# The Tiny Bang Story vs Shadowmatic

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: The Tiny Bang Story at none against Shadowmatic's 5. The Tiny Bang Story also leads on price ($0.99 vs $3.99). Shadowmatic's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 63%) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 8 months). On ratings volume, ads, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

The Tiny Bang Story costs $0.99 and Shadowmatic $3.99 up front. Shadowmatic sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. The Tiny Bang Story asks for nothing beyond the download.

Shadowmatic holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 897 and 2.1K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of The Tiny Bang Story's written reviews are positive against 86% of Shadowmatic's.

The Tiny Bang Story ships an update every 8 months, Shadowmatic every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Tiny Bang Story | Shadowmatic |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$0.99** | $3.99 |
| Rating | [4.6 (897 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-tiny-bang-story/id495937600/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowmatic/id775888026/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 897 | **2.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 63.4% of reviews | **85.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 8 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | #38 | **#34** |
| Size | 120 MB | 388 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ellada Games LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1634781010) | [TRIADA Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/775888029) |

## What reviewers say

### The Tiny Bang Story

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-tiny-bang-story/id495937600)

**Currently charting:** #38 Top Paid · Family, #84 Top Paid · Puzzle (US App Store)

Restore a shattered planet by fixing machines and solving puzzles. This hand-drawn adventure game offers five chapters filled with brain teasers and an immersive atmosphere. It's suitable for all ages and requires no reading.

**Highlights:** Fix machines and mechanisms, Solve puzzles, Five chapters, Over 30 brain teasers, Hand-drawn world, Simple navigation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Charming graphics
- 🎨 Beautiful artwork
- 🎶 Relaxing music
- 💡 Unique and engaging puzzles
- 🕹️ Challenging but not too difficult

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and crashes, especially at later levels
- 🔍 Tiny objects hard to see and click on mobile
- 🤯 Some puzzles too difficult without hints
- 🔍 Lack of zoom or magnification
- 🕰️ Game is too short

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes at certain points
- Puzzle pieces not registering properly
- Elevator button not working
- Last puzzle piece impossible to find

**Requested features**

- More levels and content
- Ability to skip puzzles
- Better tutorial and hints
- Zoom and magnification options
- Cloud save/sync across devices


### Shadowmatic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowmatic/id775888026)

**Currently charting:** #34 Top Paid · Family, #80 Top Paid · Puzzle (US App Store)

Rotate abstract objects in a spotlight to cast recognizable silhouettes. Explore unique environments with captivating music and stunning visuals. Discover unexpected shapes and solve mind-bending puzzles.

**Highlights:** Rotate abstract objects, Create recognizable silhouettes, Stunning visuals, Relaxing gameplay, Unique thematic environments, Assistant button for hints

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pack of 20 Hint-Points | $0.99 | one-time |
| "Other Worlds" chapter | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 50 Hint-Points | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 150 Hint-Points | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 500 Hint-Points | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Unique and creative gameplay
- 👍 Relaxing and calming experience
- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and visuals
- 🧠 Challenging puzzles that exercise the mind
- 🎶 Soothing background music

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Precision issues with controls, especially for complex puzzles
- 🤔 Unclear objectives at times, making it difficult to understand what the desired solution is
- ⏱️ Frustration when getting stuck on a puzzle for a long time
- 👀 Difficult for left-handed players due to the positioning of the controls

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes or freezes on certain devices, especially newer iPad models
- Progress not saving properly, causing players to lose progress

**Requested features**

- More levels and new puzzle types to keep the game fresh
- Ability to save progress and resume puzzles
- Option to mirror the game screen for left-handed players
- Hints that provide more useful guidance, not just the final solution


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Tiny Bang Story free?

The Tiny Bang Story costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Shadowmatic free?

Shadowmatic costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, The Tiny Bang Story or Shadowmatic?

Shadowmatic is rated higher. The Tiny Bang Story averages 4.6 out of 5 from 897 ratings, while Shadowmatic averages 4.8 from 2.1K ratings.

### Do The Tiny Bang Story or Shadowmatic have ads?

Neither The Tiny Bang Story nor Shadowmatic shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Tiny Bang Story or Shadowmatic?

The Tiny Bang Story ships an update every 8 months, and Shadowmatic every 2 months. Most recently, The Tiny Bang Story was updated on November 1, 2026 and Shadowmatic on November 1, 2026.

### Which is more popular, The Tiny Bang Story or Shadowmatic?

The Tiny Bang Story currently peaks at #38 in the App Store charts, and Shadowmatic at #34. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*