Comparison

Puzzle Retreat vs GridLock

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

Head to head
About

Puzzle Retreat

Engage in a unique block-sliding puzzle experience designed for relaxation and focus. Simple to learn but deeply challenging, this game offers a zen-like escape with no time limits or pressure. Solve intricate puzzles by sliding blocks to fill all the holes, with special blocks adding layers of complexity.

Highlights
  • Block-sliding puzzle mechanics
  • No time limits or stress
  • Special block types
  • 60 included puzzles
  • Additional puzzle packs available
  • In-game community discussion
  • iCloud progress syncing
Features
Read full description

Shut off the outside world. Relax, unwind and focus with a new type of puzzle that is both simple to learn and compellingly deep. Puzzle Retreat will have you losing track of time and forgetting about the outside world. "Puzzle Retreat is a brilliant zen-like puzzler" -- AppSpy.com “Seriously addictive: easy-to-learn; no pressure; and cerebral problem solving. There is not a single flaw." -- CNET.com "So smart and so well-made, why wasn't it created a billion years ago?" -- JayIsGames.com "Puzzle Retreat is for everyone." -- IndieGameMagazine.com "You will love this game." -- Kotaku.com The rules are simple; slide all the blocks to fill all the holes. The challenge comes from working out the correct order to slide the blocks and really ramps up with the addition of special blocks including Fire Blocks, Stop Blocks, Bonsai Trees and Arrow Blocks, which alter the direction of sliding blocks. • Daily Puzzles - three fresh puzzles every day for free • Hints for the ones that bite - unlimited with premium • No time limits, no stress, just you and the puzzle • Stuck on a puzzle – no problem, just move to the next and come back later, or talk it out with other players • Includes 60 puzzles to solve, plus 9 additional packs with over 300 more puzzles available for purchase • Connect with other puzzle lovers - discuss puzzles and techniques directly in-game • Sync your progress across all your devices automatically with iCloud Escape to the Puzzle Retreat and immerse yourself in this unique block-sliding puzzle game from the creators of the smash-hit Train Conductor series. Join our Discord for updates, hints and to discuss the game with fellow fans https://discord.gg/xgTDzGeaK3 Follow us wherever you get your social media @TheVoxelAgents Puzzle Retreat Premium is an optional auto-renewing subscription: 6 bonus daily puzzles and unlimited hints, every single day. Choose a monthly or an annual plan. The price is shown in the app before you confirm and varies by region. Payment is charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. The subscription renews automatically unless auto-renewal is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period, and your account is charged for renewal within 24 hours before the current period ends. You can manage your subscription and turn off auto-renewal in your Account Settings after purchase. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://puzzleretreat.com/privacy-policy.html

About

GridLock

Features
Read full description

Rediscover a classic logic puzzle, beautifully redesigned for a captivating modern experience. If you love numbers and challenging puzzles, Gridlock Numbers is a perfect match for you. Fill grids by jumping from cell to cell, following two simple rules. Move horizontally or vertically by skipping two cells, and diagonally by skipping one. Avoiding gridlock and trying not to leave an empty box behind will challenge your mind. Starting with 5x5 grid in Level 1, there are too many paths to success and you need only one of them. Place 1 on any square and then put each next number skipping double spaces for horizontal or vertical moves, single space for diagonal moves. Plan your moves ahead, see open paths, and complete the grids! If stuck in gridlock, try other paths. Undo as many times as you want or restart the game. If totally stuck, challenge yourself with other grids using the crowns you collect. With each level you pass, game board gets bigger, but not necessarily harder. There is always an option to make it harder though. Choose difficulty ‘Hard' and let us randomly decide the first cell to place 1 for you. Each number adds 10 times its value to the score. This is doubled in ‘hard’ mode. Plus, there are ‘x2' cells to get higher points and a chance to compete with top gamers on leaderboards in Game Center. • All in all, there are 6 levels with 5x5, 6x6, 7x7, 8x8, 9x9, and 10x10 sized tables. • You pass a level if you succeed placing numbers 25, 36, 49, 64, 81 and 100, respectively. • You are rewarded crowns if you can manage to put 24, 35, 48, 63, 80 and 99 even if you cannot reach the last number. If you would like to spend your time on a puzzle as compelling as Sudoku and 2048, give it a try! Can you master the grid? Good luck solving GridLock Numbers!

Screenshots

Puzzle Retreat4 screens
GridLock3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Puzzle Retreat at every 5 weeks against GridLock's every 3 months. Puzzle Retreat also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, 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. Puzzle Retreat sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and GridLock sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Puzzle Retreat ships an update every 5 weeks, GridLock every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Puzzle Retreat versus GridLock: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPuzzle RetreatGridLock
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (293 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews93.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings293 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeks — betterEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size151 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTHE VOXEL AGENTS PTY. LTD.Erdener Uyan

Bugs and requests

Puzzle Retreat

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • Paid levels disappearing after device change

Requested features

4 requests
  • More free levels
  • Ability to reset progress and start over
  • Option to mute background music separately
  • Updates with new puzzles and refreshed visuals

GridLock

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Puzzle Retreat

One-time9
  • Piano Pack with 36 Puzzles$1.99
  • Spa Pack with 36 Puzzles$1.99
  • Chocolate Pack with 36 Puzzles$1.99
Show 6 more
  • Mist Pack with 36 Puzzles$1.99
  • Nature Pack with 36 Puzzles$1.99
  • Garden Pack with 36 Puzzles$1.99
  • 3 Pack Special2 variants$2.99
  • Unlock All (#2)$3.99
  • Unlock All (#7)$8.99
4 purchases

GridLock

One-time4
  • Pack of 10 Crowns$0.99
  • Pack of 30 Crowns$1.99
  • Pack of 60 Crowns$2.99
Show 1 more
  • Pack of 120 Crowns$3.99

Questions

Is Puzzle Retreat free?
Puzzle Retreat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is GridLock free?
GridLock is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Puzzle Retreat or GridLock have ads?
Neither Puzzle Retreat nor GridLock shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Puzzle Retreat or GridLock?
Puzzle Retreat ships an update every 5 weeks, and GridLock every 3 months. Most recently, Puzzle Retreat was updated on November 10, 2026 and GridLock on November 6, 2026.

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