Groops vs Hidden Patterns
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Groops
This puzzle game challenges your mind by matching tiles based on shared or unique attributes. With hundreds of levels and exciting game modes like Time Attack and multiplayer, it offers endless fun and brain stimulation. Compete with friends and unlock achievements.
- Hundreds of levels
- Time Attack mode
- Leaderboards
- Multiplayer mode
- Unlockable achievements
- Hint system
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Groops is a puzzle game that will put your mind to the test. Match tiles three at a time based on either shared or completely unique attributes - the number of possibilities will tie your brain in knots! Keep your mind sharp. Play Groops! • Hundreds of levels of increasing difficulties! • Infinite, unlimited gameplay in “Time Attack” mode. Get to the top of the leaderboards and send your friends Challenge requests to beat your score! • Unlock dozens of Achievements! • Compete against friends in multiplayer mode - who can get the most Groops before time runs out? ********** ~ * Starbucks Pick of the Week in 2014 * ~ “This is an example of why we love games. Simple to understand, but very difficult to master.” - iPlayApps “Groops takes match-three to a whole new level.” - Daniel Celeste, AppAdvice.com “This game is more fun and challenging than my job! With a smooth design and intelligent matching, it is everything I look for to keep my mind stimulated during downtime” - HallelP “Fun but challenging game. Can’t put my phone down once I open this app!” - Stefi592 ********** GAMEPLAY MODES LEVELS - Relax, there’s no time pressure. Find all the possible Groops on the screen to advance. You can use Hints if you get stuck (get more by playing TIME ATTACK or from the Powerups menu). TIME ATTACK - Find as many Groops as possible before time runs out! Make 5 Groops in a row to increase your multiplier, but be careful! If you make an invalid Groop, your multiplier gets reset. Rack up as many points as possible because your score gets added to your points bank. ********** OK, HOW DO I PLAY? Match 3 tiles to make a Groop. Tiles have 4 attributes with three options each - SHAPE (square, circle, leaf), COLOR (blue, magenta, yellow), PATTERN (solid fill, striped fill, border only), and SYMBOL (diamond, hourglass, and its 3rd option is no symbol at all). Finding identical tiles is easy, but you’ll eventually need to make Groops based on mixed attributes, and thats where we kick your brain into full-throttle. Groops can be made by matching tiles with identical attributes, by matching all 3 options of 1 attribute, or by matching three different options across multiple attributes. For example: • Solid blue square with no symbol, solid blue circle with no symbol, and a solid blue leaf with no symbol. (Same shape - square, same color - blue, same pattern - solid, all different symbols) • Striped blue square with no symbol, solid magenta circle with a diamond, bordered yellow leaf with an hourglass (All different shapes, all different colors, all different patterns, all different symbols) NOTE: To make a Groop, either all options are the same, or all different across the attributes. For example, these would be invalid: • Solid blue square with no symbol, solid blue square with no symbol, solid blue circle with no symbol (two squares and a circle, instead of three squares, or one square, one circle, and one leaf) • Bordered magenta circle with a diamond, solid yellow circle with a diamond, solid yellow circle with an hourglass (Invalid for two reasons: 1) two yellows and a magenta instead of three yellows or one yellow, one magenta, and one blue. 2) two diamonds and an hourglass instead of three diamonds or one diamond, one hourglass, and one without any symbol at all) ********** Follow @play_groops on Twitter
Hidden Patterns
Engage in a challenging puzzle game that tests your logic and pattern recognition skills. Decipher cryptic symbols to unravel the mysteries of a genius professor. Offers infinite levels and a captivating story with minimalistic graphics.
