# Oxytone vs Close Cities

The clearest difference is ads: Oxytone at none against Close Cities's shown. Oxytone also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Close Cities's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (356 vs 72). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Oxytone sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Close Cities sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Close Cities holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 72 and 356 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Oxytone's written reviews are positive against 69% of Close Cities's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Oxytone | Close Cities |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (72 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oxytone/id1673677183/reviews) | **[4.8 (356 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/close-cities/id6475958084/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 72 | **356** |
| Positive reviews | **75.0% of reviews** | 69.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 157 MB | 158 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [OxGames Kamil Wdowczyk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1673677185) | [Juan Manuel Altamirano Argudo](https://appshunter.io/developer/391953849) |

## What reviewers say

### Oxytone

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/oxytone/id1673677183)

Embark on a unique puzzle adventure designed for relaxation and mental exploration. Master strategic tile placement to create long paths and impressive combinations, with 99 challenges and unlockable themes for a deep, engaging experience.

**Highlights:** Unique puzzle adventure, Tranquil escape, 99 challenges, Unlockable colorful themes, 12 meticulously designed maps, Strategic tile placement, Immersive sound design

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full version | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and visual design
- 🎵 Soothing music and sound effects
- 😌 Relaxing and meditative gameplay
- 🧩 Engaging puzzle mechanics requiring strategy
- 🚫 No ads or intrusive monetization

**What reviewers complain about**

- ❓ Unclear game objectives and lack of instructions
- 🔄 Game progress lost when switching apps
- 👁️ Strains eyesight during extended play
- ⏱️ Excessive menu navigation between games
- 📸 Cannot screenshot or view completed puzzles

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes and refuses to reopen
- Progress lost when leaving app mid-game
- Achievement unlock not triggering (Quick Mode)
- Trophy not awarded for completed challenges
- Freezing on iPad Pro, especially with Apple Pencil

**Requested features**

- Tutorial or instructional videos explaining gameplay
- Ability to save mid-game progress
- Quick replay/restart button without menu navigation
- Zoom out feature to see more of the board
- Replay functionality to review completed puzzles


### Close Cities

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/close-cities/id6475958084)

Build beautiful cities on diverse worlds by solving unique puzzles. This relaxing game guides you through 160 levels with a simple tap or drag interface, requiring no architectural knowledge. Conquer each world's challenges and travel through time with its calming soundtrack.

**Highlights:** Build cities on empty maps, Solve 160 unique puzzle levels, Intuitive tap and drag controls, No architectural knowledge needed, Travel through different worlds, Relaxing music and pace

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hints - Small Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hints - Medium Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads + Hints | $2.99 | one-time |
| Hints - Big Pack | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Oxytone free?

Oxytone is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Close Cities free?

Close Cities is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Oxytone or Close Cities?

Close Cities is rated higher. Oxytone averages 4.5 out of 5 from 72 ratings, while Close Cities averages 4.8 from 356 ratings.

### Do Oxytone or Close Cities have ads?

Close Cities shows ads; Oxytone does not.

### Which is updated more often, Oxytone or Close Cities?

Oxytone ships an update every 3 weeks, and Close Cities every 3 weeks. Most recently, Oxytone was updated on September 23, 2026 and Close Cities on September 20, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*