# Block Nova! vs Duke and the Blocks

The clearest difference is ads: Duke and the Blocks at none against Block Nova!'s shown. On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Block Nova! sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Duke and the Blocks sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Block Nova! ships an update every 2 weeks, Duke and the Blocks weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Block Nova! | Duke and the Blocks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/block-nova/id6748379225/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **11K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 48.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 231 MB | 74 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [UniRise Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1823900723) | [Chorthip Clegg](https://appshunter.io/developer/6806879454) |

## What reviewers say

### Block Nova!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/block-nova/id6748379225)

Experience a meditative 8x8 block-matching game set against a tranquil night sky. Enjoy classic gameplay with a smart AI battle system and soothing visuals and soundscapes. Play offline, anytime, anywhere for pure stress relief and strategic fun.

**Highlights:** Classic 8x8 block matching, Local same-screen battle, Daily challenges with AI opponents, Starry visual theme, Offline play

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Super Gift | $1.99 | one-time |
| 2-Player | $9.99 | one-time |
| Super Gift | $10.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $19.99 | one-time |
| Super Gift | $20.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun and easy to play
- 👍 Great logic and brain game
- ❤️ Keeps mind actively working

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Ads not as advertised
- 🐛 Pieces cannot be turned

**Reported bugs**

- Ads not as advertised
- Game not as advertised

**Requested features**

- Waterfall effects of blocks flowing as advertised


### Duke and the Blocks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/duke-and-the-blocks/id6809633039)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 500 Duke Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 1,100 Duke Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| 2,000 Duke Coins | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Block Nova! free?

Block Nova! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Duke and the Blocks free?

Duke and the Blocks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Block Nova! or Duke and the Blocks have ads?

Block Nova! shows ads; Duke and the Blocks does not.

### Which is updated more often, Block Nova! or Duke and the Blocks?

Block Nova! ships an update every 2 weeks, and Duke and the Blocks weekly. Most recently, Block Nova! was updated on October 28, 2026 and Duke and the Blocks on October 8, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*