Kerplinkus vs Joining Hands 2
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Kerplinkus
This challenging puzzle game offers a unique take on block removal, requiring players to manage eight columns simultaneously. Swap any two blocks to clear them, avoiding an out-of-control cascade. Enjoy retro audio and graphics, with the option to play your own music.
- Unique block removal mechanics
- Manage 8 columns simultaneously
- Swap any two blocks
- Retro audio and graphics
- Play with your own music
- Game Center integration
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“[Kerplinkus] delivers a fresh take on the formula that's simple and highly challenging — in fact, it can be downright panic inspiring. It's a pretty frantic affair.” -Blake of Touch Arcade “Kerplinkus promises retro take on match-based puzzle play... mixing the old with the new... [in] a distinctly old skool flavour.” -Keith Andrews of Pocket Gamer “Is very, very addictive. Prying yourself away from the game proves very difficult. It has high replay potential and will offer many hours of entertainment.... This is a must-buy for casual puzzle game players.” -Linda Ta of AppSafari “If you love playing casual puzzle games on your iPhone or iPod touch such as Bejewelled or Trism then [this] is definitely worth taking a look at.... If games like Pac Man, Space Invaders and Tetris still have a place in your heart then Kerplinkus could definitely find its way on to your homescreen.” -Phil Wheeler of AppAdvice “This tile-matching game sets itself well apart from competing products, due to its hectic gameplay, muted art style, and classic SID-chip soundtrack.... It is actually very different from the normal mode of thinking.... A really nice effort by the crew at [Kranky Robot].” -AppGamers.com "Refreshing! - Just like it says, not another match 3!" - Zztfox "Nice! - Great to see this classic brought into the new era!" - Lord Gek "A great original puzzler! - Excellent game, fun, different, challenging, and simple to understand! A new favorite - I look forward to seeing what else this developer releases. Recommended :)" - ralp99 Kerplinkus is a completely new take on the casual puzzle game. It's like spinning plates. You must focus on ALL 8 columns or 1 will grow out-of-control. No match 3. No movement restrictions. No special-blocks. Swap ANY 2 blocks anywhere, anytime. Just focus on removing blocks, not creating them. Features: - Retro Audio: Old school music and sound effects. - Retro Graphics: Color cycling and simple graphics to achieve that retro vibe. - iPod Music: Play your own music in the background. - Mute Audio: Kerplinkus(tm) respects the iPhone’s ring/silent switch. - Volume Control: Conveniently adjust the volume from the option menu or the pause screen. - Game Center.
Joining Hands 2
This charming puzzle game sequel challenges players to strategically arrange adorable characters so they can all hold hands. With over 140 levels and a forgiving hint system, it offers a relaxing yet engaging experience for all ages.
- Over 140 levels
- Drag and drop gameplay
- Multiple Peablin types
- Unlimited hint system
- No time limits or pressure
- Family cooperative play
- Cute graphics and soundtrack
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A charming sequel to the handtastic puzzle game hit Joining Hands! REVIEWS "There’s a gentle warmth in every moment, in the sweet character and audio design, in the thematic concept of holding hands, and especially in the very forgiving hint system." Cult of Mac 4/5 "Perfect for the person who enjoys puzzlers that challenge you to think, but are easy to put down at a moment's notice." TUAW DESCRIPTION On a starry night, the adorable little Peablins are woken up by a blazing ball of fire crashing into the far corner of Whispering Woods. What could it be? Join the Peablins, solve cuddly puzzles and find out! Joining Hands 2 is intuitive and easy to play; drag and drop the Peablins so that everyone is holding hands. The level of challenge increases as the Peablins get more hands and new types of Peablins are introduced. Try to collect all the stars from each level too! The original Joining Hands is featured in the book ”iPad Apps for Kids for Dummies” as an excellent family friendly title! Features - More than 140 fun and challenging levels - Eight kinds of adorable Peablin characters - Unlimited hint system: Never get stuck - Fun for all ages: No violence, no time limits, no pressure - Great for child and parent cooperative puzzling - Cute graphics and joyful soundtrack - Ten Game Center achievements
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Kerplinkus at 5.0 against Joining Hands 2's 4.4. Kerplinkus also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 26 months) and price ($0.99 vs $2.99). Joining Hands 2's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.6). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
Kerplinkus costs $0.99 and Joining Hands 2 $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Kerplinkus holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 9 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 87% of Kerplinkus's written reviews are positive against 92% of Joining Hands 2's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Kerplinkus ships an update every 2 months, Joining Hands 2 every 26 months. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Kerplinkus | Joining Hands 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 — better | $2.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better | 4.4 (9 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 87.0% of reviews | 92.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 7 | 9 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months — better | Every 26 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.6 | 8.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 16 MB | 35 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Danny Bliss | 10tons Ltd |
Customer experience
Kerplinkus
Joining Hands 2
In-app purchases
Kerplinkus
No in-app purchases
Joining Hands 2
No in-app purchases









