player. Download Sparrows Now! Start your wordplay journey, master each board, and enjoy endless mahjong-meets-wordplay fun!

About

Molecano

Embark on a word-based adventure to help a mole navigate volcanic landscapes. String words together to create bridges and collect food across challenging lava-filled levels. This unique puzzle game offers a relaxing experience with a cool soundtrack and unlockable characters.

Highlights
  • Unique word puzzle gameplay
  • 500+ levels
  • Unlockable characters
  • Chill soundtrack
  • Word-based bridge creation
Features
Read full description

Molecano is an all-new word puzzle game from the creator of Dadish! Help Molene the mole explore volcanoes using words as a bridge. String words together so Molene can cross safely and collect all the delicious food strewn across the lava loaded levels. • A unique and challenging word puzzle game • 500 levels, with more to come • From the creator of Dadish and Super Fowlst • Cool characters to unlock • Playing this game will make you smart, probably • A good game for people who know some words • A chill soundtrack • Relax and unwind... in a volcano!

Screenshots

Sparrows4 screens
Molecano4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Molecano at 85% against Sparrows's 58%. Molecano also leads on iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.2). Sparrows's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (777 vs 109). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Sparrows sells 14 one-off in-app purchases and Molecano sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sparrows holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sparrows has 777 ratings behind it against 109, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 58% of Sparrows's written reviews are positive against 85% of Molecano's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sparrows ships an update every 5 weeks, Molecano every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Sparrows versus Molecano: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSparrowsMolecano
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (777 ratings) — better4.3 (109 ratings)
Positive reviews58.0% of reviews85.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings777 — better109
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.211.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size506 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFluffy Dog StudioThomas Young

Customer experience

Sparrows

All ratings777 ratings
Positive89.7%
Neutral5.5%
Negative4.8%
Written reviews69 reviews
Positive58.0%
Neutral17.4%
Negative24.6%

Molecano

All ratings109 ratings
Positive81.7%
Neutral9.2%
Negative9.2%
Written reviews89 reviews
Positive85.4%
Neutral7.9%
Negative6.7%

User reviews

Sparrows

From 777 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🤩 Loads of fun
  • 🧠 Challenging and engaging
  • 🎨 Lovely design and aesthetics
  • 🕰️ Great for short play sessions
  • 🧠 Stimulates the mind

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
  • 🤔 Inconsistent word recognition
  • 🤯 Frustrating when game ends unexpectedly
  • 🤖 Questionable dictionary choices
  • 🤷‍♀️ Confusing UI elements

Molecano

From 109 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎮 Unique and innovative word puzzle concept
  • 🎨 Charming art style and visual design
  • 🎵 Calming, relaxing lo-fi music
  • 😌 Relaxing and stress-relieving gameplay
  • 👥 Collectible characters from other games

Room to improve

  • 📺 Too many ads despite being fewer than competitors
  • 💰 Expensive ad removal cost
  • 🐢 Slow character movement animation
  • 📱 Game map too small on phone screens
  • 🎮 Becomes repetitive after extended play

Bugs and requests

Sparrows

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Game crashes on launch for some users
  • Word search mode has incorrect timer display
  • Inability to exit certain game modes
  • Shuffling feature sometimes malfunctions
  • Newly unlocked words not recognized

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add option to retry/reset word search puzzles
  • Implement a way to contact developers for missing words
  • Introduce a multiplayer mode to compete with friends
  • Provide more customization options for the UI
  • Improve the algorithm for letter distribution

Molecano

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Level 137 - character won't move after placing letters
  • Level 311 - multiple reports of unsolvable/broken level
  • Level 339 - reported as extremely difficult/possibly broken
  • Level 480 - appears to have no solution
  • Level 464 - reported as impossible to pass
Show 3 more
  • Early levels (around level 5) - unresponsive words
  • Word extension not working consistently
  • Hint system not helpful for difficult levels

Requested features

15 requests
  • More levels beyond level 500
  • Larger game map for mobile devices
  • Ability to rotate words 360 degrees
  • Replay previous completed levels
  • Game Center/cloud save compatibility
Show 10 more
  • Star rating system for level performance
  • Coin rewards based on performance stars
  • Cheaper character options (50-100 coins)
  • Faster character movement speed
  • In-game dictionary function
  • Expanded word dictionary validation
  • Ability to make intersecting words like Scrabble
  • Hint system improvements
  • Support for multiple languages
  • Special interactive elements (fruits/vegetables)

In-app purchases

14 purchases

Sparrows

One-time14
  • 2,500 Feathers$0.99
  • 15,000 points$1.99
  • 5,000 points$1.99
Show 11 more
  • Unlock Endless Mode$1.99
  • 5,000 Feathers$1.99
  • Unlock Full Game$2.99
  • No Ads (30 Days)$2.99
  • 10,000 Feathers$3.49
  • Getting Started$3.99
  • 50,000 points$4.99
  • 150,000 points$6.99
  • Now we're talking!$7.99
  • 25,000 Feathers$7.99
  • 100,000 Feathers$23.99
1 purchases

Molecano

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$5.99

Questions

Is Sparrows free?
Sparrows is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Molecano free?
Molecano is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sparrows or Molecano?
Sparrows is rated higher. Sparrows averages 4.6 out of 5 from 777 ratings, while Molecano averages 4.3 from 109 ratings.
Do Sparrows or Molecano have ads?
Both Sparrows and Molecano show ads.
Which is updated more often, Sparrows or Molecano?
Sparrows ships an update every 5 weeks, and Molecano every 3 weeks. Most recently, Sparrows was updated on October 16, 2026 and Molecano on October 15, 2026.

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