# Squares vs Shikaku

The clearest difference is update cadence: Shikaku at every 3 weeks against Squares's every 5 months. Shikaku also leads on ratings volume (16 vs 5). Squares's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.4) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Squares holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 16 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Squares's written reviews are positive against 76% of Shikaku's.

Squares ships an update every 5 months, Shikaku every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Squares | Shikaku |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/squares/id287064290/reviews)** | [4.4 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shikaku-rectangles/id6759557296/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **16** |
| Positive reviews | **79.2% of reviews** | 76.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 21 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Chris Haynes](https://appshunter.io/developer/286363962) | [BRIDGE DIGITAL EUROPE LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1782316772) |

## What reviewers say

### Squares

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/squares/id287064290)

A strategy game inspired by classics like Othello and Reversi. Players take turns copying or moving squares to capture opponent's pieces, aiming to block all possible moves. Enjoy a variety of boards and play modes.

**Highlights:** 125 unique boards, 5 board sizes, 1 and 2-player modes, Play against device or friend, Random board generation, Resume previous games

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to learn gameplay
- 🎮 Highly addictive and engaging
- 💰 Completely free with no ads
- 📱 Works offline without data connection
- 🎨 Clean, simple graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤖 AI is too easy to beat
- ⚖️ Unfair win condition based on last move
- 🔊 Volume control not adjustable
- 🎵 Music interrupts phone's background music
- 🎯 Some levels are unbalanced or unfair

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes when AI has one move left
- Game freezes during gameplay
- Crashes on app launch in certain versions
- One-player mode exits to home screen
- Incorrect win/loss determination

**Requested features**

- Difficulty levels or harder AI
- Online multiplayer mode
- Custom level/board creation
- More board layouts
- Achievements or tournament mode


### Shikaku

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shikaku-rectangles/id6759557296)

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.

**Highlights:** Grid division logic puzzles, Daily puzzle chapters, Infinite puzzle generation, Customizable themes, XP system for mastery, Ad-free experience

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Squares free?

Squares is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Shikaku free?

Shikaku is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Squares or Shikaku?

Squares is rated higher. Squares averages 4.6 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Shikaku averages 4.4 from 16 ratings.

### Do Squares or Shikaku have ads?

Neither Squares nor Shikaku shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Squares or Shikaku?

Squares ships an update every 5 months, and Shikaku every 3 weeks. Most recently, Squares was updated on November 6, 2026 and Shikaku on October 31, 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.*