Comparison

Sum Loop vs Shadow Match

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

Head to head
About

Sum Loop

A challenging puzzle game where players place blocks into overlapping loops to match displayed sums. Offers multiple solutions for each puzzle, providing replayability. Designed for quick, engaging gameplay.

Highlights
  • Match sums in overlapping loops
  • Place blocks to solve puzzles
  • Multiple solutions per puzzle
  • Challenging gameplay
  • Intuitive block placement
Features
Read full description

Number will be added to all loops where the loops are overlapped. Put the blocks in the loops and match all the sums displayed above. There is more than 1 answer.

About

Shadow Match

Features
Read full description

Shadow Match is a deduction puzzle played on a 3D grid. You are given three shadows - front, side and top - and you have to find the one solid shape that casts all three. TWO MODES - Shadow Carve (128 puzzles): the grid starts full. Tap blocks to carve them away until the three shadows match, exactly the required number of blocks is left, and every block still touches another face to face. - Shadow Build (62 puzzles): the grid starts empty. You are given a set of pieces and must place all of them. Mark the block you are holding, aim at a cell, rotate until it fits. Blocks that stick out of the shadows turn red. EVERY PUZZLE HAS EXACTLY ONE ANSWER Puzzles are machine generated and every one is verified to have a single solution before it ships. There is no guessing step - the three shadows, the block count and the connection rule are always enough to reason your way to the answer. FEATURES - 190 puzzles in six sets, from 4x4x4 warm-ups to 6x6x6 grids - Drag to rotate the board freely; tap the view cube or a shadow panel to face that direction in one move - A red mark appears the moment a shadow breaks, so you can always step back - Gold blocks are hints that must stay - Your best time is kept for every puzzle you solve - Three display styles: English, Japanese in kana only, and Japanese with kanji - Works completely offline. No account, no sign-up WHO IT IS FOR - Anyone who likes pure logic puzzles - nonograms, sudoku, slitherlink - Anyone who wants to practise reading a 3D shape from its projections PLEASE NOTE - Requires iOS 18 or later. Universal for iPhone and iPad - Contains ads. A banner on the stage list, and an occasional full screen ad when you leave a puzzle

Screenshots

Sum Loop4 screens
Shadow Match4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Shadow Match at none against Sum Loop's 1. Shadow Match also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 4 months). Sum Loop's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads 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. Sum Loop sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Shadow Match asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sum Loop ships an update every 4 months, Shadow Match monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Sum Loop versus Shadow Match: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSum LoopShadow Match
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGoro SatoNaoki Chiba

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Sum Loop

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$0.99
None

Shadow Match

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sum Loop free?
Sum Loop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shadow Match free?
Shadow Match is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Sum Loop or Shadow Match have ads?
Both Sum Loop and Shadow Match show ads.
Which is updated more often, Sum Loop or Shadow Match?
Sum Loop ships an update every 4 months, and Shadow Match monthly. Most recently, Sum Loop was updated on November 3, 2026 and Shadow Match on October 31, 2026.

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