Save The Pencil vs Mini Sudoku!
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Save The Pencil
Guide a pencil lead through challenging puzzles by drawing precise routes. Avoid stationery hazards and defeat bosses across numerous levels. Earn in-game currency for helpful extras in this remastered puzzle adventure.
- 120 handcrafted campaign levels
- 50 bonus levels
- Collect three stars per level
- Dodge stationery hazards
- Boss battles at chapter ends
- Earn and spend blue dots for extras
- Remastered artwork and audio
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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.
Mini Sudoku!
Explore a variety of Sudoku puzzles, from beginner 6x6 grids to advanced 9x9 challenges. Enjoy unique modes like Killer Sudoku and Jigsaw, with helpful features like smart highlighting and an advanced notes system.
- Multiple Sudoku game modes (6x6, 9x9, Killer, Jigsaw)
- Timed challenge mode
- Smart visual feedback and color highlighting
- Advanced notes system
- Undo functionality
- Auto conflict detection
- Light and Dark mode support
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The only Sudoku app you need — 6 game modes from beginner-friendly 6×6 to advanced 9×9 variants. New: Killer Sudoku, Jigsaw, Sudoku X, and timed Challenge mode. Game Modes: • Today's Puzzle — A fresh 6×6 mini puzzle every day. Perfect for a quick daily brain workout with numbers 1-6. • Mini Sudoku Challenge — Race the clock on a 6×6 grid! Choose from 2, 3, 5, or 10 minute time limits with Easy, Medium, and Hard difficulty levels. • Classic 9×9 — The traditional full-size Sudoku experience. Fill the 9×9 grid so every row, column, and 3×3 box contains 1-9. • Sudoku X — Standard 9×9 rules plus both main diagonals must also contain unique digits. Diagonal cells are highlighted in blue for easy tracking. • Killer Sudoku — Cells are grouped into cages with target sums. Each cage's digits must add up to the target with no repeats — a blend of Sudoku logic and arithmetic. • Jigsaw Sudoku — Forget regular 3×3 boxes! Irregularly shaped regions replace the standard blocks, adding a whole new visual and logical challenge. Key Features: • Smart visual feedback with elegant color highlighting • Advanced notes system for strategic planning • Undo functionality to experiment freely • Auto conflict detection with red highlighting • Multiple difficulty levels (Easy, Medium, Hard) • Clean, minimalist design focused on pure gameplay • Light and Dark mode support Perfect for: • Sudoku beginners learning the fundamentals • Experienced players wanting variety and new challenges • Commuters and travelers needing portable brain training • Anyone who enjoys logical puzzle challenges Educational Benefits: • Improves logical thinking and pattern recognition • Enhances concentration and focus • Develops systematic problem-solving skills • Trains memory through note-taking strategies Privacy Policy: https://www.minisudoku.org/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Mini Sudoku! at Free against Save The Pencil's $2.99. Mini Sudoku! also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.4) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 weeks). Save The Pencil's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On ratings volume 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
Mini Sudoku! is free to download; Save The Pencil costs $2.99 up front. Save The Pencil sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Mini Sudoku! sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Mini Sudoku! holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 65 and 32 respectively.
Save The Pencil ships an update every 6 weeks, Mini Sudoku! fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Save The Pencil | Mini Sudoku! |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 3.4 (65 ratings) | 4.8 (32 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 82.7% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 65 — better | 32 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 107 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Perfect Dimension | Kuantark Co., Ltd |
Customer experience
Save The Pencil
Mini Sudoku!
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
Mini Sudoku!
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Save The Pencil
- 1,000 Blue Dot Pack$0.99
- 5,000 Blue Dot Pack$2.99
- 10,000 Blue Dot Pack$4.99
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- 50,000 Blue Dot Pack$9.99
Mini Sudoku!
- Premium Monthly$0.991 Month
- Premium Yearly$5.991 Year
Questions
Is Save The Pencil free?
Is Mini Sudoku! free?
Which has better reviews, Save The Pencil or Mini Sudoku!?
Do Save The Pencil or Mini Sudoku! have ads?
Which is updated more often, Save The Pencil or Mini Sudoku!?
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