Comparison

Slitherlink vs Number Chain

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

Head to head
About

Slitherlink

Solve logic puzzles by drawing a single loop around clues on a grid. Connect dots to form a continuous line, with no crossings or branches. Offers endless fun and intellectual challenge for puzzle enthusiasts.

Highlights
  • Draw a single continuous loop
  • Surround numbered clues
  • Pure logic, no math required
  • Weekly bonus puzzles
  • Multiple difficulty levels
  • Auto complete clues
  • Highlight link segment
Features
Read full description

Surround each clue with lines to form one single loop! Each puzzle consists of a rectangular lattice of dots with some clues in various places. The object is to connect the dots surrounding each clue so that the number of lines equals the value of the clue and the lines around all clues form one continuous loop with no crossings or branches. Empty squares may be surrounded by any number of lines. Slitherlink are addictive loop-forming puzzles which were invented in Japan. Using pure logic and requiring no math to solve, these fascinating puzzles offer endless fun and intellectual entertainment to puzzle fans of all skills and ages. The game features 2-finger tapping for quick zoom, auto complete clues setting and a link segment highlighting option to help to avoid creating separate loops. To help see the puzzle progress, graphic previews in the puzzle list show the progress of all puzzles in a volume as they are being solved. A Gallery view option provides these previews in a larger format. For more fun, Slitherlink contains no ads and includes a Weekly Bonus section providing an extra free puzzle each week. PUZZLE FEATURES • 200 free Slitherlink puzzles • Extra bonus puzzle published free each week • Multiple difficulty levels from very easy to extremely hard • Grid sizes up to 16x22 • Puzzle library continuously updates with new content • Manually selected, top quality puzzles • Unique solution for each puzzle • Hours of intellectual challenge and fun • Sharpens logic and improves cognitive skills GAMING FEATURES • No ads • Unlimited check puzzle • Unlimited Undo and Redo • Auto complete clues • Highlight link segment • Quick zoom using 2-finger tap • Concurrently playing and saving multiple puzzles • Puzzle filtering, sorting and archiving options • Dark Mode support • Graphic previews showing puzzles progress as they are being solved • Portrait and landscape screen support (iPad only) • Track puzzle solving times • Backup & restore puzzle progress to iCloud ABOUT Slitherlink have also become popular under other names such as Fences, Loop the Loop, Loopy, Suriza, Dotty Dilemma and Number Line. Similar to Sudoku, Kakuro and Hashi, the puzzles are solved using logic alone. All puzzles in this app are produced by Conceptis Ltd. - the leading supplier of logic puzzles to printed and electronic gaming media all over the world. On average, more than 20 million Conceptis puzzles are solved each day in newspapers, magazines, books and online as well as on smartphones and tablets across the world. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://www.conceptispuzzles.com/index.aspx?uri=info/doc/220

About

Number Chain

This brain training game challenges you to connect numbers in sequential order, combining elements of Sudoku and Hidato. Enjoy endless free puzzles with varying difficulties, playable offline and featuring customizable themes. Improve your memory and concentration with this engaging logic puzzle.

Highlights
  • Connect numbers 1 to max
  • Horizontal, vertical, diagonal connections
  • Endless free puzzles
  • Multiple difficulty levels
  • Night mode
  • Offline play
Features
Read full description

Connect the numbers in order using Sudoku and Hidato mechanics. Number Chain is an endless free brain training number logic puzzle for everyone. Play anywhere, anytime, and activate your brain. When you have time to relax, spend time or on bus/subway, play this fun puzzles and train your brain. Improve memory and concentration with Number Chain. Connect the numbers and complete the chain from 1 to the maximum number. You can make a chain by just touch and drag, and it is very comfortable. Like Sudoku Hidato and Picross Nonogram, Number Chain is an number logic puzzle. There are easy to challenging difficulties. Endless puzzles are all free!! *How to play - The goal is to create a chain from 1 to the max number. - Chains can be connected by dragging horizontally, vertically, and diagonally. - Make a chain from your favorite number among the numbers given at the beginning. - You can chain in an increasing or decreasing direction. - You can overwrite or erase an already made chain. *Features - Endless puzzles are all free !! - Various difficulties from easy to challenging. - Night mode protects your eyes in dark places. - Beautiful Cherry Blossom Pink theme for you. - Fresh play automatically connected by simple control. - Daily puzzles offered daily. - Playable without data (Internet connection, WiFi). - Simple and intuitive design.

