Comparison

Howl vs BlackOut ™

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

Head to head
About

Howl

Engage in turn-based tactical combat within a dark fairy-tale world threatened by a mysterious plague. Play as a deaf heroine who can foresee enemy moves, utilizing unique arrows and skills to defeat beasts. Explore beautifully illustrated environments and uncover secrets.

Highlights
  • Turn-based tactical combat
  • Foretell enemy moves
  • Variety of arrow types
  • Unlockable skills and upgrades
  • Living ink art style
  • Multiple chapters and levels
  • Save villagers
Features
Read full description

This game is free to download and play for a limited number of levels and time. Do you like the game? Then you can easily unlock the full version through the in App purchase! Howl is a turn-based puzzle/tactical folktale set in the Middle Ages, where a mysterious "howling plague" ravages the land. Any who hear the beasts’ howls turn into feral, hungering beasts themselves – further spreading the curse through their own howls. The Heroine of this tale was born deaf, giving her a unique protection against this curse. Play as a daring combat Prophet with the ability to foretell your enemies’ moves. Plan up to six steps ahead to outmaneuver your enemies. Fire a variety of arrows, such as exploding, lightning, or piercing shots, and use skills like Smoke Bombs and Shadow Step’s Invisibility to kill any beasts who stand in your way. Each type of beast offers its own challenges, with some approaching fast, while others taking more powerful hits or attacking from afar. Howl's visuals are created through "living ink", a flowing art style that paints the story as you play. Carve your way through a dark, fairy-tale world made up of obscure yet magical places where you fight to rid the lands of the howling plague. Howl features a total of 5 chapters, including the free Heart of Rot update, each with a distinct visual atmosphere scored by soothing music. Access to this update is FREE for anyone who has bought the Howl base game. You can access this update chapter from the Chapter 3 map at any point after reaching Chapter 3 of the main story. This update features its own chapter map, new enemies, a new boss level, new environment mechanics, the new Lightning Shot skill (which, once unlocked, can be used in the main game!), and an NPC who fights by your side in later levels. Features • Foretell the actions of your enemies in turn-based puzzle/tactics combat. • Play through 60 levels across 4 chapters, plus 18 new levels in the free update chapter! • Beautifully illustrated in a unique, living ink art style. • Outsmart the different wolf species, from fast predators to enormous pack leaders. • Unlock and upgrade new skills like Shadow Step, Exploding Shot, and more. • Save villagers from the claws – and howls – of the wolves. • Plot your route on the world map to uncover new skills and secret paths.

About

BlackOut ™

Features
Read full description

BlackOut The goal is simple: turn off all the lights in the fewest moves possible. Every time you press a button, it toggles the selected light and the ones next to it, up, down, left, and right. Clear all the lights, and you’re on to the next challenge! With 30 unique levels, each more challenging than the last, this game will keep puzzle enthusiasts hooked. If you’re a fan of brain-teasing puzzles, this game is a must-have!

Screenshots

Howl4 screens
BlackOut ™4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: BlackOut ™ at none against Howl's 1. Howl's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 12 months). On price 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. Howl sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. BlackOut ™ asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Howl ships an update every 3 weeks, BlackOut ™ every 12 months. Both last shipped on October 27, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Howl versus BlackOut ™: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHowlBlackOut ™
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (65 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews78.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings65 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 12 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size477 MB6 MB
Age rating12+4+
Developerastragon Entertainment GmbHClaudio Souza Mattos

Bugs and requests

Howl

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Arrow card hidden by sidebar UI on left screen edge
  • Text bubbles blocking enemy action information
  • Save data not persisting after app closure
  • UI elements too small to read on iPhone
  • Tooltip descriptions not displaying correctly
Show 3 more
  • Hover mechanics don't work on iPad
  • Specific level completion issues (Tower chapter)
  • Yellow completion symbol blends with map background

Requested features

10 requests
  • Movable text bubbles to prevent obstruction
  • Character gender/pronoun customization
  • More levels and expanded content
  • Language localization (Vietnamese, German, etc.)
  • UI scaling for smaller phones
Show 5 more
  • Ability to select language for voice acting
  • More detailed story development
  • 3D graphics enhancement
  • Clearer level count visibility upfront
  • Improved tooltip system for mobile

BlackOut ™

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Howl

One-time1
  • Upgrade to Full Version$3.99
None

BlackOut ™

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Howl free?
Howl is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BlackOut ™ free?
BlackOut ™ is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Howl or BlackOut ™ have ads?
BlackOut ™ shows ads; Howl does not.
Which is updated more often, Howl or BlackOut ™?
Howl ships an update every 3 weeks, and BlackOut ™ every 12 months. Most recently, Howl was updated on October 27, 2026 and BlackOut ™ on October 27, 2026.

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