# Marple vs PiKuBo

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Marple at none against PiKuBo's 13. Marple also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PiKuBo sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Marple asks for nothing beyond the download.

Marple holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 53 and 95 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 85% of Marple's written reviews are positive against 87% of PiKuBo's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Marple ships an update every 2 months, PiKuBo every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Marple | PiKuBo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marple/id288689440/reviews)** | [4.6 (95 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pikubo-3d-nonogram-puzzles/id6467725326/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 53 | **95** |
| Positive reviews | 85.4% of reviews | **86.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 6 MB | 97 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Mikko Kankainen](https://appshunter.io/developer/287710112) | [Daniel Benito](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566105796) |

## What reviewers say

### Marple

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marple/id288689440)

This logic puzzle game challenges players to deduce the correct order of 20 tiles using a set of clues. It offers millions of unique puzzles and includes a tutorial and hint system to guide players through the deduction process.

**Highlights:** Logic and deduction gameplay, 20 tiles arranged in 4x5 grid, Multiple clue types (In between, Left of, Same column, Next to), Over 1 million unique puzzles, Tutorial mode, Hint system with explanations, Graphical help with beginner tips

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great logic game
- 🚀 Engaging and challenging
- 💡 Unique puzzle concept
- 👍 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Polished and well-designed

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔧 Needs better tutorial/instructions
- 🔧 Difficulty level could be improved
- 🔧 Outdated UI elements
- 🔧 Clues can be confusing

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes on launch for some users
- Buttons/UI elements not fully visible
- Clues get cut off on certain devices
- Incorrect/missing puzzle solutions

**Requested features**

- Add undo/redo functionality
- Implement save/restore progress
- Introduce different difficulty levels
- Optimize for larger screens (iPad)
- Improve color contrast and readability


### PiKuBo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pikubo-3d-nonogram-puzzles/id6467725326)

Engage in a unique 3D puzzle game where you reveal shapes by strategically removing blocks from a cube. Enjoy hundreds of logic-based puzzles with adaptive controls and soothing music. Unlock more challenges through in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of 3D nonogram puzzles, Logic-based solving, no guesswork, Adaptive one-handed controls, Customizable markers with four colors, Soothing bossa nova background music, Portrait and landscape viewing modes, Family sharing for level packs

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Puzzle Pack 02 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 03 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 14 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 13 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 12 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 11 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 10 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 09 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 08 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 07 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 06 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 05 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 04 | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Innovative 3D nonogram puzzle concept
- 🎮 Engaging and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Intuitive and well-designed user interface
- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and visual presentation
- 💰 Affordable pricing for puzzle packs ($0.99 each)

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Timer system feels rushed and stressful
- ❤️ Heart/lives system frustrating for some players
- 🐛 Occasional accidental block touches
- 🔧 Controls reset when rotating puzzle
- 💸 Pricing model requires multiple purchases for full content

**Reported bugs**

- In-app purchase error preventing pack purchases
- Purchase not received after payment
- Support email bouncing back
- Color contrast issue in Pack 12 (blue on blue)
- Inability to expose enough blocks at certain angles for decision-making

**Requested features**

- More puzzle packs released more frequently
- Undo button for accidental moves
- Save progress mid-puzzle
- Ability to move puzzle around (pan feature)
- Full 360-degree rotation capability


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Marple free?

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

### Is PiKuBo free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Marple or PiKuBo?

Marple is rated higher. Marple averages 4.8 out of 5 from 53 ratings, while PiKuBo averages 4.6 from 95 ratings.

### Do Marple or PiKuBo have ads?

Neither Marple nor PiKuBo shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Marple or PiKuBo?

Marple ships an update every 2 months, and PiKuBo every 5 weeks. Most recently, Marple was updated on October 31, 2026 and PiKuBo on October 30, 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.*