# Compulsive vs AuroraBound

The clearest difference is update cadence: AuroraBound at every 2 months against Compulsive's every 3 months. AuroraBound also leads on ratings volume (610 vs 145) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Compulsive sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and AuroraBound sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Compulsive against 4.8 for AuroraBound. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 145 and 610 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of Compulsive's written reviews are positive against 84% of AuroraBound's.

Compulsive ships an update every 3 months, AuroraBound every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 20, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compulsive | AuroraBound |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (145 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compulsive/id587809169/reviews) | **[4.8 (610 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurorabound-pattern-puzzles/id1222315344/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 145 | **610** |
| Positive reviews | **91.1% of reviews** | 83.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 35 MB | 93 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TMSOFT](https://appshunter.io/developer/288669797) | [Final Game Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1222315343) |

## What reviewers say

### Compulsive

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compulsive/id587809169)

Organize a vibrant palette of colors in this addictive puzzle game. Match and clear tiles to score points, utilizing power-ups and strategic moves. Compete with friends and climb leaderboards in various game modes.

**Highlights:** Addictive color matching puzzle, Multiple game modes, Multiplayer on the same board, Strategic power-ups, Leaderboards and achievements, Modern, bright color themes, Game Center integration

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Visionary | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tidy Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Fresh Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Spotless Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Perfect Pack | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 👍 Relaxing and calming
- 🎨 Beautiful visuals
- 💡 Variety of game modes
- ⏱️ Quick games for short sessions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Locked game modes
- 💰 Ads and in-app purchases
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and performance issues
- 🎨 Limited color customization

**Reported bugs**

- Slow server connection for score uploads
- Inconsistent performance on older devices

**Requested features**

- Longer game modes
- More customization options
- Improved leaderboard and social features


### AuroraBound

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurorabound-pattern-puzzles/id1222315344)

Connect matching pieces to reveal intricate hidden patterns in this calming puzzle game. Enjoy thousands of unique challenges with a beautiful visual style and soothing music. The difficulty gradually increases, offering a satisfying experience for all players.

**Highlights:** Link matching pieces, Discover hidden patterns, Thousands of unique puzzles, Serene visual style, Soothing background music, Hint system

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 25 Hint Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Amazing Tip | $4.99 | one-time |
| 125 Hint Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| Overwhelming Tip | $9.99 | one-time |
| 505 Hint Pack | $13.99 | one-time |
| 2,020 Hint Pack | $26.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🧩 Engaging and addictive puzzle gameplay
- 🎨 Beautiful design, colors, and visual aesthetics
- 🎵 Relaxing music and calm atmosphere
- 📈 Good difficulty progression from easy to challenging
- ⏰ No timers - play at your own pace

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📢 Intrusive ads throughout gameplay
- 💰 No option to pay for ad removal
- 💡 Limited free hints available
- 🔍 Small puzzle squares at higher difficulty levels
- 🐛 Game crashes and freezes occasionally

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes and freezes during gameplay
- Progress not saving across devices
- Free hints system not working properly
- Game jams and becomes unresponsive

**Requested features**

- Option to pay for ad removal
- More free hints or better hint system
- Progress map and level navigation menu
- Ability to replay older puzzles
- Cross-device progress synchronization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compulsive free?

Compulsive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is AuroraBound free?

AuroraBound is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Compulsive or AuroraBound?

AuroraBound is rated higher. Compulsive averages 4.7 out of 5 from 145 ratings, while AuroraBound averages 4.8 from 610 ratings.

### Do Compulsive or AuroraBound have ads?

Both Compulsive and AuroraBound show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Compulsive or AuroraBound?

Compulsive ships an update every 3 months, and AuroraBound every 2 months. Most recently, Compulsive was updated on September 20, 2026 and AuroraBound on September 20, 2026.

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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.*