Comparison

Gold Miner Joe vs Cogs

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

Head to head
About

Gold Miner Joe

Embark on a retro-style adventure as Joe, a gold miner exploring glittering mines. Jump and run through 50 levels, collecting gold nuggets while evading enemies. Utilize dynamite and discover secret gems in this classic platforming experience.

Highlights
  • 50 gold mines to explore
  • Bonus levels with treasures
  • 8 secret gems to uncover
  • Dynamite for blowing up obstacles
  • Innovative swipe controls
  • Optional D-pad controls
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Yeehaw! Help Joe explore the legendary four-shafted gold mine in this cartoon-style JUMP & RUN game. Yoink all gold nuggets spread over 50 glittering GOLD MINES, but beware of the sneaky KENTUCKY brothers who won't hesitate to fire your rump full of salt! * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * GAME FEATURES: - 50 GOLD MINES to explore - Bonus levels packed with treasures - 8 SECRET GEMS to uncover - Dynamite sticks to blow stuff up - Innovative SWIPE controls tailored for touch screens - D-Pad controls (optional) - And much more... TECH FEATURES: - Game Center support - MFi controller support - ION Arcade controller support - Universal App (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch) * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Enjoy another Donut Games release!

About

Cogs

A remastered 3D puzzle game where you construct intricate machines using sliding tiles. Explore various game modes, from building step-by-step to timed challenges and move-limited puzzles.

Highlights
  • Build complex machines with sliding tiles
  • 3D puzzle gameplay
  • Inventor Mode for learning
  • Time Challenge Mode
  • Move Challenge Mode
  • Remastered for modern devices
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Cogs is a multi-award-winning puzzle game where players build increasingly complex machines using sliding tiles 3D. Originally launched in 2009, we completely remastered Cogs from the ground up in 2025 to look beautiful on modern phones and tablets. "One of the highest quality puzzle games we've seen." – PocketGamer "The visual design and imagination of the game are stunning, with great attention to detail, and the sound effects are downright enticing." – Adrenaline Vault "A masterpiece visually, as well with the actual gameplay." – AppAdvice INVENTOR MODE Starting with simple puzzles, players are introduced to the widgets that are used to build machines — gears, pipes, balloons, chimes, hammers, wheels, props, and more. TIME CHALLENGE MODE If you finish a puzzle in Inventor Mode, it will be unlocked here. This time, it will take fewer moves to reach a solution, but you only have 30 seconds to find it. MOVE CHALLENGE MODE Take your time and plan ahead. Every tap counts when you only get ten moves to find a solution.

Screenshots

Gold Miner Joe3 screens
Cogs4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Gold Miner Joe at none against Cogs's 4. Gold Miner Joe also leads on review sentiment (87% vs 55%) and price ($1.99 vs $4.99). Cogs's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 9 months). On rating, ratings volume, ads and monetization model 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

Gold Miner Joe costs $1.99 and Cogs $4.99 up front. Cogs sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Gold Miner Joe asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Gold Miner Joe holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 31 and 33 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of Gold Miner Joe's written reviews are positive against 55% of Cogs's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Gold Miner Joe ships an update every 9 months, Cogs every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Gold Miner Joe versus Cogs: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGold Miner JoeCogs
Price$1.99 — better$4.99
Rating4.8 (31 ratings) — better4.6 (33 ratings)
Positive reviews86.9% of reviews — better54.6% of reviews
Number of ratings3133 — better
Update frequencyEvery 9 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank#142#127 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size15 MB93 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperDonut GamesLazy 8 Studios

Customer experience

Gold Miner Joe

All ratings31 ratings
Positive96.8%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.2%
Written reviews252 reviews
Positive86.9%
Neutral7.1%
Negative6.0%

Cogs

All ratings33 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral3.0%
Negative6.1%
Written reviews368 reviews
Positive54.6%
Neutral11.4%
Negative34.0%

User reviews

Gold Miner Joe

From 31 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Fun platformer
  • 🚀 Entertaining and challenging
  • 💡 Retro feel
  • 👍 Good value for money

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Checkpoint issues
  • 👎 Small graphics on iPhone 11
  • 👎 Awkward controls on mobile
  • 🐛 Some in-game features don't work

Cogs

From 33 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Addictive gameplay
  • 👍 Beautiful graphics
  • 🤔 Challenging puzzles
  • 🎨 Lovely steampunk theme

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
  • 🔓 Lack of restore purchase option
  • 🤏 Not enough free levels
  • 🤯 Difficulty spike in paid levels

Bugs and requests

Gold Miner Joe

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Checkpoint issues
  • Controls not working as expected

Requested features

4 requests
  • More levels
  • Difficulty options
  • More lives for player
  • Ability to kill bats

Cogs

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Game crashes on some devices
  • Levels don't load properly

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add a reset option
  • Provide more free levels
  • Improve restore purchase functionality

In-app purchases

None

Gold Miner Joe

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Cogs

One-time4
  • Cogs Puzzle Pack 2$0.99
  • Cogs Puzzle Pack 3$0.99
  • Cogs Puzzle Pack 4$0.99
Show 1 more
  • Cogs Puzzle Pack 5$0.99

Questions

Is Gold Miner Joe free?
Gold Miner Joe costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Cogs free?
Cogs costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Gold Miner Joe or Cogs?
Gold Miner Joe is rated higher. Gold Miner Joe averages 4.8 out of 5 from 31 ratings, while Cogs averages 4.6 from 33 ratings.
Do Gold Miner Joe or Cogs have ads?
Neither Gold Miner Joe nor Cogs shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Gold Miner Joe or Cogs?
Gold Miner Joe ships an update every 9 months, and Cogs every 2 months. Most recently, Gold Miner Joe was updated on October 24, 2026 and Cogs on October 24, 2026.
Which is more popular, Gold Miner Joe or Cogs?
Gold Miner Joe currently peaks at #142 in the App Store charts, and Cogs at #127. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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