Comparison

KenKen Classic vs Mathdoku + Calcudoku

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

Head to head
About

KenKen Classic

Engage your mind with this addictive logic and math puzzle game. It offers a virtually unlimited supply of challenges with adjustable difficulty and grid sizes. Enjoy a fun way to train your brain with a trusted source of daily puzzles.

Highlights
  • Unlimited puzzles
  • Adjustable difficulty and grid size
  • Multiple input modes
  • Hints, Undo, Redo, Reset
  • Online leaderboards
  • Color schemes and music options
Features
Read full description

KenKen® - Brain Training Puzzle Train your brain with KenKen®, the unbelievably fun, exciting and addictive logic and math puzzle! KenKen is an amazing puzzle that is frequently described as “sudoku on steroids.” If you like other brain games such as sudoku, 2048, Threes, Kakuro, Unblock Me, Tricky Test, Tetris, Flow, jigsaw puzzles, word search puzzles, or crossword puzzles, then you will LOVE KenKen! This is the ONE-AND-ONLY Original KenKen app, created by acclaimed Japanese mathematics educator Tetsuya Miyamoto. Don’t be fooled by unauthorized versions such as mathdoku and calcudoku, and don't get stuck in a sudoku rut. Play KenKen math puzzles today! KenKen appears daily in the New York Times and hundreds of other publications around the globe. NY Times puzzle editor, Will Shortz, calls KenKen "the most addictive puzzle since sudoku." There are virtually unlimited KenKen puzzles available to you on this app. The first 50 are included FREE with the download. If you need more...no problem! Just order them and they'll appear immediately. YOU select the size, difficulty level, and operations. KenKen Classic includes: - 50 FREE fun math puzzles of every size and difficulty level - Unlimited FREE 3x3 size puzzles to learn from and enjoy - Virtually unlimited puzzles, ranging from 3x3 to 9x9 grids, from Easy to Expert - A variety of color schemes and music (you can even set your own music to play in the background) - 3 input modes for digits and notes - Great extra features such as Hints, Check, Undo, Redo, Reset, Pause, and Timer - Online leaderboards - Ability to post results directly to Twitter - Ability to email results and invite friends

About

Mathdoku + Calcudoku

This game combines arithmetic and logic puzzles, similar to Sudoku. Fill grids with numbers based on row, column, and cage calculations. It offers multiple grid sizes and difficulty levels.

Highlights
  • Sudoku-like grid filling
  • Arithmetic and logic challenges
  • Cage-based calculations
  • Multiple grid sizes (4x4 to 9x9)
  • Varying difficulty levels
Features
Read full description

Mathdoku + Calcudoku is arithmetic and logic puzzle similar to Sudoku and based on rules of Kendoku ® and KenKen ® Fill the grid so that each row and column only have one of each available number (1 to N). The table is separated into groups that are calculated together. Each group's total is displayed in the top-left corner along with the operator that was used (+ * / - ) Digits may be repeated within a cage, as long as they aren't in the same row or column. The games are available in 6 formats: 4x4 (Beginner), 5x5 (Easy), 6x6 (Medium), 7x7 (Hard), 8x8 (Advanced) and 9x9 (Extreme) Complete rules on http://www.essekappa.it?p=mathdoku

Screenshots

KenKen Classic2 screens
Mathdoku + Calcudoku4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: KenKen Classic at 4.6 against Mathdoku + Calcudoku's 1.0. KenKen Classic also leads on ratings volume (3.2K vs 1) and update cadence (every 4 months vs every 12 months). Mathdoku + Calcudoku's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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

Both are free to download. KenKen Classic sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per year and Mathdoku + Calcudoku sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

KenKen Classic holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: KenKen Classic has 3.2K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of KenKen Classic's written reviews are positive against 60% of Mathdoku + Calcudoku's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

KenKen Classic ships an update every 4 months, Mathdoku + Calcudoku every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
KenKen Classic versus Mathdoku + Calcudoku: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterKenKen ClassicMathdoku + Calcudoku
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (3.2K ratings) — better1.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews72.7% of reviews — better60.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3.2K — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 months — betterEvery 12 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.17.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKenKen PuzzleMarco Gentili

Customer experience

KenKen Classic

All ratings3,172 ratings
Positive92.7%
Neutral2.6%
Negative4.6%
Written reviews315 reviews
Positive72.7%
Neutral9.5%
Negative17.8%

Mathdoku + Calcudoku

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative30.0%

Bugs and requests

KenKen Classic

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Puzzles disappearing after device reset or upgrade
  • Purchased puzzles not syncing across devices
  • App crashing or freezing

Requested features

4 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Ability to save and revert puzzle progress
  • No-op puzzles for advanced players
  • Improved puzzle loading and syncing across devices

Mathdoku + Calcudoku

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

6 purchases

KenKen Classic

Subscriptions1
  • Full Year Subscription NO ADS!$19.991 Year
One-time5
  • 500 KenKen toKENs$0.99
  • 31 Puzzles PLUS removal of all ads!$1.99
  • 250 Puzzles PLUS removal of all ads!$7.99
Show 2 more
  • 1000 Puzzles PLUS removal of all ads!$14.99
  • Annual Unlimited Subscription - Ad Free$19.99
2 purchases

Mathdoku + Calcudoku

One-time2
  • Remove iAd Banner$0.99
  • Full Version$0.99

Questions

Is KenKen Classic free?
KenKen Classic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mathdoku + Calcudoku free?
Mathdoku + Calcudoku is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, KenKen Classic or Mathdoku + Calcudoku?
KenKen Classic is rated higher. KenKen Classic averages 4.6 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while Mathdoku + Calcudoku averages 1.0 from 1 ratings.
Do KenKen Classic or Mathdoku + Calcudoku have ads?
KenKen Classic shows ads; Mathdoku + Calcudoku does not.
Which is updated more often, KenKen Classic or Mathdoku + Calcudoku?
KenKen Classic ships an update every 4 months, and Mathdoku + Calcudoku every 12 months. Most recently, KenKen Classic was updated on November 6, 2026 and Mathdoku + Calcudoku on November 1, 2026.

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