# Boxed In vs Idle Universe

The clearest difference is rating: Idle Universe at 4.3 against Boxed In's 3.6. Idle Universe also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Boxed In's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (75% vs 65%). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Boxed In sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Idle Universe sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Idle Universe holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 610 and 1.5K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Boxed In's written reviews are positive against 65% of Idle Universe's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Boxed In ships an update every 2 months, Idle Universe every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Boxed In | Idle Universe |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (610 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boxed-in/id314464100/reviews) | **[4.3 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-universe/id1195110094/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 610 | **1.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **74.5% of reviews** | 65.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 235 MB | 299 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dennis Mengelt](https://appshunter.io/developer/314464103) | [Dominik Stallmann](https://appshunter.io/developer/1195110093) |

## What reviewers say

### Boxed In

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/boxed-in/id314464100)

Embark on a cosmic puzzle adventure as a robotic explorer. Navigate mind-bending challenges by pushing boxes through mesmerizing space backdrops. Strategize to collect gear and outmaneuver forcefields to reach the exit.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of handcrafted puzzles, Create and share your own puzzles, Play community-created puzzles, Optional player rankings, Collect gear items, Navigate forcefields

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited Undos | $0.99 | one-time |
| Level Pack 2 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Level Pack 3 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Level Pack 1 Unlock | $0.99 | one-time |
| Level Pack 2 Unlock | $0.99 | one-time |
| Level Pack 3 Unlock | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Challenging and engaging puzzles
- 🧠 Exercises the mind
- 🕹️ Simple but addictive gameplay
- 💰 Great value for free app

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Game freezes or crashes after completing levels
- 🔇 Lack of sound effects or music
- 🔍 Difficulty seeing the robot character
- 🎨 Dislike for updated 3D graphics

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezes on certain levels
- Progress not saved properly
- Controls not responsive at times

**Requested features**

- More levels and content
- Option to revert to original 2D graphics
- Ability to replay completed levels
- Level editor or creator


### Idle Universe

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-universe/id1195110094)

Tap to gather matter and create interstellar objects, from particles to galaxies. Objects automatically generate more matter, allowing for endless universe expansion. Unlock divine powers, upgrade objects, and utilize special abilities to grow your cosmic creation.

**Highlights:** Create 31 interstellar objects, Unlock 24 Divine Powers, Upgrade objects with multiple options, Obtain Dark Matter for special abilities, Gain Antimatter via prestige for permanent upgrades, Compete on leaderboards, Earn daily rewards and achievements

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 250 Dark Matter | $3.99 | one-time |
| Double Antimatter Gains | $4.99 | one-time |
| +100% Transcendence Exp | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove All Ads | $8.99 | one-time |
| 1000 Dark Matter | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2500 Dark Matter | $24.99 | one-time |
| 10000 Dark Matter | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Organized and easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient progression system
- 💡 Unique and engaging concept
- 🎨 Good graphics and visuals

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🔋 Slow progress without watching ads
- 🤖 Forced Google account login
- 🔍 Unclear game mechanics

**Reported bugs**

- Prestige button not working
- Ads not providing expected rewards
- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Incorrect offline progress tracking

**Requested features**

- Offline progress tracking
- More prestige layers and upgrades
- Better optimization for larger screens
- Improved tutorial and explanations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Boxed In free?

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

### Is Idle Universe free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Boxed In or Idle Universe?

Idle Universe is rated higher. Boxed In averages 3.6 out of 5 from 610 ratings, while Idle Universe averages 4.3 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do Boxed In or Idle Universe have ads?

Idle Universe shows ads; Boxed In does not.

### Which is updated more often, Boxed In or Idle Universe?

Boxed In ships an update every 2 months, and Idle Universe every 3 weeks. Most recently, Boxed In was updated on October 23, 2026 and Idle Universe on November 1, 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.*