Cracking the Cryptic vs The Forgotten Script
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Handcrafted Sudoku puzzles
- Curated by expert constructors
- Classic and unique variants
- Regularly released puzzle packs
- Free introductory puzzle pack
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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!
The Forgotten Script
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An ancient script lies scattered across forgotten ruins. Each glyph hides a letter. Each inscription hides a message. Your job: crack the cipher. The Forgotten Script is a meditative puzzle game where you decode encrypted quotes and inscriptions by mapping mysterious glyphs to letters. Start with a few revealed clues, then use logic, pattern recognition, and linguistic intuition to uncover the rest. EXPLORE THE RUINS Each run is an expedition through a series of rooms, each containing a new cipher to solve. Progress deeper, earn higher scores, and uncover increasingly complex encryptions across four difficulty levels — from Novice to Expert. DAILY CHALLENGE A new puzzle every day, the same for everyone. Compete on the daily leaderboard and build your streak. Miss a day? A free rescue is available once per month, and Pro members get a weekly streak shield. GLOBAL LEADERBOARDS Climb weekly and all-time leaderboards across three puzzle languages. Your best four runs each day count toward your standing — no need to grind endlessly. THREE PUZZLE LANGUAGES Decode ciphers in English, Turkish, and Spanish. Each language draws from its own unique bank of quotes and inscriptions, offering a fresh challenge for multilingual players. NO ADS. NO TIMERS. NO NONSENSE. The Forgotten Script respects your time. There are no advertisements, no energy systems, no wait timers. Play at your own pace, offline or online. FORGOTTEN SCRIPT PRO (Optional) A single lifetime purchase unlocks: • Expert difficulty level • Themed visual palettes — Desert Tomb, Jungle Temple, Crystal Cavern, and more • Access to past daily puzzles • Detailed stats and run history • Streak Shield — one automatic save per week The game is free to play. Pro is for those who want to go deeper. FEATURES AT A GLANCE • Cipher puzzles with unique glyph alphabets • Daily challenges with global leaderboards • Four difficulty levels (Novice, Scholar, Master, Expert) • Three puzzle languages (English, Turkish, Spanish) • Streaks, achievements, and XP progression • Beautiful themed palettes for Pro members • Works fully offline — no internet required to play • Sign in with Apple or Google to sync across devices • No ads, no tracking, no analytics SDKs
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: The Forgotten Script at every 4 days against Cracking the Cryptic's every 3 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Cracking the Cryptic sells 13 one-off in-app purchases and The Forgotten Script sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Cracking the Cryptic ships an update every 3 weeks, The Forgotten Script every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cracking the Cryptic | The Forgotten Script |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (208 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 72.1% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 208 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 234 MB | 54 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nick Carney | GOKHAN OGUZ |
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
The Forgotten Script
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Cracking the Cryptic
- CTC Worms - James Sinclair$0.99
- CTC Worms - Marty Sears$0.99
- CTC Worms - Zetamath$1.99
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- 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
The Forgotten Script
- Forgotten Script Pro$4.99
Questions
Is Cracking the Cryptic free?
Is The Forgotten Script free?
Do Cracking the Cryptic or The Forgotten Script have ads?
Which is updated more often, Cracking the Cryptic or The Forgotten Script?
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