Comparison

Arrow Crosswords vs Carticulate

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

Head to head
About

Arrow Crosswords

A strategic, turn-based crossword game for two players. It features visual clues and a unique Scandinavian-inspired design where clues are placed directly in the squares. Players compete to outscore each other by strategically placing letter tiles and forming words.

Highlights
  • Two-player competitive gameplay
  • Visual clues and pictoral hints
  • Turn-based strategic tile placement
  • Bonus points for word formation and special tiles
  • Play against friends, random opponents, or AI
Features
Read full description

Arrow Crosswords introduces an innovative twist to traditional crossword games, designed for two players to enjoy together. This game includes visual clues for an added layer of enjoyment! :) Arrow Crosswords is a competitive, turn-based puzzle where players team up to solve the crossword, aiming to outscore each other. This game reinvents the classic crossword format, inspired by Scandinavian design, featuring clues placed directly in the squares, including some pictoral hints. - At the beginning of each turn, each player receives 5 letters and has 60 seconds to strategically place these tiles on the board. - Points are awarded for accurately placing letters, forming complete words, using all five letters in a turn, and securing special bonus points tiles. - Consideration is key when deciding to use specific letters—sometimes, it might be wise to hold onto a pivotal letter for future moves! Arrow Crosswords is a fresh take on word games, sure to appeal to crossword aficionados, Scrabble enthusiasts, and Words with Friends veterans alike, offering a novel and engaging gameplay experience. Challenge friends, match with random opponents, or play against Arrow Crosswords' congenial virtual instructor, Sophie, for spontaneous gameplay. Privacy Policy: https://www.funcraft.com/privacy-policy Terms of Service: https://www.funcraft.com/terms-of-use

About

Carticulate

Features
Read full description

Your favorite MS-DOS license plate word-finding game from the 1980s is back and better than ever, remade for iOS! The rules are as simple as you remember: • The letters on the RIGHT MUST be used, and in the order they appear. • The letters on the LEFT are OPTIONAL, but using them will give you a major bonus based on the number. • "O" is always a letter. • Everyone sees the same plates every day. Puzzle through 12 license plates per day on your Daily Commute, or choose Endless Drive for a nonstop experience where each success increases your remaining time. Now with score-sharing so you can challenge your friends to beat your run! Visit the Archive to play any previous days' commutes in case you missed any. Wait… why does the archive go back to 1974? Didn't this game originally come out in 1985?

Screenshots

Arrow Crosswords4 screens
Carticulate4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Carticulate at none against Arrow Crosswords's 18. Carticulate also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks). Arrow Crosswords's advantage is chart position (#120 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price 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

Both are free to download. Arrow Crosswords sells 17 one-off in-app purchases. Carticulate asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Arrow Crosswords ships an update every 3 weeks, Carticulate every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
Arrow Crosswords versus Carticulate: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterArrow CrosswordsCarticulate
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (5K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews24.2% of reviews—
Number of ratings5K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#120 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size308 MB102 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperFunCraft, IncJ Crowley

Bugs and requests

Arrow Crosswords

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Game progress lost after crashes
  • Incorrect scoring and word acceptance issues
  • Ads causing the game to close unexpectedly

Requested features

3 requests
  • Option to pay for an ad-free experience permanently
  • Larger text for clues
  • Improved grammar usage and instructions for game mechanics

Carticulate

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

17 purchases

Arrow Crosswords

One-time17
  • A Few Coins$0.99
  • Holiday Bundle$1.99
  • Arrow Crosswords Bundle$1.99
Show 14 more
  • Arrow Crosswords Bundle$2.99
  • A Few Coins$2.99
  • An exclusive Tile Style!$2.99
  • A Few Coins$3.99
  • Welcome Bundle2 variants$4.99
  • A Pile of Coins$4.99
  • Arrow Crosswords Bundle$7.99
  • Sweet Bundle$9.99
  • A Bag of Coins$9.99
  • An exclusive Tile Style!$9.99
  • Reward Pass$9.99
  • A Jar of Coins$19.99
  • Holiday Bundle$19.99
  • An exclusive Tile Style!$24.99
None

Carticulate

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Arrow Crosswords free?
Arrow Crosswords is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Carticulate free?
Carticulate is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Arrow Crosswords or Carticulate have ads?
Arrow Crosswords shows ads; Carticulate does not.
Which is updated more often, Arrow Crosswords or Carticulate?
Arrow Crosswords ships an update every 3 weeks, and Carticulate every 5 days. Most recently, Arrow Crosswords was updated on October 28, 2026 and Carticulate on October 25, 2026.

Other comparisons