Comparison

Pipes vs Explode

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

Head to head
About

Pipes

Connect pipe segments by rotating them to form a continuous flow. This addictive puzzle game offers a variety of board sizes and challenging options. Features like piece locking and auto-save enhance the gameplay experience.

Highlights
  • Randomly generated puzzles
  • Multiple board sizes
  • Wraparound option
  • Piece locking feature
  • Auto save and resume
  • Online leaderboard
Read full description

Rotate the pipe segments to connect all the pieces. Easy to learn and very addictive. Features: - Randomly generated puzzles - never the same game twice - Multiple board sizes ranging from "Training Wheels" (4x4) to "Mega Insane" (56x70) * - Introductory tutorial - Wraparound option (also known as "without walls" or "endless") * - "One color" option - when enabled, all pipes are blue, making it harder to tell which ones are connected * - Piece locking feature to help with large boards - Zoom and scroll using familiar pinch and drag gestures - Auto save and resume - never lose your place, even if someone calls in the middle of your game - Timer (can be disabled if you want a more relaxing game) - Online leaderboard - compare your best times to other players around the world * - Offline "personal best times" - try to beat your best times - Introductory tutorial - Piece locking feature to help with large boards - Every puzzle can be solved - Wraparound option (also known as "without walls" or "endless") - "One color" option - when enabled, all pipes are blue, making it harder to tell which ones are connected - Online leaderboard - compare your best times to other players around the world * Requires in-app purchase, or previous app purchase from 1.0 or 2.0 versions

About

Explode

Features
Read full description

Can love cross borders? Join Mehmet on this colorful and explosive adventure to reunite with Maria! It all started with the unforgettable story of Mehmet and Maria, whose paths crossed by chance in Turkey. However, due to sudden problems, Maria is forced to return to her homeland, Spain. Determined to follow his love, Mehmet now has only one goal: find Maria! But this journey won't be easy at all. 10 Countries, Countless Challenges, and Massive Explosions! Guide Mehmet on this incredible journey starting from Turkey and ending in Spain. To reach the ultimate goal, you must cross exactly 10 different countries. Each country means a challenging puzzle to solve and a brand new adventure to overcome! Match colorful blocks, make smart moves, and blast the screen to clear the obstacles in Mehmet's path one by one. Game Features: Immersive Story: Embark on a cross-continental journey and shape the epic tale of Mehmet and Maria. 10 Different Countries & Atmospheres: Discover the unique vibe and challenges of each country on the tough route from Turkey to Spain. Addictive Blast Mechanics: Match blocks, fire rockets, and create massive explosions to complete levels. Tactical Boosters: Use special items and combos when you're stuck to shatter even the toughest obstacles. Offline Playability: Enjoy the journey anywhere, anytime, without needing an internet connection! Helping Mehmet reach Maria is right at your fingertips. Blast the blocks, cross the countries, and give this story a happy ending. Start the adventure now!

Screenshots

Pipes3 screens
Explode4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Explode at none against Pipes's 1. Explode also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). Pipes's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence 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

Both are free to download. Pipes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Explode asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pipes ships an update every 3 weeks, Explode every 11 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Pipes versus Explode: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPipesExplode
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (184 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews90.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings184 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 11 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB61 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMichael KerleyAdem Akan

Bugs and requests

Pipes

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • Not very responsive
  • Game crashes to Home Screen with recent updates
  • Newest version fails to complete correctly
  • No longer comes up with the “complete ok” prompt
  • No longer has the “new game prompt immediately available to start a new game with the same parameters as the last one
Show 4 more
  • Rotating animation is annoying and slows gameplay
  • Game won't launch anymore with latest iOS update
  • Game freezes on the outside tiles on bigger phones
  • Screen is too sensitive on larger phones, turning one tile accidentally turns more

Requested features

10 requests
  • Add more levels for gameplay
  • Ability to change pipe color
  • Remove timer option
  • HD version
  • Support for Retina display
Show 5 more
  • Support for extra screen size of iPhone 5 and iPad
  • Option to change color from blue
  • Counter for remaining leaks
  • Different way of seeing leaks
  • Update with super insane levels

Explode

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Pipes

One-time1
  • Unlock Full Game$0.99
None

Explode

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pipes free?
Pipes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Explode free?
Explode is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Pipes or Explode have ads?
Explode shows ads; Pipes does not.
Which is updated more often, Pipes or Explode?
Pipes ships an update every 3 weeks, and Explode every 11 days. Most recently, Pipes was updated on October 23, 2026 and Explode on October 25, 2026.

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