! Exploding Paintballs ! vs Shikacat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
! Exploding Paintballs !
A tilt-sensitive arcade game where players link and explode colored paintballs. Compete with friends on leaderboards for high scores and unlock more levels through in-app purchases. Experience realistic physics and varied explosion sounds.
- Tilt or touch controls
- Physics-based gameplay
- Link and explode colored paintballs
- Realistic explosion sounds
- Game Center leaderboards
- Unlockable levels via IAP
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!Exploding Paintballs! is a tilt-sensitive arcade game with paintballs that float (blue and green) and paintballs that sink (red and yellow). When certain color combinations of paintballs touch they link together and, when the link is complete, explode with a loud realistic explosion noise. The color combinations that will explode vary with each Level. The Game Center records various scores on Leaderboards such as number of Levels completed, number of explosions, best times for certain Levels and best times for all Levels combined. Compete with your Game Center Friends to see who can make the most explosions or who can get 10 explosions on one or all Levels the fastest. Gravity is adjusted by tilting the iPhone, iPad or iPod Touch. Alternatively, !Exploding Paintballs! can respond to touch moves rather than tilt. The exploding noise differs for the different color combinations that explode (e.g. gunshots, crashes, bombs). The sound can be turned off or made into a vibration. There are 8 free Levels - 4 with walls and 4 without walls. An In App Purchase expands the number of Levels to 66 - 33 Levels with walls and 33 Levels without walls. !Exploding Paintballs! is based on a kinetic simulation using the device's accelerometer and realistic principles of physics (buoyancy, inertia, viscosity, Hooke's Law and color confinement). For accuracy and stability it uses a half step modification to Euler's Algorithm as described by Feynman (Lectures on Physics, Vol. 1, Ch. 9, P. 5) and Cromer (Am. J. Phy. 49, 455 (1981)). The screen shots below are: 1) Free Level 1 - Red-Blue. A red-blue combination is shown exploding. 2) The Levels Table. The 4 free Levels are shown together with the Best Times and maximum number of Explosions. 3) Free Level 2 - Red-Blue, Yellow-Green. A red-blue (yellow-green for iPad) combination is shown exploding. 4) Free Level 3 - Blue-Yellow-Green. Some partial combinations are shown linked and one blue-yellow-green is shown exploding. 5) Free Level 4 - Red-Green-Green-Loop. Some partial combinations for the loop are shown linked and one red-green-green-loop is shown exploding.
Shikacat
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Shikacat is a charming shikaku puzzle game that turns classic number-and-grid challenges into a playful cat adventure. Place colorful cat blocks, sort them into the right spaces, and fill every board with precision. Each level is easy to start, but as the layouts grow trickier, your brain, logic, and planning skills are put to the test in the most satisfying way. If you love a puzzle game that is relaxing, rewarding, and smart, Shikacat is ready for you. Every shikaku board gives you a fresh challenge: each numbered cat shows how many tiles its area must cover, and it is up to you to sort the pieces correctly. With every move, you use your brain and logic to find the perfect fit and clear the board. Shikacat brings the classic shikaku experience to life with adorable cats, smooth controls, and satisfying level progression. Whether you want a quick puzzle game session or a longer brain workout, this game offers plenty of clever moments. Sort blocks, test your logic, and enjoy the rewarding feeling of solving each shikaku challenge step by step. HOW TO PLAY • Look at the number on each cat block. • Drag and sort each block into the grid. • Use logic to match every block to the correct area size. • Fill the full board with no gaps and no overlaps. • Clear the shikaku level and move on to the next puzzle game challenge. FEATURES • Fun and original shikaku puzzle game gameplay with cute cat characters. • Easy drag-and-drop controls that make every puzzle game simple to learn. • Lots of handcrafted levels to challenge your brain and reward smart logic. • A satisfying mix of relaxing play and tricky boards that make you think. • Helpful boosters to support you when a level gets tough. • Bright visuals, smooth animations, and rewarding progression. • Great for players who love to sort, solve, and master clever puzzles. Shikacat is the kind of puzzle game that keeps your brain active while staying light, fun, and relaxing. Use logic, sort every block carefully, and enjoy a shikaku experience that feels both cozy and challenging. If you are ready for a puzzle game full of smart design, cat charm, and satisfying wins, Shikacat is the perfect choice.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: ! Exploding Paintballs ! at 4.8 against Shikacat's 2.0. ! Exploding Paintballs ! also leads on ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (5 vs 1). Shikacat's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). On price, 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
Both are free to download. ! Exploding Paintballs ! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Shikacat asks for nothing beyond the download.
! Exploding Paintballs ! holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 2.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ! Exploding Paintballs ! has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
! Exploding Paintballs ! ships an update every 2 months, Shikacat every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.
| Parameter | ! Exploding Paintballs ! | Shikacat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (5 ratings) — better | 2.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 256 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Peter Kramer | Tripledot Studios |
In-app purchases
! Exploding Paintballs !
- upgrade to play the Additional Levels$0.99
Shikacat
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is ! Exploding Paintballs ! free?
Is Shikacat free?
Which has better reviews, ! Exploding Paintballs ! or Shikacat?
Do ! Exploding Paintballs ! or Shikacat have ads?
Which is updated more often, ! Exploding Paintballs ! or Shikacat?
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