Comparison

Ancient Mystery vs The Guides Compendium

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

Head to head
About

Ancient Mystery

Embark on a quest to uncover hidden wisdom by solving riddles and brain teasers. This educational game blends philosophy, mythology, and history, challenging your intellect and knowledge to reveal a great hidden truth.

Highlights
  • Solve riddles and brain teasers
  • Explore philosophy and mythology
  • Uncover hidden truths and codes
  • Discover historical and intellectual connections
  • Utilize hints for difficult challenges
  • Access in-depth explanations of game elements
Features
Read full description

------------- Featured in more than 80 App-stores around the world Is it too hard for you ?? Some User Comments: Not for the intellectually challenged! * * * * * It encompasses philosophy and mythology in a artistic presentation. Mind Bending * * * * * If you like apps that really make you think, scratch your head, think some more then when you get the answer, think why didn't I think of that sooner then this is the game for you. Too hard * * This game is very hard I don't understand even the first riddle, can someone help me ? ------------- @ ^ == v @ m What is the hidden mystery? How can solving a number of riddles and brain teasers take you on a deeper and further quest, to uncover a great hidden truth? What is the secret 'code' that connects Plato & Socrates, Myths, Dragons, Greek Gods, Ancient Philosophies, a Cave man, the beginnings of civilization, Astrology, and many jewels of wisdom from different thinkers of different ages ? Can you spot the clues, survive the challenges, acquire the objects of wisdom, uncover the big puzzle, and unlock the chamber of secret teachings? Use your wits, knowledge, friends, and … your favorite search engine to overcome the obstacles of nature and the limitations of the obvious. Discover, Think, Read, and Learn as this ancient and thoughtful magical quest takes you to different challenges of observation, intelligence, insight, knowledge and wisdom. "Even dry and trivialized truths can gain amazing power when we view them in a new creative and practical light." ------------- Games and Learning run hand in hand many times. Games can be used as tools to encourage learning and curiosity for knowing more about a wide range of subjects. The imaginative environment and challenges within games can encourage players to develop a good set of skills and competencies, as well as develop mental abilities. About: Ancient mystery was designed to be educational, interesting and fun to play. The 'Hidden Secrets' Sections offers in-depth explanation for some of the icons, symbols, and items within the game. A hidden mysterious 'code' connects all the game's elements, and the player is invited to discover it. Is Ancient Mystery free to play? Ancient Mystery can be downloaded for free, and players can play the full game for free too. To access some Extra features (Like the interpretation and explanation of the game's story line and symbolism, and hints, etc...) players are required to unlock the premium version, at $0.99. Too Hard?? Ancient Mystery challenges both the intelligence and knowledge of players. It can be quite difficult at times, and the clues can be 'cryptic'. But all this is part of the learning... With real head-scratching, and search for answers, the player learns many new things, sometimes related - and sometimes not - to the game's Story. Two Levels of Hints can be used within the game (making it 'Easier' and 'Easiest' respectively) if the player gets really stuck. Play, Think, and Learn .. and Have Fun !

About

The Guides Compendium

This illustrated and photographic novel offers supplementary details and clues for the primary game, The Guides. While not essential for progression, it provides inspiration for solving puzzles and continuing your cryptic journey.

Highlights
  • Illustrated and photographic novel
  • Supplementary game details
  • Provides clues
  • Inspiration for puzzle-solving
  • Cryptic journey assistance
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The Guides Compendium is the illustrated and photographic novel intended to give supplementary detail to the primary game, The Guides. Though not essential to progressing and solving puzzles in the primary game, The Guides Compendium provides clues and may serve as an inspiration to help you continue your cryptic journey. Peculiar, isn't it?

Screenshots

Ancient Mystery4 screens
The Guides Compendium4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Ancient Mystery at Free against The Guides Compendium's $0.99. The Guides Compendium's advantage is rating (4.2 vs 2.0) and ads (none vs shown). On update cadence, in-app purchases, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Ancient Mystery is free to download; The Guides Compendium costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

The Guides Compendium holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 18 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Ancient Mystery's written reviews are positive against 70% of The Guides Compendium's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ancient Mystery ships an update every 15 months, The Guides Compendium every 25 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Ancient Mystery versus The Guides Compendium: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAncient MysteryThe Guides Compendium
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating2.0 (4 ratings)4.2 (18 ratings) — better
Positive reviews38.9% of reviews70.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings418 — better
Update frequencyEvery 15 months — betterEvery 25 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
Best chart rank—#98 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.08.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size54 MB13 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer111 (LLC)2 Fountains LLC

Customer experience

Ancient Mystery

All ratings4 ratings
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive38.9%
Neutral27.8%
Negative33.3%

The Guides Compendium

All ratings18 ratings
Positive72.2%
Neutral11.1%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews10 reviews
Positive70.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative10.0%

In-app purchases

None

Ancient Mystery

No in-app purchases

None

The Guides Compendium

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ancient Mystery free?
Ancient Mystery is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Guides Compendium free?
The Guides Compendium costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Ancient Mystery or The Guides Compendium?
The Guides Compendium is rated higher. Ancient Mystery averages 2.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while The Guides Compendium averages 4.2 from 18 ratings.
Do Ancient Mystery or The Guides Compendium have ads?
Ancient Mystery shows ads; The Guides Compendium does not.
Which is updated more often, Ancient Mystery or The Guides Compendium?
Ancient Mystery ships an update every 15 months, and The Guides Compendium every 25 months. Most recently, Ancient Mystery was updated on November 1, 2026 and The Guides Compendium on November 6, 2026.

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