Comparison

Save The Pencil vs Mini Sudoku!

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 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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
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

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Save The Pencil4 screens
Mini Sudoku!4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Save The Pencil versus Mini Sudoku!: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSave The PencilMini Sudoku!
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating3.4 (65 ratings)4.8 (32 ratings) — better
Positive reviews82.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings65 — better32
Update frequencyEvery 6 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size107 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPerfect DimensionKuantark 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%

Mini Sudoku!

All ratings32 ratings
Positive96.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative3.1%

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

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
2 purchases

Mini Sudoku!

Subscriptions2
  • Premium Monthly$0.991 Month
  • Premium Yearly$5.991 Year

Questions

Is Save The Pencil free?
Save The Pencil costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Mini Sudoku! free?
Mini Sudoku! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Save The Pencil or Mini Sudoku!?
Mini Sudoku! is rated higher. Save The Pencil averages 3.4 out of 5 from 65 ratings, while Mini Sudoku! averages 4.8 from 32 ratings.
Do Save The Pencil or Mini Sudoku! have ads?
Mini Sudoku! shows ads; Save The Pencil does not.
Which is updated more often, Save The Pencil or Mini Sudoku!?
Save The Pencil ships an update every 6 weeks, and Mini Sudoku! fortnightly. Most recently, Save The Pencil was updated on November 8, 2026 and Mini Sudoku! on November 5, 2026.

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