# Compulsive vs Aurora Hex

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Aurora Hex at 1.1K against Compulsive's 145. Aurora Hex also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Compulsive sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Aurora Hex sells 5 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 Aurora Hex. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Aurora Hex has 1.1K ratings behind it against 145, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of Compulsive's written reviews are positive against 84% of Aurora Hex's.

Compulsive ships an update every 3 months, Aurora Hex every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Compulsive | Aurora Hex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (145 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/compulsive/id587809169/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-hex-pattern-puzzles/id1459035496/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 145 | **1.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **91.1% of reviews** | 84.4% 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 | 94 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


### Aurora Hex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/aurora-hex-pattern-puzzles/id1459035496)

A calming puzzle game where players connect matching pieces to reveal intricate hidden patterns. Enjoy thousands of unique challenges with a serene visual style and relaxing music. The difficulty gradually increases, with a helpful hint system available.

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

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Hint Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All Areas | $1.99 | one-time |
| Medium Hint Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| Large Hint Pack | $13.99 | one-time |
| Huge Hint Pack | $26.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Challenging yet enjoyable puzzles
- 🎨 Relaxing and soothing visuals
- 🧠 Engaging brain exercise
- 🕰️ Satisfying sense of progress
- 💰 Good value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Difficulty distinguishing similar patterns
- 🧭 Lack of ability to scroll when zoomed in
- 📺 Excessive ads (some non-functional)
- 🔇 Limited sound/music customization

**Reported bugs**

- Blank screen when opening the app
- Ads not working as intended
- Automatic reversion of data sharing setting

**Requested features**

- Ability to disable data sharing
- Option to remove ads for a fee
- Improved hint system to avoid identical swaps
- Ability to view full completed puzzle


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Compulsive free?

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

### Is Aurora Hex free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Compulsive or Aurora Hex?

Aurora Hex is rated higher. Compulsive averages 4.7 out of 5 from 145 ratings, while Aurora Hex averages 4.8 from 1.1K ratings.

### Do Compulsive or Aurora Hex have ads?

Both Compulsive and Aurora Hex show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Compulsive or Aurora Hex?

Compulsive ships an update every 3 months, and Aurora Hex every 2 months. Most recently, Compulsive was updated on September 20, 2026 and Aurora Hex on September 15, 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.*