Comparison

PiKuBo vs Tide's End

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

Head to head
About

PiKuBo

Engage in a unique 3D puzzle game where you reveal shapes by strategically removing blocks from a cube. Enjoy hundreds of logic-based puzzles with adaptive controls and soothing music. Unlock more challenges through in-app purchases.

Highlights
  • Hundreds of 3D nonogram puzzles
  • Logic-based solving, no guesswork
  • Adaptive one-handed controls
  • Customizable markers with four colors
  • Soothing bossa nova background music
  • Portrait and landscape viewing modes
  • Family sharing for level packs
Features
Read full description

Dive into the delightful world of PiKuBo, a captivating puzzle game that brings the excitement of cubic nonograms to your iOS device. With a unique twist on a beloved classic, PiKuBo challenges you to carve out shapes from a larger cube by removing unnecessary blocks. You can think of it as a 3D Minesweeper. • Interactive Puzzle Fun: Engage with over 500 puzzles, each offering a cute shape to uncover. • Adaptive Controls: Whether you’re right-handed or left-handed, our controls are designed for easy, one-handed play. • Progress at Your Pace: Save your progress effortlessly and return to solve puzzles whenever it suits you. • No Guesswork Needed: All puzzles are solvable through logic alone—perfect for puzzle purists! • Customizable Markers: Use up to four paint colors to mark and manage your strategy without losing track of your solution. • Immersive Experience: Enjoy soothing bossa nova tunes that enhance your puzzle-solving ambiance, whether at home or on the go. • Flexible Viewing: Choose between portrait or landscape modes to suit your play style. • Shared Fun: Purchase level packs once and share them with your entire family group. • Visual Rewards: Relish the thumbnails of completed puzzles, a colorful testament to your puzzle prowess. Whether you have a few minutes or a few hours, PiKuBo is the perfect game to relax and test your brain. Start solving today! NOTE: The first pack, which consists of 31 puzzles and 5 tutorials, is provided for free. The rest of the packs are available as in-app purchases within the game.

About

Tide's End

Features
Read full description

Tide's End is a unique indie game experience that takes players on a mesmerising journey beneath the waves. Set against the vast and mysterious backdrop of the ocean by the tiny village of Tide's End, this game combines intricate puzzle mechanics with a captivating narrative that will keep players hooked from beginning to end. Gameplay Mechanics: Engage your mind with our distinctive puzzle designs: - Rotating Cells: Manipulate cells to complete elaborate paths, challenging your spatial intelligence and logic. - Dot Connections: Link dots to forge paths, pushing your strategic thinking to its limits. Enjoy the relaxed gameplay as the story unfolds. Each puzzle you solve not only gives you a sense of accomplishment but also unveils another piece of our captivating narrative. A Tale Deep as the Ocean: In Tide's End players meet a scuba diver whose life is deeply intertwined with the mysteries of the deep. The tale leads players through a series of challenges, discoveries, separations, and hopes of reuniting. Every level dived deeper brings forth new revelations, painting a beautiful yet complex picture of his relationship with "her" and the mysteries of the deep sea. Indie Game Craftsmanship: As an indie game, Tide's End is a labour of love, created with meticulous attention to detail. The lively visuals, immersive soundtrack, and intricate puzzle designs come together to provide an unparalleled gaming experience. We believe in storytelling that resonates with the heart, and gameplay that challenges and delights the mind. Tide's End is a testament to indie game development's power to craft unique, immersive worlds. Features: - Stunning Illustrations: Immerse yourself in beautifully crafted underwater worlds. - Engaging Storyline: Experience a tale of love, loss and hope, that's as unpredictable and deep as the ocean itself. - Challenging Puzzles: Overcome diverse challenges that test your puzzle-solving prowess. - Intuitive Controls: Designed specifically for mobile gaming, ensuring a seamless experience. Tide's End promises a gaming experience that's both mentally stimulating and emotionally resonant. Whether you're a puzzle enthusiast, a lover of compelling narratives, or just someone looking for a fresh gaming experience, Tide's End is sure to deliver. Join us on this underwater adventure, solve the mysteries, experience the story, and dive deep into the heart of Tide's End.

Screenshots

PiKuBo4 screens
Tide's End4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: PiKuBo at Free against Tide's End's $2.99. Tide's End's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (daily vs every 5 weeks). On 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

PiKuBo is free to download; Tide's End costs $2.99 up front. PiKuBo sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Tide's End asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

PiKuBo ships an update every 5 weeks, Tide's End daily. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
PiKuBo versus Tide's End: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPiKuBoTide's End
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating4.6 (96 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews86.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings96 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksDaily — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size97 MB121 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperDaniel BenitoYarncat LTD

Bugs and requests

PiKuBo

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • In-app purchase error preventing pack purchases
  • Purchase not received after payment
  • Support email bouncing back
  • Color contrast issue in Pack 12 (blue on blue)
  • Inability to expose enough blocks at certain angles for decision-making
Show 2 more
  • Mark/delete button deactivates when rotating puzzle
  • Cooldown timer on mark/delete buttons causes frustration

Requested features

15 requests
  • More puzzle packs released more frequently
  • Undo button for accidental moves
  • Save progress mid-puzzle
  • Ability to move puzzle around (pan feature)
  • Full 360-degree rotation capability
Show 10 more
  • Bundle purchase option for all puzzle packs at discount
  • Larger puzzles optimized for iPad
  • Difficulty-specific puzzle packs (all expert level)
  • Remove or improve timer system
  • Remove or improve heart/lives system
  • Persistent mark/delete selection across rotations
  • Three-state axis selector for slider control
  • Double-tap to start puzzle instead of GO button
  • Flatten rate option to purchase all future content
  • Webpage explaining all settings and features

Tide's End

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

PiKuBo

One-time10
  • Puzzle Pack 02$0.99
  • Puzzle Pack 03$0.99
  • Puzzle Pack 11$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Puzzle Pack 10$0.99
  • Puzzle Pack 09$0.99
  • Puzzle Pack 08$0.99
  • Puzzle Pack 07$0.99
  • Puzzle Pack 06$0.99
  • Puzzle Pack 05$0.99
  • Puzzle Pack 04$0.99
None

Tide's End

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is PiKuBo free?
PiKuBo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tide's End free?
Tide's End costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do PiKuBo or Tide's End have ads?
Neither PiKuBo nor Tide's End shows ads.
Which is updated more often, PiKuBo or Tide's End?
PiKuBo ships an update every 5 weeks, and Tide's End daily. Most recently, PiKuBo was updated on November 7, 2026 and Tide's End on November 7, 2026.

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