Five vs Save the Arctic
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Five
A strategic board game where players place number tiles to form sequences that sum to multiples of five. Compete against others online or locally, or test your skills against AI opponents. Offers hints and bonus squares for higher scores.
- Numerical crossword-style gameplay
- Online multiplayer
- Local pass-and-play for up to 4 players
- Single player vs. AI
- Hints system
- Bonus squares for extra points
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Five-O puts a numerical twist on the classic crossword board game! Instead of letters, you place number tiles, forming sequences that must add up to multiples of five, with no more than five tiles per sequence. Think strategically, maximize your bonuses, and outscore your opponent! "This is a great must have iPad game. And I love the fact that it really works your mind muscles. It is a very simple game but it will get you hooked." - tcgeeks.com "The price is right, and the game is fun as well as educational. I’d very much recommend it, especially if you’re looking for something the whole family can enjoy or even just for the kids." - ipadboardgames.org Features: Easy to learn rules Online Multiplayer, take turns at your leisure Pass-and-Play mode for up to 4 local players Single player mode with challenging computer opponents Hints for when you get stuck Simple controls, just touch and drag the tiles to the board How to play: Players take turns placing intersecting sequences of numbers on the board which add up to multiples of five. For example, 7-3-8-7 would be a valid sequence because it adds up to 25. The sequence 3-9-5 is not valid because it adds up to 17 which is not a multiple of five. On each turn, players may play tiles in one straight line sequence, horizontally or vertically. The first sequence must be played on the center square, and all sequences after that must intersect with tiles already in play. The score for each play is the sum of all the number tiles in sequences completed on that turn. Colored bonus squares award extra points and multipliers. At the end of each turn, players draw new tiles to replace the ones played. The game ends when a player plays all of their remaining tiles and there are no more tiles left to draw.
Save the Arctic
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Save the Arctic is a cooperative game about melting ice, limited paths, and careful planning. Together, you help two polar bears find food while a researcher removes trash from the Arctic. Each turn starts with a die roll: either you move a figure across the ice floes or shift entire rows or columns. The board is constantly changing - paths appear, disappear, or suddenly become blocked. But the ice is unstable: after each move, it becomes more fragile, creating gaps that can no longer be crossed. Every turn becomes a small tactical challenge. Your goal: feed both polar bears while collecting all the trash. You can only succeed as a team - or lose together if no valid moves remain. Features: • Original License • Cooperative gameplay - win or lose together • Dice-based turns with two clear actions • Dynamic board with shifting ice floes • Melting ice as a core mechanic • Short, compact play sessions • Supporting Game Center with leaderboard and achievements A simple game with clear rules and a meaningful theme.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Save the Arctic at every 2 weeks against Five's every 3 months. Five's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $3.99). On ads, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement 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
Five costs $2.99 and Save the Arctic $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Five ships an update every 3 months, Save the Arctic every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Five | Save the Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 — better | $3.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (178 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 91.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 178 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 11.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 49 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Curt Stein | Outline Development |
Bugs and requests
Five
Reported bugs
3 issues- Notification badge issues
- Games getting 'frozen' and unable to be removed
- Compatibility problems with newer OS versions
Requested features
5 requests- Ability to chat with opponents
- Option to play with different target numbers (not just multiples of 5)
- Tile swap functionality
- Automatic forfeit for inactive players
- Ranking/leaderboard system
Save the Arctic
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Five
No in-app purchases
Save the Arctic
No in-app purchases









