Iron Roads vs Shikaku
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Iron Roads
Optimize and grow your railway network in this challenging 2D train management game. Lay tracks, buy trains, and set routes to efficiently transport passengers and cargo. Enjoy board game-inspired mechanics for a cerebral optimization experience.
- 2D top-down train management
- Lay tracks and set routes
- Transport passengers and cargo
- Board game-inspired mechanics
- Resource token system
- Universal purchase for iOS and macOS
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"Finally, a deep and fun train management game designed perfectly for phones. Iron Roads is so much more than just a desktop game crammed onto a small screen!" Optimise and grow your railways in this challenging train management game. Earn resource tokens by refining your network until your towns are thriving. Avoid queues, jams, or angry passengers to be recognised as the unsung train hero you know you are. Iron Roads is a top-down 2D train management game in which you lay tracks, buy trains, and set their routes until you have an efficient network carrying passengers and cargo between your towns and factories. With board game-inspired mechanics such as resource tokens, geographically-induced space constraints, and innovative track order systems, Iron Roads will appeal to players who relish the more cerebral, optimisation elements of train simulation games, as opposed to more realistic business sim/tycoon-type games. Ultimately, your goal is to set up an efficient rail network that keeps your passengers happy and on-time. Features: - "Try before you buy" model. Download for free, and unlock the entire game with a one off purchase - Universal purchase. Buy once for iOS, macOS, tvOS - iCloud saves, enabling seamless gameplay across your devices
Shikaku
Engage in a minimalist logic puzzle game where you divide a grid into rectangular pieces. Each piece must contain a number representing its total area. Enjoy daily challenges, endless modes, and customizable themes.
- Grid division logic puzzles
- Daily puzzle chapters
- Infinite puzzle generation
- Customizable themes
- XP system for mastery
- Ad-free experience
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Master the Geometry of Logic. Step into the world of Shikaku (also known as Rectangles), a classic Japanese logic puzzle reimagined for the modern era. Shikaku is a minimalist experience designed for those who find beauty in structure and peace in problem-solving. THE GOAL Divide the grid into rectangular and square pieces such that each piece contains exactly one number. That number must represent the total area (the number of cells) of that rectangle. It’s simple to learn, but mastery requires a deep understanding of logical geometry. WHY PLAY SHIKAKU? • Handcrafted Minimalism: A clean, distraction-free interface that lets you focus entirely on the puzzle at hand. • Daily Chapters: Every day brings a new "Chapter" with three stages of escalating difficulty. Start your morning with a light challenge and end your day with a masterclass in logic. • Infinite Endless Mode: Never run out of puzzles. Generate grids of various sizes—from quick 4x4 warm-ups to daunting large-scale grids. • Personalize Your Experience: Express yourself with over 16 vibrant themes, including Tokyo Neon, Sakura, Botanical, and Midnight. • Mastery XP System: Prove your skill. Turn off assistive features to earn 1.5x XP and climb the ranks of logic masters. • Zero Distractions: No ads. No interruptions. Just you and the grid. Whether you’re a Sudoku veteran or a casual puzzle lover, Shikaku offers a meditative yet mentally stimulating escape. Handcrafted with pride by De Groot Studio.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shikaku at none against Iron Roads's 10. Shikaku also leads on review sentiment (76% vs 44%) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). Iron Roads's advantage is device support (4 vs 2). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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. Iron Roads sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Shikaku asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Iron Roads against 4.4 for Shikaku. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 38 and 16 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 44% of Iron Roads's written reviews are positive against 76% of Shikaku's.
Iron Roads ships an update fortnightly, Shikaku every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Iron Roads | Shikaku |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (38 ratings) | 4.4 (16 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 43.8% of reviews | 76.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 38 — better | 16 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 15.6 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 74 MB | 29 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Cowleyfornia Studios | BRIDGE DIGITAL EUROPE LIMITED |
Customer experience
Iron Roads
Shikaku
In-app purchases
Iron Roads
- Horseshoe Isle$1.99
- Forgotten Valley$1.99
- Desert Dew$1.99
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- Mistra$1.99
- Futura$1.99
- Full game$2.99
- Full game$4.99
- Full game$6.99
- Full Game$6.99
- Full game$8.99
Shikaku
No in-app purchases