- Infinite game levels
- 18 training levels
- Logic and pattern recognition challenges
- Uncover professor's story
- Minimalistic graphics and sound
- Ad-free experience
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(!) Disclaimer: This game is really hard. Immerse yourself in the captivating world of “Hidden Patterns - The Enigma of Professor von Doenicke,” an intriguing and challenging puzzle game that will test your wit, logic, and pattern recognition skills. Unearth the secrets hidden within the symbols and unravel the mysteries of the late, genius professor Dieter von Doenicke. But be warned - this game is not for the faint of heart; it will challenge you to the core and may slowly drive you mad. Following the passing of the brilliant yet enigmatic Professor Dieter von Doenicke, a notebook filled with strange symbols was discovered within his home. As a budding cryptanalyst, it is your task to decipher the patterns concealed within these symbols and unravel the mysteries that surround the life and work of the professor. Key Features: - Infinite game levels that offer a relentless challenge, testing your logic, pattern recognition, and mental fortitude. - 18 engaging training levels designed to teach you the core game mechanics and prepare you for the challenges ahead. - Clean, minimalistic graphics and sound effects that provide a sleek and polished gaming experience. - Uncover clues about the mysterious Professor Dieter von Doenicke as you progress through the game, revealing a captivating and enigmatic story. - No ads, ensuring a pure and uninterrupted gaming experience. - In Hidden Patterns, you'll embark on a journey through infinite levels of increasingly challenging puzzles, each designed to test your wit and perseverance. As you navigate the game, you'll encounter various symbols and Hidden Patterns, all hiding secrets that will help you uncover the truth about the mysterious professor and his work. To aid you on your quest, the game features 18 comprehensive training levels that introduce you to the core mechanics and strategies required to solve each puzzle. These levels will serve as the foundation of your cryptanalysis journey, equipping you with the skills and knowledge necessary to tackle the infinite levels that lie ahead. Hidden Patterns boasts clean, minimalistic graphics and sound effects, providing a polished and immersive gaming experience. The sleek visuals and unobtrusive audio allow you to fully focus on the task at hand: deciphering the symbols and solving the puzzles that will ultimately reveal the enigmatic world of Professor Dieter von Doenicke. As you progress through the game, you'll uncover clues about the life and work of the mysterious professor. Delve into the mind of this enigmatic genius as you learn about his past, his motivations, and the groundbreaking work he conducted. The captivating story will draw you in, pushing you to solve the puzzles and piece together the truth about Professor von Doenicke. Hidden Patterns offers a pure and uninterrupted gaming experience, free from advertisements. This means that you can fully immerse yourself in the game without any distractions, allowing you to focus on the challenging puzzles and engrossing storyline. Designed for puzzle enthusiasts and those who relish a challenge, Hidden Patterns will push you to the limits of your mental capacity. The game is perfect for players who enjoy brain teasers, logic puzzles, and cryptography, providing an experience that will engage, challenge, and ultimately reward those who are willing to persevere. Do you have what it takes to solve the Hidden Patterns and uncover the secrets of Professor Dieter von Doenicke? Download Hidden Patterns - The Enigma of Professor von Doenicke today and begin your journey into a world of mystery, intrigue, and challenge.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Groops at 86% against Hidden Patterns's 20%. Groops also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 32 months) and rating (4.3 vs 3.9). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Groops sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Hidden Patterns sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Groops holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Groops has 675 ratings behind it against 31, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Groops's written reviews are positive against 20% of Hidden Patterns's.
Groops ships an update every 8 days, Hidden Patterns every 32 months. The most recent releases landed on July 4, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Groops | Hidden Patterns |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (675 ratings) — better | 3.9 (31 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 85.6% of reviews — better | 20.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 675 — better | 31 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days — better | Every 32 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| 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 | 8.0 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 12 MB | 27 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Torched Media LLC | Tomorroworld AB |
Customer experience
Groops
Hidden Patterns
Bugs and requests
Groops
Reported bugs
4 issues- Level 10 of 'brainz needed' bonus pack won't let user progress
- Crash after time attack finishes
- Level 45 of easy 4x4 board shows '0/ ' and crashes
- Win not recognized in local multiplayer
Requested features
4 requests- More levels and boards
- Ability to reset level scores
- Endless mode
- Ability to see previous groops found
Hidden Patterns
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Groops
- pack of 50 Board Shuffles$0.99
- pack of 10 Hints$0.99
- pack of 5,000 Points$0.99
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- 3x3 Bonus Pack 1$1.99
- pack of 20,000 Points$2.99
- pack of 100,000 Points$12.99
Hidden Patterns
- Unlock All Levels$2.99