Screenshots

Slitherlink4 screens
Number Chain4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Slitherlink at none against Number Chain's shown. Slitherlink also leads on review sentiment (89% vs 80%). Number Chain's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases 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. Slitherlink sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Number Chain sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Slitherlink against 4.7 for Number Chain. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 461 and 624 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of Slitherlink's written reviews are positive against 80% of Number Chain's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Slitherlink ships an update every 4 months, Number Chain every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Slitherlink versus Number Chain: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSlitherlinkNumber Chain
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (461 ratings) — better4.7 (624 ratings)
Positive reviews89.5% of reviews — better80.4% of reviews
Number of ratings461624 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.611.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size7 MB60 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperConceptis Ltd.Ecapyc Inc.

Customer experience

Slitherlink

All ratings457 ratings
Positive96.5%
Neutral2.2%
Negative1.3%
Written reviews171 reviews
Positive89.5%
Neutral7.6%
Negative2.9%

Number Chain

All ratings623 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral2.6%
Negative2.7%
Written reviews97 reviews
Positive80.4%
Neutral7.2%
Negative12.4%

User reviews

Slitherlink

From 461 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎉 Challenging and fun puzzles
  • 👍 Well-designed and intuitive interface
  • 🔍 Helpful check and undo features
  • 💡 Variety of puzzle sizes and difficulty levels
  • 🧠 Requires logical thinking

Room to improve

  • 🔍 Lack of coloring/marking tools to differentiate loop segments
  • 💰 Expensive puzzle pack prices
  • 🌙 No dark mode option
  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
  • 🔍 Limited free puzzle content

Number Chain

From 624 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🧠 Excellent brain training and mental exercise
  • 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-learn gameplay
  • 🎮 Highly addictive and engaging puzzle mechanics
  • ⏱️ Perfect for quick time-filling sessions
  • 🆓 Works offline without data requirements

Room to improve

  • 🔥 Excessive heat generation on devices
  • 📢 Too many advertisements throughout gameplay
  • ⏰ Time limit pressure reduces enjoyment
  • 🎵 Interferes with background music playback
  • 👁️ Small text causes eye strain

Bugs and requests

Slitherlink

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • App not loading properly for some users
  • Freezing issues on login screen
  • Incompatibility with older devices

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add a dark mode option
  • Implement coloring/marking tools for loop segments
  • Provide more free puzzle content
  • Reduce pricing for puzzle packs
  • Add a rewind/undo feature to go back to previous puzzle states

Number Chain

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Tutorial level 15 doesn't progress
  • Ad-removal purchase not working or expiring unexpectedly
  • Ad close button unresponsive
  • App crashes when sharing completion screenshots
  • Hint counter displays 0 despite watching ads
Show 5 more
  • Game freezes occasionally
  • Music playback interference after recent update
  • Buttons unresponsive after update
  • Achievements/rankings page not functional
  • Game doesn't launch properly on some devices

Requested features

15 requests
  • Higher difficulty levels beyond Hardcore mode
  • Undo/rewind button for mistakes
  • Save game functionality
  • Skip tutorial option
  • Text size adjustment/zoom feature
Show 10 more
  • Better completion celebration animations
  • Remove time limit or add untimed mode
  • Paid ad-free version option
  • More theme/customization options
  • Drag-to-erase functionality
  • Back to menu button instead of Give Up
  • Hint system improvements
  • 3D version of the game
  • Swipe-based continuous erasing
  • Server-side timer for leaderboard fairness

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Slitherlink

One-time10
  • Easy Variety 1$1.99
  • Easy Variety - Large 1$1.99
  • Medium Variety 1$1.99
Show 7 more
  • Medium Variety - Large 1$1.99
  • Hard Variety 1$1.99
  • Easy Variety 2$1.99
  • Medium Variety 2$1.99
  • Hard Variety 2$1.99
  • Big & Easy 1$1.99
  • Big & Medium 1$1.99
7 purchases

Number Chain

One-time7
  • 5 Hints$0.99
  • 5 Keys$0.99
  • Remove Ads$4.99
Show 4 more
  • 30 Hints$4.99
  • 30 Keys$4.99
  • 70 Hints$9.99
  • 70 Keys$9.99

Questions

Is Slitherlink free?
Slitherlink is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Number Chain free?
Number Chain is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Slitherlink or Number Chain?
Slitherlink is rated higher. Slitherlink averages 4.8 out of 5 from 461 ratings, while Number Chain averages 4.7 from 624 ratings.
Do Slitherlink or Number Chain have ads?
Number Chain shows ads; Slitherlink does not.
Which is updated more often, Slitherlink or Number Chain?
Slitherlink ships an update every 4 months, and Number Chain every 4 days. Most recently, Slitherlink was updated on November 1, 2026 and Number Chain on November 2, 2026.

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