Comparison

Dots and Boxes vs Nimtastic

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

Nimtastic

Master the classic mathematical game of strategy. Learn to win by taking turns removing objects from distinct heaps. Impress your friends with your newfound strategic prowess.

Highlights
  • Mathematical strategy game
  • Turn-based gameplay
  • Object removal from heaps
  • Learn winning strategies
  • Impress friends
Features
Read full description

Nim is a mathematical game of strategy in which two players take turns removing objects from distinct heaps or rows. On each turn, a player must remove at least one object, and may remove any number of objects provided they all come from the same heap or row. This game will teach you how you can win and impress your friends.

Screenshots

Dots and Boxes4 screens
Nimtastic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Dots and Boxes at 4.6 against Nimtastic's 4.0. Dots and Boxes also leads on ratings volume (14K vs 8) and update cadence (every 5 months vs every 14 months). Nimtastic's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On price, review sentiment, monetization model 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. Dots and Boxes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Nimtastic asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dots and Boxes holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Dots and Boxes has 14K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 81% of Dots and Boxes's written reviews are positive against 75% of Nimtastic's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Dots and Boxes ships an update every 5 months, Nimtastic every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on November 12, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Dots and Boxes versus Nimtastic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDots and BoxesNimtastic
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (14K ratings) — better4.0 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews81.2% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings14K — better8
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 14 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size28 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOutOfTheBit LtdStewart Lynch

Customer experience

Dots and Boxes

All ratings14,127 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral5.1%
Negative4.9%
Written reviews973 reviews
Positive81.2%
Neutral6.4%
Negative12.4%

Nimtastic

All ratings8 ratings
Positive62.5%
Neutral25.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Nimtastic

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

Nimtastic

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Dots and Boxes free?
Dots and Boxes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nimtastic free?
Nimtastic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Dots and Boxes or Nimtastic?
Dots and Boxes is rated higher. Dots and Boxes averages 4.6 out of 5 from 14K ratings, while Nimtastic averages 4.0 from 8 ratings.
Do Dots and Boxes or Nimtastic have ads?
Dots and Boxes shows ads; Nimtastic does not.
Which is updated more often, Dots and Boxes or Nimtastic?
Dots and Boxes ships an update every 5 months, and Nimtastic every 14 months. Most recently, Dots and Boxes was updated on November 12, 2026 and Nimtastic on November 1, 2026.

Other comparisons