Machine Yearning vs Catagrams
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Machine Yearning
Create your own language and test your memory in this unique word game. Solve puzzles by inventing definitions and recalling them to prove your authenticity. Features retro pixel art, multiple game modes, and unlockable content.
- Create custom languages
- Memory recall challenges
- Campaign, Timed, and Endless modes
- Retro pixel art style
- Unlockable hats and themes
- Cognitive skill enhancement
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Machine Yearning is a word and memory game where you create your own language and test your ability to remember it. Premise: You're a human masquerading as a robot to land a job meant only for mechanical minds. Your challenge? Solve captchas like never before—by inventing definitions on the fly! But remember: consistency is key, as you'll need to recall your invented words to prove your robotic authenticity. Accolades: Proud winner of the Ludum Dare game jam's "#1 Most Fun" and "#1 Most Innovative"! Game Modes: Dive into three thrilling modes: * Campaign: Follow the story, from simple beginnings to complex linguistic challenges. * Timed: Race against the clock for high scores. * Endless: Keep playing and see how far your memory can take you! Features: * Cute, Retro-Style Pixel Art: Immerse yourself in charming visuals that transport you to a playful digital world. * Unlockables Galore: Earn stylish hats, helpful power-ups, and delightful themes as you advance. * Mind-Sharpening Fun: This game not only tests your memory but also enhances your cognitive skills. * Free to Play: Jump right in—no ads, no junkware, and no annoying push notifications. * Support the Developer: Love the game? Consider unlocking extra hats to both style your gameplay and support the developer (me, Daniel)! * Challenge Yourself: Starting easy, the game intensifies as you progress, perfect for fans of language, word, memory, and puzzle games. Step into the world of "Machine Yearning," where your mind's agility and creativity meet endless fun and challenges. Ready to prove you're the smartest "robot" around? Download now and let the games begin! Special thanks to Wildan Rahmat R for logo, powerup, and hat designs. Fonts used: early gameboy, pixel operator, retro computer, dogica, pressstart2p, and aseprite (https://github.com/aseprite/aseprite/blob/fea3f5fceeab027ee3f5402272b94569c7a0daa9/data/fonts/LICENSE.txt).
Catagrams
Solve charming word puzzles in a cozy, hand-drawn game. Unlock unique accessories for your feline friends and enjoy relaxing gameplay. Customize your experience with adjustable difficulty and daily challenges.
- Hand-drawn illustrations
- Relaxing gameplay
- Customizable puzzles
- Infinite play mode
- Cat accessories
- Daily puzzles
- Support cat rescues
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What are these cats up to? Catagrams is a cozy, hand-drawn mobile game where players solve word puzzles to unlock whimsical accessories for their cats. • Hand-drawn Illustrations - Discover each cat's favorite activity! • Relaxing Gameplay - Match threads, unlock cats, and settle in for a good time • Curated Puzzles - Customize word length and difficulty to your taste • Infinite Play - Purchase endless mode for limitless puzzles • Adorable Accoutrements - Accessorize your cat companions! • Daily Puzzle - Scratch that word-puzzle itch with each new challenge • Support a Good Cause - 50% of the proceeds from the "Treat Package" in-app purchase go to a rotating cat rescue! About Us: We're two software developers with a love for coding, stories, puzzles, and art. So, we left our corporate jobs to make an indie game! Catagrams is our first game, and we sincerely hope you enjoy it. To learn more about Ponderosa Games, please visit www.ponderosagames.com.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Machine Yearning at none against Catagrams's shown. Machine Yearning also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. Machine Yearning sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Catagrams sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Machine Yearning against 4.9 for Catagrams. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 53 and 57 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of Machine Yearning's written reviews are positive against 94% of Catagrams's.
| Parameter | Machine Yearning | Catagrams |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (53 ratings) | 4.9 (57 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 89.5% of reviews | 94.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 53 | 57 — better |
| Update frequency | — | Every 3 weeks |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 166 MB | 195 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tiny Little Keys Inc. | Ponderosa Games, LLC |
Customer experience
Machine Yearning
Catagrams
User reviews
Machine Yearning
From 53 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 💡 Enjoyable and quick game
- 👍 Easy to understand
- 👍 Super cool art style and gameplay
- 🚀 No ads
- 👍 Challenging and fun
Room to improve
- 🐛 Can't turn off haptics
Catagrams
From 57 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🥰 Cute and adorable art
- 👍 Fun and addictive word game
- 🧠 Mentally stimulating
- 🧩 Unique puzzle mechanic
- 🎨 Customizable difficulty and settings
Room to improve
- 💰 Some features require payment or ads
- 🤔 Hints not always free as initially stated
Bugs and requests
Machine Yearning
No bugs or feature requests surfaced in reviews.
Catagrams
Reported bugs
2 issues- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices
Requested features
2 requests- Free hints for all puzzles
- Ability to slide tiles freely on the board
In-app purchases
Machine Yearning
- Unlock Hats$1.99
Catagrams
- Scientist Cat$1.99
- Cozy Winter Night Cat$1.99
- Desert Road Trip Cat$1.99
Show 4 moreShow fewer
- Autumn Cat$1.99
- Remove Ads$1.99
- Unlimited Play Mode$2.99
- Treat Package$9.99







