Comparison

Cracking the Cryptic vs Zooblies

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

Head to head
About

Cracking the Cryptic

This app offers a curated collection of handcrafted Sudoku puzzles from world-renowned constructors. Explore classic and unique variants, with new puzzle packs released regularly. A free introductory pack is included with download.

Highlights
  • Handcrafted Sudoku puzzles
  • Curated by expert constructors
  • Classic and unique variants
  • Regularly released puzzle packs
  • Free introductory puzzle pack
Features
Read full description

OUR NEWEST PACK – CLASSIC VOLUME #2! Classic sudoku is where it all began, and there is still lots of skill to be deployed to solve classic puzzles, and new techniques to be explored. Nikoli, the Japanese puzzle house, named and popularised sudoku from 1984, and we have commissioned 20 puzzles from them for this Classic Sudoku 2 app. We have also created 20 ourselves, and sourced 20 more from Sam Cappleman-Lynes, the brilliant British sudoku expert. The result is a wonderful 60-puzzle pack which will delight and challenge you. -------------------- Welcome to the brand new Sudoku app from the most popular Sudoku channel, Cracking The Cryptic. Unlike other Sudoku apps, we feature handcrafted and curated puzzles from the world’s best Sudoku constructors. Each collection features puzzles made by various authors that are now familiar names to those who follow the channel. Authors like Phistomefel, Clover, Sam Cappleman-Lynes, Christoph Seeliger, Richard Stolk, jovi_al, Qodec, Prasanna Seshadri and of course, Simon and Mark! Downloading Cracking the Cryptic will give you access to our first free collection – a variety pack by Prasanna Seshadri featuring 7 puzzles inspired from our previous Sudoku apps; Sandwich, Classic, Chess, Thermo, Miracle, Killer and Arrow Sudoku. We also have purchasable packs designed for all skill levels and featuring many unique variants not seen previously. We’ll be releasing more free and paid packs in the future so keep an eye on the app for more Sudoku content from Cracking The Cryptic!

About

Zooblies

Navigate challenging physics-based puzzles as a man named Dood. Manipulate the environment and interact with unique creatures to guide him through dark dungeons and towards personal growth. The game features over 50 levels with collectible stars for an added challenge.

Highlights
  • Physics-based puzzle platforming
  • Time-control mechanics
  • Unique Zooblie behaviors
  • Over 50 levels
  • Collectible stars
  • Environmental manipulation
Features
Read full description

Meet Dood, a 30-year-old slightly balding man trying to navigate the challenges of a physics-based life. Enter, stage left: Zooblies. A strange and plethoric (in both senses of the word) species of creatures whose sole purpose is to be in the way of our protagonist’s goal: a (possibly metaphorical) path through a series of dark dungeons and out into the light. Learn the ways (rules) of the world (game) and help Dood achieve personal growth and realization!!! K but it’s a physics-based puzzle platformer where each type of Zooblie has its own behavior. When Dood moves, time moves. When Dood stops, time stops, and you as the player-god-emperor can drag and rotate blue things (but only blue things) into whatever mise-en-scene pleases your divine (?) sensibilities. • Help Dood reach the exit in over 50 levels! • Encounter all X types of Zooblies! • ¡Collect todas las estrellas for a challenge especial! • Watch as Dood busts some righteous dance moves! Help a Dood out, will ya?

Screenshots

Cracking the Cryptic4 screens
Zooblies4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Cracking the Cryptic at Free against Zooblies's $1.99. Cracking the Cryptic also leads on ratings volume (210 vs 3). Zooblies's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and in-app purchases (none vs 13). On 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

Cracking the Cryptic is free to download; Zooblies costs $1.99 up front. Cracking the Cryptic sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Zooblies asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Zooblies holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Cracking the Cryptic has 210 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Cracking the Cryptic's written reviews are positive against 100% of Zooblies's.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Cracking the Cryptic versus Zooblies: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCracking the CrypticZooblies
PriceFree — better$1.99
Rating4.4 (210 ratings)5.0 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings210 — better3
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size234 MB554 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperNick CarneyJolly Crouton Media Ltd.

Customer experience

Cracking the Cryptic

All ratings208 ratings
Positive84.1%
Neutral6.3%
Negative9.6%
Written reviews147 reviews
Positive72.1%
Neutral13.6%
Negative14.3%

Zooblies

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Cracking the Cryptic

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Puzzle progress and purchases disappearing after updates
  • Incorrect rules or hints in certain puzzles
  • Crashes and freezes, especially on older devices or Macs
  • Inconsistent behavior when switching between portrait and landscape modes

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add more color options for pencil marking and highlighting
  • Implement a way to clear progress or start puzzles from scratch
  • Integrate all CTC apps into a single app for better organization
  • Add keyboard support, especially on Mac
  • Improve the quality and clarity of hints

Zooblies

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

13 purchases

Cracking the Cryptic

One-time13
  • CTC Worms - James Sinclair$0.99
  • CTC Worms - Marty Sears$0.99
  • CTC Worms - Zetamath$1.99
Show 10 more
  • CTC Worms - Blobz$1.99
  • CTC Worms - Michael Lefkowitz$1.99
  • CTC Worms - Phistomefel$1.99
  • GAS Volume #1$2.99
  • GAS Volume #2$2.99
  • CTC Approachable Sudoku #1$2.99
  • Domino Sudoku Pack$4.99
  • Lines Variety Pack$4.99
  • Classic Volume #2$4.99
  • CTC Fog Pack #1$4.99
None

Zooblies

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cracking the Cryptic free?
Cracking the Cryptic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Zooblies free?
Zooblies costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Cracking the Cryptic or Zooblies?
Zooblies is rated higher. Cracking the Cryptic averages 4.4 out of 5 from 210 ratings, while Zooblies averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Cracking the Cryptic or Zooblies have ads?
Neither Cracking the Cryptic nor Zooblies shows ads.

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