Comparison

Mindbug Online vs Paperback Vol. 2

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

Head to head
About

Mindbug Online

Experience a unique and streamlined card battler designed by the creator of Magic: The Gathering. This skill-based dueling game features powerful cards, fast matches, and infinite strategies with a groundbreaking mechanic that lets you control opponent creatures. It's accessible yet deeply challenging, with no pay-to-win elements.

Highlights
  • Streamlined card battler mechanics
  • Skill-based dueling
  • Groundbreaking creature control
  • Fast and intense matches
  • Infinite strategic possibilities
  • No pay-to-win
Features
Read full description

Start playing Mindbug Online today - the new ultimate card battler! Mindbug distills all the excitement of strategy card games and transforms it into the most streamlined card battler of the multiverse. Accessible and fair, yet extremely challenging and deep. Mindbug is a skill-based dueling card game that feels utterly different from all the other card games you've played before. From Richard Garfield – Creator of Magic the Gathering With Richard Garfield (Creator of Magic: The Gathering) as one of the designers, this game has been designed with more than 30 years of card game experience and combined with a groundbreaking and innovative new game mechanic. Crazy Card Abilities – OMG this is OP In Mindbug, each card is insanely powerful. There are no weak cards, and it feels like all your options are completely overpowered. Every single decision in this game matters. Turn the tables with a single move. It’s all up to you and your skill. Fast and Intense Matches A game of Mindbug can be played in less than 5 minutes, making it perfect for when you have a few minutes to spare. But don’t be fooled by its quickness – the strategic depth will blow your mind. Infinite Strategies Even though Mindbug is extremely easy to learn, the game will keep surprising you with new and exciting challenges and combos. The unique Mindbug mechanic allows you to control your opponents’ creatures and leads to unique decision-making that requires even veteran card game players to adjust their traditional playstyle. Not a collectible card game – No Pay to win! Mindbug is not a trading card game. There are no loot boxes, no random cards, and no pay-to-win. If you buy a card set, you can play with it as much as you want. What are you waiting for earthling? Show your incredible skill and turn your opponents’ strongest creatures into your own advantage! Play Mindbug Online Now!

About

Paperback Vol. 2

This is a novel deck-building game where players craft words to create clever combos and become bestselling authors. It features new cards, modes, art, and advanced AI for challenging gameplay or cooperative play with friends.

Highlights
  • Deck-building word game mechanics
  • New cards and abilities
  • Cooperative mode with friends or AI
  • Advanced AI opponents
  • New art and interface
  • Mini-expansions
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Paperback the game is back! Paige Turner has been cranking out novels of all genres and has a new set of tricks. Follow her journey to become a bestselling author! Paperback, the deckbuilding word game fuses smart wordsmithing with clever combos. Based on the bestselling card game, it returns with Vol 2! Try out the new cards, new modes and new art. The advanced computer players can challenge the best players or work alongside you in cooperative mode. Cooperative mode - play with friends even play alongside the AI New massive card set - as you play, you’ll unlock new cards and abilities. Advanced AI - can find the best words faster and challenge the best players. New Art and interface New mini-expansions - spacebar, dyslexic and alternate starting wilds. New kitchy novels to finish!

Screenshots

Mindbug Online4 screens
Paperback Vol. 24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Mindbug Online at Free against Paperback Vol. 2's $4.99. Mindbug Online also leads on rating (4.7 vs 3.5) and review sentiment (64% vs 26%). Paperback Vol. 2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 21) and chart position (#120 vs unranked). On ratings volume, update cadence, 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

Mindbug Online is free to download; Paperback Vol. 2 costs $4.99 up front. Mindbug Online sells 21 one-off in-app purchases. Paperback Vol. 2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mindbug Online holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 42 and 47 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Mindbug Online's written reviews are positive against 26% of Paperback Vol. 2's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Mindbug Online versus Paperback Vol. 2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMindbug OnlinePaperback Vol. 2
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.7 (42 ratings) — better3.5 (47 ratings)
Positive reviews63.8% of reviews — better26.4% of reviews
Number of ratings4247 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#120 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size1.7 GB146 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKissaki StudiosFowers Games Inc.

