Comparison

Crossword Challenge vs Yarn Loop

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

Head to head
About

Crossword Challenge

Engage in daily mental workouts with this picture-based crossword game. Solve unique visual clues, compete in weekly tournaments, and collect city badges through mini-levels. Enjoy a relaxing, timer-free experience with modern design and dark mode support.

Highlights
  • Brain-training crossword puzzles
  • Unique picture clues
  • Daily mini levels with city badges
  • Weekly global tournaments
  • Modern design with Dark Mode
  • Play at your own pace (no timers)
  • Auto-save progress
Features
Read full description

Crossword Challenge is the ultimate brain-training crossword game that keeps your mind sharp and your spirit competitive! Solve beautiful picture clues, enjoy smooth modern gameplay, and embark on a journey of daily mental exercise. Whether you’re a seasoned word solver or a casual puzzle fan, Crossword Challenge will quickly become your new daily ritual! Train your brain every day with fun and relaxing crosswords. Stretch your vocabulary, improve your logic skills, and keep your mind young with every puzzle you complete! Dark Mode Support lets you play comfortably at any time, day or night. Picture Clues add a fresh twist to the classic crossword experience, making each puzzle even more exciting and fun to solve. Daily Mini Levels with City Badge Rewards give you quick, rewarding challenges every day. Collect them all and showcase your achievements! Weekly Tournaments invite you to compete with players around the world. Climb the leaderboard and prove you’re a true Crossword Champion! With smooth graphics, intuitive controls, and countless word puzzles to explore, Crossword Challenge is perfect for anyone who loves to train their mind while having fun. Download now and start your daily brain workout with Crossword Challenge! Features: Brain-training crossword puzzles for all skill levels Modern design with Dark Mode support Unique picture clues for a fresh and fun twist Daily mini levels with collectible city badges Weekly tournaments and global leaderboards Hints to help when you're stuck No timers — play at your own pace Auto-save to pick up right where you left off Ready to sharpen your mind and have fun doing it? Join Crossword Challenge today!

About

Yarn Loop

A relaxing puzzle game where you guide colorful yarn bobbins to collect stitches of their matching color. Manage bobbin capacity and use them in the correct order to complete intricate knitted patterns. Enjoy hundreds of levels with a cozy, visually charming aesthetic.

Highlights
  • One-tap gameplay
  • Color-based stitch collection
  • Bobbin capacity management
  • Rack reuse function
  • Hundreds of levels
  • Cozy yarn aesthetic
Features
Read full description

Yarn Loop is a relaxing and satisfying puzzle game featuring colorful yarn bobbins and knitted patterns. Bobbins move onto the conveyor and collect stitches of their own color. Each bobbin has a capacity value that decreases as stitches are picked up. When its capacity reaches zero, the bobbin disappears. If capacity remains, the bobbin is transferred to the rack and can be used again later. Complete each knitted pattern by using the right bobbins in the right order. Game Features ► Simple One-Tap Gameplay: Bobbins move smoothly through the conveyor system and collect matching stitches with ease. ► Color-Based Collection Mechanic: Each bobbin clears only the stitches of its own color. ► Capacity Management System: Every bobbin has a limited pickup value, creating thoughtful and satisfying puzzle decisions. ► Rack Reuse Function: Bobbins that still have capacity return to the rack and remain available for later use. ► Hundreds of Engaging Levels: New knitted layouts, color combinations, and puzzle arrangements appear throughout progression. ► Cozy Yarn Aesthetic: Soft textures, warm colors, and pleasant animations create a calm and enjoyable experience. Yarn Loop offers a smooth, calm, and visually charming journey through handcrafted yarn puzzles.

Screenshots

Crossword Challenge4 screens
Yarn Loop4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Yarn Loop at none against Crossword Challenge's shown. Yarn Loop also leads on review sentiment (49% vs 34%) and chart position (#18 vs #109). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases 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. Crossword Challenge sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Yarn Loop sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. 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 — 4.7 for Crossword Challenge against 4.8 for Yarn Loop. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 19K and 61K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 34% of Crossword Challenge's written reviews are positive against 49% of Yarn Loop's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Crossword Challenge ships an update weekly, Yarn Loop every 5 days. Both last shipped on November 8, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
Crossword Challenge versus Yarn Loop: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCrossword ChallengeYarn Loop
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (19K ratings)4.8 (61K ratings) — better
Positive reviews34.4% of reviews49.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings19K61K — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#109#18 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size273 MB278 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperNocturnal GamesCombo Games

Customer experience

Crossword Challenge

All ratings18,847 ratings
Positive94.0%
Neutral3.8%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews282 reviews
Positive34.4%
Neutral17.4%
Negative48.2%

Yarn Loop

All ratings60,898 ratings
Positive95.1%
Neutral2.7%
Negative2.2%
Written reviews1,787 reviews
Positive49.2%
Neutral14.9%
Negative35.9%

Bugs and requests

Crossword Challenge

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • Letters not staying in the correct squares

Requested features

2 requests
  • Option to remove ads permanently
  • Fix for game getting stuck on the same puzzle

Yarn Loop

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Crossword Challenge

One-time10
  • 1 Revive$1.99
  • Limited Puzzle Pass 30 Days$2.99
  • Standart Puzzle Pass 7 Days$3.99
Show 7 more
  • 5 Hints$7.99
  • 5 Revives$7.99
  • Standart Puzzle Pass 30 Days$11.99
  • 10 Hints$14.99
  • Pro Puzzle Pass 30 Days$14.99
  • 10 Revives$14.99
  • 25 Hints$19.99
10 purchases

Yarn Loop

One-time10
  • Yarn Flow 2$1.99
  • Yarn Flow 3$2.99
  • Yarn Flow 4$3.99
Show 7 more
  • Yarn Flow 5$4.99
  • Yarn Flow 8$7.99
  • Yarn Flow 10$9.99
  • Yarn Flow 12$11.99
  • Yarn Flow 15$14.99
  • Yarn Flow 20$19.99
  • Yarn Loop 25$24.99

Questions

Is Crossword Challenge free?
Crossword Challenge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Yarn Loop free?
Yarn Loop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Crossword Challenge or Yarn Loop?
Yarn Loop is rated higher. Crossword Challenge averages 4.7 out of 5 from 19K ratings, while Yarn Loop averages 4.8 from 61K ratings.
Do Crossword Challenge or Yarn Loop have ads?
Crossword Challenge shows ads; Yarn Loop does not.
Which is updated more often, Crossword Challenge or Yarn Loop?
Crossword Challenge ships an update weekly, and Yarn Loop every 5 days. Most recently, Crossword Challenge was updated on November 8, 2026 and Yarn Loop on November 8, 2026.
Which is more popular, Crossword Challenge or Yarn Loop?
Crossword Challenge currently peaks at #109 in the App Store charts, and Yarn Loop at #18. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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