# PiKuBo vs Shift II

The clearest difference is price: PiKuBo at Free against Shift II's $4.99. PiKuBo also leads on ratings volume (95 vs 3) and device support (3 vs 1). Shift II's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 13) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). On ads there is nothing between them.

PiKuBo is free to download; Shift II costs $4.99 up front. PiKuBo sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Shift II asks for nothing beyond the download.

Shift II holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PiKuBo has 95 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of PiKuBo's written reviews are positive against 100% of Shift II's.

PiKuBo ships an update monthly, Shift II every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PiKuBo | Shift II |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | [4.6 (95 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pikubo-3d-nonogram-puzzles/id6467725326/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shift-ii/id6479950685/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **95** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 86.6% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Size | 119 MB | 4 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel Benito](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566105796) | [Scenic Route Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/601940834) |

## What reviewers say

### PiKuBo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pikubo-3d-nonogram-puzzles/id6467725326)

This app offers a unique 3D twist on classic nonogram puzzles. Players reveal hidden shapes by strategically removing blocks from a cube. It features over 400 puzzles, adaptive controls, and a logic-based gameplay experience.

**Highlights:** Over 400 3D puzzles, Logic-based gameplay, Adaptive one-handed controls, Save progress, Customizable markers, Portrait and landscape modes

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Puzzle Pack 02 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 03 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 14 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 13 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 12 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 11 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 10 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 09 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 08 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 07 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 06 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 05 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Puzzle Pack 04 | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Innovative 3D nonogram puzzle concept
- 🎮 Engaging and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Intuitive and well-designed user interface
- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and visual presentation
- 💰 Affordable pricing for puzzle packs ($0.99 each)

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Timer system feels rushed and stressful
- ❤️ Heart/lives system frustrating for some players
- 🐛 Occasional accidental block touches
- 🔧 Controls reset when rotating puzzle
- 💸 Pricing model requires multiple purchases for full content

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Shift II

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shift-ii/id6479950685)

A challenging puzzle game with three distinct modes: managing energy, maintaining streaks, or beating a timer. Upgrade and downgrade tiles to achieve high scores and compete on online leaderboards. Enjoy a meditative experience, except for the frantic mode.

**Highlights:** Three gameplay modes (Calm, Frantic, Tactical), Online leaderboards, Tile upgrading and downgrading, Streak management, Timed challenges, Color themes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PiKuBo free?

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

### Is Shift II free?

Shift II costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, PiKuBo or Shift II?

Shift II is rated higher. PiKuBo averages 4.6 out of 5 from 95 ratings, while Shift II averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do PiKuBo or Shift II have ads?

Neither PiKuBo nor Shift II shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PiKuBo or Shift II?

PiKuBo ships an update monthly, and Shift II every 5 days. Most recently, PiKuBo was updated on October 24, 2026 and Shift II on September 18, 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.*