Comparison

Dots Classic vs Dots and Boxes

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

Head to head
About

Dots Classic

Relive the classic paper-and-pencil game on your Apple devices. Connect dots to capture boxes and strategically outmaneuver your opponent in fast-paced matches.

Highlights
  • Connect dots
  • Capture boxes
  • Outsmart opponent
  • Quick matches
  • Satisfying gameplay
Features
Read full description

Bring the classic paper-and-pencil game to your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Connect dots, capture boxes, and outsmart your opponent in quick, satisfying matches.

About

Dots and Boxes

Connect dots to form squares and outscore your opponent in this classic strategy board game. Play solo against AI, challenge friends locally, or compete with players worldwide for a top spot on the global leaderboard. Enjoy hours of brain-training fun with customizable themes and multiple difficulty levels.

Highlights
  • Connect dots to form squares
  • Play solo against AI
  • Local and online multiplayer
  • Global high-score leaderboard
  • 3 difficulty levels
  • Collect Game Center achievements
  • Colorful themes
Features
Read full description

Link the dots, close more squares than your opponent and be first in the Global High-Score, among thousands of players worldwide. From the creators of Four In A Row, another classic! Have your skills changed since you were in school? ^__^ Challenge a friend next to you or find an opponent online. Or try to beat one of our well-trained virtual players ;) DOTS AND BOXES - CLASSIC BOARD GAMES is completely Free. If you love games like Chess, Checkers, Backgammon and other challenging pastimes, you will love Dots and Boxes. Play ‘solo’ or against a real opponent using either our local or online multiplayer mode; play with a friend on the same device or find an opponent from anywhere in the world. DOTS AND BOXES - CLASSIC BOARD GAMES will challenge you according to your abilities, with 3 difficulty levels, and it’s easy to get: tap on the dots to draw lines and close squares. You’re the winner if you got more squares than your opponent when there's no more lines to trace. Can you think of a better brain training? Key features: - Choose between 3 modes of difficulty - Play against real humans online (multiplayer)! - Challenge your friends on the same device (2 players mode) - Climb the high score - Collect Game Center achievements - Enjoy hours of fun with colourful themes - Easy to get, hard to master - Fun for all ages Start closing your boxes now! Free! Thanks for playing! FOLLOW US Facebook/outofthebit @outofthebit

Screenshots

Dots Classic4 screens
Dots and Boxes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Dots Classic at none against Dots and Boxes's 1. Dots Classic also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). Dots and Boxes's advantage is ratings volume (14K vs 4) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). On price, update cadence 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. Dots and Boxes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Dots Classic asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dots Classic holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dots and Boxes has 14K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Dots Classic's written reviews are positive against 81% of Dots and Boxes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dots Classic ships an update every 3 months, Dots and Boxes every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Dots Classic versus Dots and Boxes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDots ClassicDots and Boxes
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (4 ratings) — better4.6 (14K ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better81.2% of reviews
Number of ratings414K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.613.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size11 MB28 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlga GamesOutOfTheBit Ltd

Customer experience

Dots Classic

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Dots and Boxes

All ratings14,127 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral5.1%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews973 reviews
Positive81.2%
Neutral6.4%
Negative12.4%

Bugs and requests

Dots Classic

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Dots and Boxes

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Game freezing or crashing
  • Incorrect move registrations
  • Multiplayer connection problems

Requested features

4 requests
  • Additional difficulty levels
  • Customizable game board sizes
  • Undo/reset functionality
  • Improved multiplayer experience

In-app purchases

None

Dots Classic

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Dots and Boxes

One-time1
  • Dots and Boxes Premium$1.99

Questions

Is Dots Classic free?
Dots Classic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Dots and Boxes free?
Dots and Boxes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Dots Classic or Dots and Boxes?
Dots Classic is rated higher. Dots Classic averages 5.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Dots and Boxes averages 4.6 from 14K ratings.
Do Dots Classic or Dots and Boxes have ads?
Dots and Boxes shows ads; Dots Classic does not.
Which is updated more often, Dots Classic or Dots and Boxes?
Dots Classic ships an update every 3 months, and Dots and Boxes every 5 months. Most recently, Dots Classic was updated on October 23, 2026 and Dots and Boxes on November 1, 2026.

Other comparisons