Comparison

Cloisters vs Dots & Boxes Together

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

Head to head
About

Cloisters

Features
Read full description

Cloisters is a strategy game that offers a battle of wits between two players. Challenge your friends to see who comes out on top, either on the same device or online with your Game Center account. Robot players are also available to practice against.

About

Dots & Boxes Together

This app brings the classic pencil-and-paper strategy game to mobile devices. Players connect dots to form boxes, with various game modes and creative twists. Enjoy solo play, local multiplayer, or online matches with friends and family.

Highlights
  • Pass & Play multiplayer
  • Computer challenges
  • Online multiplayer via Game Center
  • Customizable board sizes
  • Daily puzzle challenges
  • Creative board twists and power-ups
  • Undo accidental moves
Features
Read full description

Dots & Boxes Together brings the classic pencil-and-paper game to iPhone and iPad with colorful boards, lively effects, and plenty of ways to play. Draw a line between two neighboring dots. Complete the fourth side of a box to claim it—and keep playing as long as you continue closing boxes. When the board is complete, the player with the highest score wins! PLAY YOUR WAY • Pass & Play with 2–4 players sharing one device • Challenge the computer on Easy, Medium, or Hard • Connect with players on nearby devices • Play live online matches through Game Center • Complete the same Daily Chain puzzle as everyone else CHANGE THE RULES • Classic — Traditional Dots and Boxes gameplay • Line Control — The player who owns the most sides claims the box • Box Blitz — Think quickly while racing your own clock • Box Rush — Compete to finish an identical prepared board first • Quick Mode — Jump into the action with part of the board already drawn ADD SOME SURPRISES • Bonus Boxes award extra points • Mystery Boxes reveal their value when claimed • Hidden Power Dots create a surprise second line • Color Burst boxes reclaim neighboring boxes RELIVE EVERY MOVE Watch a completed game unfold line by line with Game Replay. Pause, scrub through the moves, jump to the ending, or share the finished board as an image. TRACK YOUR PROGRESS Player Statistics keep track of games, wins, ties, win rate, boxes claimed, largest chain, favorite color, most-played mode, and fastest Box Rush time. Game Center achievements offer even more goals to pursue. MADE FOR EVERY PLAYER • Built-in How to Play guides explain every mode and board feature • Optional patterns provide another way to distinguish player boxes • System-based Dark Mode looks great day or night • Sound effects, animations, and turn reminders keep everyone involved • Adjustable boards work across iPhone and iPad Easy to learn, surprisingly strategic, and always more fun together.

Screenshots

Cloisters1 screens
Dots & Boxes Together4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Dots & Boxes Together at weekly against Cloisters's every 3 weeks. On price, ads, in-app purchases 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Cloisters ships an update every 3 weeks, Dots & Boxes Together weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 8 level
Cloisters versus Dots & Boxes Together: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCloistersDots & Boxes Together
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.417.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB11 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBen BalcombJonathan Shaffer

In-app purchases

None

Cloisters

No in-app purchases

None

Dots & Boxes Together

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Cloisters free?
Cloisters is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Dots & Boxes Together free?
Dots & Boxes Together is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Cloisters or Dots & Boxes Together have ads?
Neither Cloisters nor Dots & Boxes Together shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Cloisters or Dots & Boxes Together?
Cloisters ships an update every 3 weeks, and Dots & Boxes Together weekly. Most recently, Cloisters was updated on October 25, 2026 and Dots & Boxes Together on October 8, 2026.

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