Comparison

Block 89 vs Bomb Squad Controller

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

Head to head
About

Block 89

Experience a classic brick puzzle game with a retro handheld feel. Enjoy a gradual difficulty curve across 20 levels, authentic dot-matrix graphics, and 8-bit sound effects. Share your replays and get lost in the satisfying gameplay.

Highlights
  • Dot-matrix LCD screen
  • Light and dark modes
  • 8-bit sound effects
  • 10 block shapes
  • 20 levels
  • GIF replay sharing
  • Offline play
Features
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Play with blocks like it's 1989! A handheld brick puzzle game with a dot-matrix display, retro sound effects, and that satisfying feeling of getting better without noticing. Block 89 is designed around flow - the difficulty rises gradually across 20 levels, keeping you in that sweet spot where the challenge matches your skill. Easy to pick up, hard to put down. Features: - Dot-matrix LCD screen with authentic pixel rendering - Light and dark mode (monochrome inverted, a minimal masterpiece) - 8-bit sound effects - 10 different block shapes on a 16×16 grid - 20 levels of progressively increasing difficulty - GIF replay sharing - show off your best games - No ads. No in-app purchases. No subscriptions. No internet required. Just the game. Score points by completing lines with blocks. Simple - but it gets difficult quickly. Oh, and yes: this is the same guy that brought you Snake '97. Cheers from Amsterdam, Willem.

About

Bomb Squad Controller

Features
Read full description

NOTE: This is not the game, but rather the controller companion app used by the game. "Bomb Squad" (available on Steam) is required! The game uses the players' own smartphones as controllers and a PC-connected TV that drives the play. Players must work together to defuse a bomb by uncovering a code. Clues to the code are awarded as players complete challenges of the ’non-silent’ variety where the primary skill required is solid communication!

Screenshots

Block 892 screens
Bomb Squad Controller4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Bomb Squad Controller at every 5 weeks against Block 89's every 4 months. Bomb Squad Controller also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Block 89 ships an update every 4 months, Bomb Squad Controller every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Block 89 versus Bomb Squad Controller: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlock 89Bomb Squad Controller
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (21 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings21 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB292 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developerdsd 164Scott Barrett Franklin

In-app purchases

None

Block 89

No in-app purchases

None

Bomb Squad Controller

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Block 89 free?
Block 89 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Bomb Squad Controller free?
Bomb Squad Controller is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Block 89 or Bomb Squad Controller have ads?
Neither Block 89 nor Bomb Squad Controller shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Block 89 or Bomb Squad Controller?
Block 89 ships an update every 4 months, and Bomb Squad Controller every 5 weeks. Most recently, Block 89 was updated on October 21, 2026 and Bomb Squad Controller on October 5, 2026.

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