LuXOR vs Tessellata
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
LuXOR
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Turn out every light. LuXOR is a simple puzzle with a deep twist. Tap a light and it flips, along with its neighbors above, below, and to each side. Your goal is to switch the whole board dark. It sounds easy. Then the third tap undoes your first one, and you start to think. Every puzzle has a par. Solve it at par or better to earn all three stars, or come back later and chase a cleaner solution. There’s no timer and no rush. Just you, the board, and that satisfying moment when the last light goes out. HUNDREDS OF PUZZLES • 3800+ hand-picked puzzles across Easy, Medium, Hard, and Insane difficulty levels. • Boards from quick 5×5 grids up to 9x9 brain-benders • Browse every puzzle, and filter by unplayed or anything under three stars LEARN THE TRICK • A built-in Tips guide teaches “chasing the lights,” a method that solves any 5×5 board • Learn the patterns, the strategy, and a little of the math behind the game • Stuck? Tap Hint for a nudge in the right direction MAKE IT YOURS • Eight glowing themes, from classic white to deep red and indigo • A fresh design built for iPhone and iPad, in portrait and landscape WHY “LuXOR”? Lux is Latin for light. XOR is the logic behind every tap: press a light once and it flips, press it twice and it’s back where it started. Once you see it that way, the puzzles start to open up. LuXOR is free to play and supported by ads. Prefer it quiet? A one-time in-app purchase removes the ads for good. Made by one developer at BluMonkey Software, who still gets a kick out of the last light going dark.
Tessellata
This is an abstract strategy game where players draft tiles, align them on a board, and score points. Compete against AI or players worldwide, or enjoy local pass-and-play. Features include ranked matchmaking, customizable AI opponents, and a tutorial.
- Tactical tile-drafting
- Online ranked matchmaking
- Offline AI opponents
- Local pass-and-play mode
- Interactive tutorial
- Premium personalization options
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Welcome to Tessellata - a premium abstract strategy game of tactical tile-drafting, alignment, and artistry! Inspired by a desire for strategy, Tessellata challenges you to draft vibrant tiles from shared Kilns, organize them on your Staircase, and align them on your Opus to score points. Score points by clustering tiles adjacently, completing columns, rows, or full-color sets on your Opus, but plan carefully - any leftover tiles spill onto the Floor, costing you valuable points! Whether you are a casual puzzle lover or a seasoned tabletop competitor, Tessellata offers a deep, satisfying strategy experience. --- GAME FEATURES COMPETE ONLINE AND CLIMB THE RANKS Test your skills against players worldwide in Ranked Matchmaking. Advance your ELO (MMR rating) and secure your spot on the Global Leaderboards. Prefer a friendly game? Create private lobbies with instant room codes and invite your friends. 5 DIFFICULTIES OF INTELLIGENT AI Play offline anytime. Challenge bot opponents scaled to your level: - Easy: Perfect for beginners. - Medium: A balanced tactical challenge. - Hard: Aggressive, planning several steps ahead. - Expert: Punishes minor mistakes. - Unbeatable: Powered by a highly optimized algorithm programmed to obliterate any gamer. INTERACTIVE TUTORIAL New to tile-drafting? Our step-by-step interactive tutorial teaches you the rules, scoring bonuses, and drafting strategies in just a few minutes. PREMIUM PERSONALIZATION Show off your achievements! Unlock and equip prestige player titles and beautiful tile sets by defeating advanced bots or winning online matches. LOCAL PASS AND PLAY No internet? No problem. Pass and play with friends locally on the same device for classic tabletop game nights. IMMERSIVE SOUNDS AND VISUALS Enjoy a premium aesthetic featuring responsive animations, empty kiln outlines, smooth tile placement slide transitions, and a relaxing acoustic soundtrack designed to keep you in the zone. --- Draft. Align. Outshine. Download Tessellata today and start crafting your mosaic!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tessellata at none against LuXOR's 1. Tessellata also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). On price, ads 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
Both are free to download. LuXOR sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Tessellata asks for nothing beyond the download.
LuXOR ships an update every 5 months, Tessellata fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | LuXOR | Tessellata |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (4 ratings) — better |
| Number of ratings | — | 4 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 40 MB | 70 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | BluMonkey Software, LLC | Norflava Designs LLC |
In-app purchases
LuXOR
- Remove ads$1.99
Tessellata
No in-app purchases









