Comparison

Circle Survive vs Lightwell

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

Head to head
About

Circle Survive

Engage in a fast-paced, minimalist auto-shooter game that challenges your focus and reflexes. Master one-finger controls to navigate unique levels, eliminate enemy formations, and collect power-ups. Customize visuals and unlock new content for a personalized experience.

Highlights
  • Minimalist auto-shooter gameplay
  • One-finger control
  • Customizable visuals
  • Randomized power-ups
  • 100 unique levels
  • Pro game mode
  • Leaderboards
Read full description

Calm and focus yourself with this simple auto shooter! Circle Survive is an addicting fast paced survivor game with brilliantly minimalistic mechanics. You can unlock and customize the calm visuals to your unique taste, for all moods. It challenges your brain to clear each level with the help of a one-finger on screen control. With automatic aiming mechanics, allowing you to focus on maneuvering through the unique levels and eliminating formation of enemies. Don’t forget to pick up the cube that appears randomly in the arena! It will help you to clear the toughest levels. You will find an experience that is perfect for players of all skill levels. If you are looking for an engaging challenge or a quick way to rest and focus your brain, try and you will love it! FEATURES: - Buttery-smooth gameplay - Easy to pick up, only requiring one-hand to control - Randomized power ups to shake the action - 12 different colors to unlock - 100 unique levels - Dark mode for night sessions - Pro game mode for extra challenge - Leaderboards to rule

About

Lightwell

A serene logic puzzle game where you illuminate a grid by strategically placing lights. Solve intricate challenges using pure deduction, with numbered walls providing crucial clues. Enjoy a clean, focused experience with no distractions.

Highlights
  • 1,600 handcrafted puzzles
  • Four difficulty levels
  • Daily puzzles
  • Logic-based solutions
  • Hint system
  • X-mark notes
  • Resume progress
Features
Read full description

Lightwell is a clean logic puzzle inspired by Akari, the Japanese “Light Up” puzzle. Place lights to illuminate the board. Lights shine horizontally and vertically until blocked by a wall. Numbered walls tell you exactly how many lights touch them. Every cell must be lit, and no two lights can see each other. Simple rules. Pure deduction. If you love Sudoku, Minesweeper, Picross, Nonograms, or the daily Mini and Strands, Lightwell was made for you. WHAT’S INSIDE • 1,600 handcrafted puzzles across four difficulty levels: Easy, Medium, Hard, and Expert • Daily puzzles to compete for the bes time • Every puzzle is solvable through logic alone. No guessing • Hints that always give you a valid next step • X-mark notes for tracking impossible cells • Pick up right where you left off NO NOISE • No ads • No subscription • No energy systems or timers • No streak pressure • No accounts or sign-ins A single one time purchase unlocks every level past 100 in each pack plus detailed stats. Hundreds of puzzles are completely free to play. FOR PLAYERS WHO • Enjoy thoughtful puzzle games • Want something relaxing between meetings or before bed • Like deduction over randomness • Want a clean, focused experience that respects their time ACCESSIBILITY • High-contrast themes • Large touch targets • Color is never the only indicator • Designed to stay readable even on dense expert grids Built quietly. Updated with care.

Screenshots

Circle Survive4 screens
Lightwell4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Lightwell at none against Circle Survive's shown. Lightwell also leads on ratings volume (8 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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. Circle Survive sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Lightwell sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Circle Survive against 5.0 for Lightwell. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Lightwell has 8 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Circle Survive ships an update fortnightly, Lightwell every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Circle Survive versus Lightwell: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCircle SurviveLightwell
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (8 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings18 — better
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size67 MB45 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperOguzhan KatiAndrew Laskin

Customer experience

Circle Survive

Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Lightwell

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Circle Survive

One-time1
  • Ad-Free$0.99
1 purchases

Lightwell

One-time1
  • Lightwell Pro$4.99

Questions

Is Circle Survive free?
Circle Survive is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lightwell free?
Lightwell is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Circle Survive or Lightwell?
Circle Survive and Lightwell are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 8 ratings respectively.
Do Circle Survive or Lightwell have ads?
Circle Survive shows ads; Lightwell does not.
Which is updated more often, Circle Survive or Lightwell?
Circle Survive ships an update fortnightly, and Lightwell every 3 weeks. Most recently, Circle Survive was updated on October 24, 2026 and Lightwell on October 24, 2026.

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