# DOODLE SQUARES vs Grappling Ascent

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Grappling Ascent at none against DOODLE SQUARES's 6. Grappling Ascent also leads on iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.0). DOODLE SQUARES's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (3.9 vs 3.5). On price, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DOODLE SQUARES sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Grappling Ascent asks for nothing beyond the download.

DOODLE SQUARES holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DOODLE SQUARES has 478 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

DOODLE SQUARES ships an update every 2 months, Grappling Ascent every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DOODLE SQUARES | Grappling Ascent |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[3.9 (478 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doodle-squares/id384827186/reviews)** | [3.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grappling-ascent/id1563441249/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **478** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 86.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 83 MB | 112 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [MobX GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/1464663882) | [Adknown](https://appshunter.io/developer/1243054661) |

## What reviewers say

### DOODLE SQUARES

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/doodle-squares/id384827186)

Navigate a world of hazards, collecting green squares and fruits for score boosts and power-ups. Unlock new themes as you play and compete for the top spot on the leaderboard.

**Highlights:** Score collection, Hazard avoidance, Fruit power-ups, Theme unlocking, Leaderboard competition

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Boogers Theme | $0.99 | one-time |
| Space Theme | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock all themes! | $0.99 | one-time |
| Jewels Theme | $0.99 | one-time |
| Aqua Theme | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and intuitive gameplay
- 🕹️ Addictive and engaging
- 🎨 Visually appealing graphics
- 🕹️ Challenging and rewarding
- ⏱️ Quick and easy to play

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
- 🔊 Repetitive or annoying music
- 📱 Difficulty seeing the game due to finger placement
- 💰 Paid themes/content seen as unnecessary
- 🔋 High battery consumption

**Reported bugs**

- Compatibility issues with iOS 5
- Crashes on startup for some users

**Requested features**

- New game modes or themes
- Achievements or leaderboards
- Option to disable music while keeping sound effects
- Improved performance on older devices


### Grappling Ascent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/grappling-ascent/id1563441249)

Navigate a perilous tunnel by grappling upwards in this fast-paced endless runner. Test your reflexes and precision to avoid spikes and bouncy obstacles. Unlock new grappling balls as you ascend.

**Highlights:** Grapple upwards through a tunnel, Endless runner gameplay, Tap to shoot grapple, Precise grapple point placement, Avoid spikes and bouncy blobs, Unlockable grappling balls

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DOODLE SQUARES free?

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

### Is Grappling Ascent free?

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

### Which has better reviews, DOODLE SQUARES or Grappling Ascent?

DOODLE SQUARES is rated higher. DOODLE SQUARES averages 3.9 out of 5 from 478 ratings, while Grappling Ascent averages 3.5 from 4 ratings.

### Do DOODLE SQUARES or Grappling Ascent have ads?

Grappling Ascent shows ads; DOODLE SQUARES does not.

### Which is updated more often, DOODLE SQUARES or Grappling Ascent?

DOODLE SQUARES ships an update every 2 months, and Grappling Ascent every 4 months. Most recently, DOODLE SQUARES was updated on October 15, 2026 and Grappling Ascent on October 2, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*