Comparison

Dots and Boxes vs Diagonal Board

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

Head to head
About

Dots and Boxes

Connect dots to form squares and outscore your opponent in this classic strategy board game. Play solo against AI, challenge friends locally, or compete with players worldwide for a top spot on the global leaderboard. Enjoy hours of brain-training fun with customizable themes and multiple difficulty levels.

Highlights
  • Connect dots to form squares
  • Play solo against AI
  • Local and online multiplayer
  • Global high-score leaderboard
  • 3 difficulty levels
  • Collect Game Center achievements
  • Colorful themes
Features
Read full description

Link the dots, close more squares than your opponent and be first in the Global High-Score, among thousands of players worldwide. From the creators of Four In A Row, another classic! Have your skills changed since you were in school? ^__^ Challenge a friend next to you or find an opponent online. Or try to beat one of our well-trained virtual players ;) DOTS AND BOXES - CLASSIC BOARD GAMES is completely Free. If you love games like Chess, Checkers, Backgammon and other challenging pastimes, you will love Dots and Boxes. Play ‘solo’ or against a real opponent using either our local or online multiplayer mode; play with a friend on the same device or find an opponent from anywhere in the world. DOTS AND BOXES - CLASSIC BOARD GAMES will challenge you according to your abilities, with 3 difficulty levels, and it’s easy to get: tap on the dots to draw lines and close squares. You’re the winner if you got more squares than your opponent when there's no more lines to trace. Can you think of a better brain training? Key features: - Choose between 3 modes of difficulty - Play against real humans online (multiplayer)! - Challenge your friends on the same device (2 players mode) - Climb the high score - Collect Game Center achievements - Enjoy hours of fun with colourful themes - Easy to get, hard to master - Fun for all ages Start closing your boxes now! Free! Thanks for playing! FOLLOW US Facebook/outofthebit @outofthebit

About

Diagonal Board

Features
Read full description

Diagonal - Strategic Board Game A board game so simple you'll learn it in 30 seconds. So deep you'll be replaying matches in your head for hours. Connect, block, and outmaneuver. Every move matters. Every game is different. THREE WAYS TO PLAY Single Player - Sharpen your strategy against an AI that adapts to your level. Start easy, climb to expert. The AI doesn't go easy on you forever. Play in Person - Pass the phone, settle the score. The fastest way to find out who really has the better mind at the dinner table, on a flight, or waiting for coffee. Play with Friends - Create a private online room, share the code, and challenge anyone, anywhere. No accounts, no clutter, no waiting. WHY PLAYERS LOVE DIAGONAL Easy to learn: one core rule, no tutorial overload Hard to master: every position has a perfect move, if you can find it Fast matches: most games end in under 3 minutes Beautifully minimal: clean design, no clutter, no ads in your face Plays offline: single player and pass-and-play work anywhere Quick rematches: one tap and you're playing again DESIGNED FOR REAL LIFE Diagonal fits the gaps in your day. Waiting for the bus. In line for coffee. Stuck on hold. The kind of game you open for one match and look up 20 minutes later wondering where the time went. No grinding. No energy timers. No pay-to-win. Just you, the board, and the next move. PERFECT FOR Strategy game fans who like chess but want something faster Couples and roommates who need a tiebreaker Long-distance friends who want a low-effort way to stay in touch Anyone who's bored of slot-machine mobile games Commuters, travelers, and coffee shop philosophers Download Diagonal free and play your first match in under a minute. Then try not to play "just one more." Your move.

Screenshots

Dots and Boxes4 screens
Diagonal Board4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Diagonal Board at none against Dots and Boxes's 1. Diagonal Board also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 5 months). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Dots and Boxes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Diagonal Board asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dots and Boxes ships an update every 5 months, Diagonal Board daily. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Dots and Boxes versus Diagonal Board: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDots and BoxesDiagonal Board
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (14K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews81.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings14K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsDaily — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOutOfTheBit LtdMathews Mannaparambil

Bugs and requests

Dots and Boxes

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Game freezing or crashing
  • Incorrect move registrations
  • Multiplayer connection problems

Requested features

4 requests
  • Additional difficulty levels
  • Customizable game board sizes
  • Undo/reset functionality
  • Improved multiplayer experience

Diagonal Board

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Dots and Boxes

One-time1
  • Dots and Boxes Premium$1.99
None

Diagonal Board

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dots and Boxes free?
Dots and Boxes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Diagonal Board free?
Diagonal Board is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Dots and Boxes or Diagonal Board have ads?
Both Dots and Boxes and Diagonal Board show ads.
Which is updated more often, Dots and Boxes or Diagonal Board?
Dots and Boxes ships an update every 5 months, and Diagonal Board daily. Most recently, Dots and Boxes was updated on October 29, 2026 and Diagonal Board on October 18, 2026.

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