Comparison

Save The Pencil vs MitchiriNeko Bubble

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

Head to head
About

Save The Pencil

Guide a pencil character through a rebellious stationery cupboard by tapping dots to connect them. Solve 120 challenging puzzles across 8 chapters, dodge various stationery enemies, and collect stars to unlock bonus levels and new characters.

Highlights
  • Tap-to-move gameplay
  • 120 challenging puzzles
  • 8 distinct chapters
  • Unlockable bonus levels
  • Collect stars for high scores
  • Dodge stationery enemies
  • Unlock new characters
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Save the Pencil is back, rebuilt and remastered for modern iPhone. Guide HB across the page, connect every dot and keep his lead away from a stationery cupboard full of trouble. Each route is a compact puzzle of timing, precision and planning. FEATURES • 120 handcrafted campaign levels across 8 distinctive paper chapters • 50 additional bonus levels • Collect three stars on every level • Dodge paperclips, spinning rulers, erasers, staples, scissors and more • Take on a unique boss at the end of every chapter • Earn blue dots as you play and spend them on helpful extras • Completely remastered artwork, animation, audio and effects • No third-party advertising Tap a dot, draw your route and save HB's lead. It is join the dots, but not as you know it.

About

MitchiriNeko Bubble

Burst bubbles to rescue adorable characters trapped inside. Enjoy easy controls, collect cute characters and items, and utilize special bubbles and power-ups to clear challenging stages. A fun and engaging bubble shooter experience awaits.

Highlights
  • Easy bubble shooting controls
  • Collect and complete character collection
  • Utilize special and power-up bubbles
  • Variety of helpful in-game items
  • Pop bubbles by matching 3 or more of the same color
Features
Read full description

MitchiriNeko is caught in bubbles! Burst that bubble and save our MitchiriNeko friends! Meow! ◎Easy controls◎ ・Shoot bubbles in desired direction! ・Bubbles popping when 3 or more bubbles of the same color are gathered! ◎MitchiriNeko collection◎ ・MitchiriNeko produces items! ・Find MitchiriNeko and complete the collection! Meow! ◎Special bubble◎ Stage clear gets easier when using the special bubbles that appear during the game! ◎A variety of items◎ A vast collection of items make the gameplay even more fun! ・'Add Bubbles(3)’ - adds more bubbles to shoot ・'Bubble Guide’ - adds more accuracy to the bubbles ・’Dash’ - allows for a faster start! 'Start with a Chick Bomb' ・’Rainbow Bomb’ that bursts nearby bubbles ・'Water Cannon Bubble’ that bursts bubbles on a straight line ・'Color Bomb’ that bursts bubbles in the same color [Sound Effects] ・SOOYOUNG KIM ・OH KYUNG ・YOOKYUNG KIL © Anime-MitchiriNeko © MEMORY Inc. & NLABSOFT Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.

Screenshots

Save The Pencil4 screens
MitchiriNeko Bubble4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: MitchiriNeko Bubble at Free against Save The Pencil's $2.99. MitchiriNeko Bubble also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.4) and ratings volume (328 vs 65). Save The Pencil's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (83% vs 49%). On update cadence, in-app purchases 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

MitchiriNeko Bubble is free to download; Save The Pencil costs $2.99 up front. Save The Pencil sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and MitchiriNeko Bubble sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

MitchiriNeko Bubble holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MitchiriNeko Bubble has 328 ratings behind it against 65, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of Save The Pencil's written reviews are positive against 49% of MitchiriNeko Bubble's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Save The Pencil ships an update every 6 weeks, MitchiriNeko Bubble monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
Save The Pencil versus MitchiriNeko Bubble: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSave The PencilMitchiriNeko Bubble
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating3.4 (65 ratings)4.8 (328 ratings) — better
Positive reviews82.7% of reviews — better48.8% of reviews
Number of ratings65328 — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#198 — better—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size108 MB245 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperPerfect DimensionNLABSOFT Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

Save The Pencil

All ratings65 ratings
Positive56.9%
Neutral4.6%
Negative38.5%
Written reviews312 reviews
Positive82.7%
Neutral6.1%
Negative11.2%

MitchiriNeko Bubble

All ratings328 ratings
Positive96.0%
Neutral1.8%
Negative2.1%
Written reviews129 reviews
Positive48.8%
Neutral13.2%
Negative38.0%

Bugs and requests

Save The Pencil

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Rulers and obstacles glitching out
  • App crashing on launch or during gameplay
  • Compatibility issues with newer devices

Requested features

3 requests
  • More levels and content updates
  • Improved touch sensitivity
  • Ability to skip difficult levels

MitchiriNeko Bubble

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Save The Pencil

One-time4
  • 1,000 Blue Dot Pack$0.99
  • 5,000 Blue Dot Pack$2.99
  • 10,000 Blue Dot Pack$4.99
Show 1 more
  • 50,000 Blue Dot Pack$9.99
13 purchases

MitchiriNeko Bubble

One-time13
  • Bubble Guide Extender x3$1.99
  • Heart x5$1.99
  • Rainbow Bomb x5$1.99
Show 10 more
  • Water cannon x3$1.99
  • Color Bomb x3$1.99
  • Continue x3$1.99
  • Gem x2000$1.99
  • Heart for 1 Hour$3.99
  • Gem x10000$4.99
  • Color Bomb x45$7.99
  • Remove Ads$8.99
  • Package 8$9.99
  • Package 7$12.99

Questions

Is Save The Pencil free?
Save The Pencil costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is MitchiriNeko Bubble free?
MitchiriNeko Bubble is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Save The Pencil or MitchiriNeko Bubble?
MitchiriNeko Bubble is rated higher. Save The Pencil averages 3.4 out of 5 from 65 ratings, while MitchiriNeko Bubble averages 4.8 from 328 ratings.
Do Save The Pencil or MitchiriNeko Bubble have ads?
MitchiriNeko Bubble shows ads; Save The Pencil does not.
Which is updated more often, Save The Pencil or MitchiriNeko Bubble?
Save The Pencil ships an update every 6 weeks, and MitchiriNeko Bubble monthly. Most recently, Save The Pencil was updated on October 26, 2026 and MitchiriNeko Bubble on October 29, 2026.

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