Customer experience

Mindbug Online

All ratings42 ratings
Positive92.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews58 reviews
Positive63.8%
Neutral3.4%
Negative32.8%

Paperback Vol. 2

All ratings47 ratings
Positive48.9%
Neutral27.7%
Negative23.4%
Written reviews53 reviews
Positive26.4%
Neutral34.0%
Negative39.6%

User reviews

Mindbug Online

From 42 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎮 Excellent game
  • ⚖️ Balanced gameplay
  • 🔍 Depth and strategy
  • 💰 Fair monetization
  • 🕹️ Enjoyable gameplay

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Bugs and glitches
  • 🕰️ Slow animations
  • 🤖 Inconsistent AI
  • 🔍 Lack of customization
  • 🔒 Poor customer support

Paperback Vol. 2

From 47 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Great game concept
  • 👍 Fun deckbuilding twist
  • 👍 Enjoyable solo play
  • 👍 Good for passing time
  • 👍 Well-done adaptation

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Buggy app
  • 🐛 Frequent crashes
  • 🐛 Game freezes often
  • 🐛 Unplayable after updates
  • 🐛 Inconsistent dictionary

Bugs and requests

Mindbug Online

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Tutorial issues
  • Infinite battle loop
  • Purchasing issues

Requested features

3 requests
  • Ability to pick opponents
  • Faster gameplay option
  • More customization options

Paperback Vol. 2

Reported bugs

23 issues
  • App is buggy
  • Cards not working as expected
  • Points miscalculated
  • Words not in dictionary
  • AI uses invalid words
Show 18 more
  • App icon shows false notifications
  • Double value card bug
  • Green Look at 3 cards dialog bug
  • App freezes after scoring
  • Cannot buy cards after scoring
  • Game freezes during AI turn
  • Push notifications not working
  • Card effects not always working
  • Triple-letter score bug
  • Account not verified error
  • Cannot start new PvP games
  • Online not working
  • Game won't deal second hand
  • Animations move at snail's pace
  • Computer players lock up
  • Computer players make suboptimal choices
  • Double score adjacency bonus not working
  • Confirmation email not received

Requested features

4 requests
  • Option to use original fonts/graphics
  • Full rules explanation
  • Card collection feature
  • Option to have all cards available

In-app purchases

21 purchases

Mindbug Online

One-time21
  • 300 Gold$0.99
  • 1000 Gold$2.99
  • 500 DNA$4.99
Show 18 more
  • Battlefruit Kingdom Set$8.99
  • Beyond Evolution Set$8.99
  • Beyond Eternity Set$8.99
  • Mr Green Reward Path$8.99
  • Mr Pink Season Pass$8.99
  • First Contact Set + Add-On$8.99
  • 5000 Gold$11.99
  • Battlefruit Galaxy + Mindbugs$12.99
  • Mindbug x King of Tokyo Card Set$12.99
  • Battlefruit Kingdom + Mindbugs$12.99
  • Christmas Bundle$14.99
  • FC Set + Mr Green$14.99
  • First Contact Bundle$14.99
  • 2400 DNA$19.99
  • Battlefruit + Both Mindbugs$22.99
  • FC Set + Mr Pink + Mr Green$22.99
  • 20000 Gold$34.99
  • 6000 DNA$49.99
None

Paperback Vol. 2

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mindbug Online free?
Mindbug Online is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Paperback Vol. 2 free?
Paperback Vol. 2 costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Mindbug Online or Paperback Vol. 2?
Mindbug Online is rated higher. Mindbug Online averages 4.7 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while Paperback Vol. 2 averages 3.5 from 47 ratings.
Do Mindbug Online or Paperback Vol. 2 have ads?
Neither Mindbug Online nor Paperback Vol. 2 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mindbug Online or Paperback Vol. 2?
Mindbug Online ships an update every 3 weeks, and Paperback Vol. 2 every 3 weeks. Most recently, Mindbug Online was updated on October 15, 2026 and Paperback Vol. 2 on October 18, 2026.

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