# Molecano vs Close Cities

The clearest difference is rating: Close Cities at 4.8 against Molecano's 4.3. Close Cities also leads on ratings volume (356 vs 109). Molecano's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 69%) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Molecano sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Close Cities sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Close Cities holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 109 and 356 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 85% of Molecano's written reviews are positive against 69% of Close Cities's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Molecano | Close Cities |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (109 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/molecano/id6450759588/reviews) | **[4.8 (356 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/close-cities/id6475958084/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 109 | **356** |
| Positive reviews | **85.4% of reviews** | 69.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 33 MB | 158 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Thomas Young](https://appshunter.io/developer/866420356) | [Juan Manuel Altamirano Argudo](https://appshunter.io/developer/391953849) |

## What reviewers say

### Molecano

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/molecano/id6450759588)

Embark on a word-based adventure to help a mole navigate volcanic landscapes. String words together to create bridges and collect food across challenging lava-filled levels. This unique puzzle game offers a relaxing experience with a cool soundtrack and unlockable characters.

**Highlights:** Unique word puzzle gameplay, 500+ levels, Unlockable characters, Chill soundtrack, Word-based bridge creation

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Unique and innovative word puzzle concept
- 🎨 Charming art style and visual design
- 🎵 Calming, relaxing lo-fi music
- 😌 Relaxing and stress-relieving gameplay
- 👥 Collectible characters from other games

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📺 Too many ads despite being fewer than competitors
- 💰 Expensive ad removal cost
- 🐢 Slow character movement animation
- 📱 Game map too small on phone screens
- 🎮 Becomes repetitive after extended play

**Reported bugs**

- Level 137 - character won't move after placing letters
- Level 311 - multiple reports of unsolvable/broken level
- Level 339 - reported as extremely difficult/possibly broken
- Level 480 - appears to have no solution
- Level 464 - reported as impossible to pass

**Requested features**

- More levels beyond level 500
- Larger game map for mobile devices
- Ability to rotate words 360 degrees
- Replay previous completed levels
- Game Center/cloud save compatibility


### Close Cities

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/close-cities/id6475958084)

Build beautiful cities on diverse worlds by solving unique puzzles. This relaxing game guides you through 160 levels with a simple tap or drag interface, requiring no architectural knowledge. Conquer each world's challenges and travel through time with its calming soundtrack.

**Highlights:** Build cities on empty maps, Solve 160 unique puzzle levels, Intuitive tap and drag controls, No architectural knowledge needed, Travel through different worlds, Relaxing music and pace

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hints - Small Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hints - Medium Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads + Hints | $2.99 | one-time |
| Hints - Big Pack | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Molecano free?

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

### Is Close Cities free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Molecano or Close Cities?

Close Cities is rated higher. Molecano averages 4.3 out of 5 from 109 ratings, while Close Cities averages 4.8 from 356 ratings.

### Do Molecano or Close Cities have ads?

Both Molecano and Close Cities show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Molecano or Close Cities?

Molecano ships an update every 3 weeks, and Close Cities every 3 weeks. Most recently, Molecano was updated on September 23, 2026 and Close Cities on September 24, 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.*