Sudoku vs PixelPalDiary
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sudoku
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The only Sudoku app with 27 variants in one place — Classic, Killer, Sandwich, Jigsaw, Kropki, Thermo, Arrow, Fog of War, Skyscraper, Anti-Knight, Windoku, Odd/Even, Little Killer, Diagonal, and more — now with Chord Mode: every digit plays a piano note, and your solve ends with a cadence you can share. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned player, enjoy a clean, ad-light experience with smart hints and a full built-in technique library to sharpen your skills. ◆ CHORD MODE — HEAR YOUR SOLVE ◆ Every correct digit plays a pitched piano note. Wrong digits sound off-pitch — a subtle audio cue that feels natural, not punishing. Complete a 3×3 box and hear a triad. Solve the grid and finish with a full I–IV–V–I cadence. - Choose a key: C major, A minor, or C pentatonic - Headphones-only option keeps notes private in public - Mixes with background music and podcasts - Share your solve as a short video with the cadence baked in Works in every variant, including Mega 16×16. ◆ 27 SUDOKU VARIANTS — ALL IN ONE APP Free: - Classic 9×9 Sudoku (Easy, Medium, Hard) - Little Killer 4×4 Sudoku - Mini 6×6: Classic, Sandwich, Jigsaw, Kropki, Thermo, Arrow, Fog of War, Anti-Knight, Windoku, Odd/Even, Skyscraper Premium: - Killer Sudoku with cage sums - 9×9: Diagonal, Sandwich, Jigsaw, Kropki, Thermo, Arrow, Fog of War, Anti-Knight, Windoku, Odd/Even, Skyscraper, Column Indexer - Mega 16×16 puzzles ◆ HINTS THAT TEACH, NOT JUST TELL Unlike other apps, our Smart Hints explain the logic behind each step: "Row 3 already has 1, 4, 5 — and the cage sum requires 9, so this cell must be 9." Perfect for learning Sudoku strategies as you play. ◆ 33 SOLVING TECHNIQUES — LEARN AND PRACTICE From Naked Singles to 3D Medusa and Forcing Chains, the built-in Techniques section covers 33 strategies with clear explanations, visual boards, and practice puzzles. Each technique includes a dedicated "How to Find" guide and SE difficulty rating so you always know where to start. ◆ POWERFUL BOARD TOOLS - Auto Candidates: fill in all pencil marks instantly with one tap - Color cages & regions: tint Killer cages and Jigsaw regions for easier reading - Draw Mode: annotate your board with boxes, circles, and chain marks to map out your logic - Long-press any candidate for quick inline editing - Undo, notes, and auto-save ◆ DAILY CHALLENGES New puzzle every day at midnight, rotating through different variants each week. Build your winning streak and track progress on the calendar. ◆ BEAUTIFUL THEMES 5 app color themes: Classic, Cozy, Ocean, Sunset, Forest 4 symbol styles: Classic, Fruity, Ocean, Geometry Light and Dark mode support ◆ TRACK YOUR PROGRESS Detailed statistics by difficulty Best times and win rates Achievements to unlock Game Center leaderboards ◆ SEAMLESS EXPERIENCE iCloud sync across all devices In-app language switching (no restart required) Print puzzles directly from the home screen (Pro) Compact and efficient — respects your storage Available in English, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Simplified & Traditional Chinese, Portuguese, Italian, Korean, Arabic, and Russian. Subscription info: Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. Subscriptions automatically renew unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings. Terms of Use (EULA): https://sudokubrain.app/terms-of-service.html Privacy Policy: https://sudokubrain.app/privacy-policy.html
PixelPalDiary
Adopt a virtual pixel pet, care for its needs, and receive daily diary entries reflecting its mood and your bond. This game focuses on a personal, evolving record of your friendship, not just repetitive tasks.
- Adopt and name a pixel-art pet
- Daily diary entries reflecting pet's mood
- Manage five care needs
- Unlock new personalities and accessories
- Track care streaks and milestones
- Scrollable diary as a keepsake
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Pixel Pal Diary is a cozy virtual pet that actually remembers you. Adopt a little pixel companion, give it a name, and care for it day by day — feed it, play with it, keep it clean, let it rest, and give it love. Your care shapes its mood, and every day your pet writes a short diary entry about what it got up to while you were away. A happy pet writes cheerful little notes; a lonely one writes wistful ones. Over time those entries become a keepsake of your friendship. This isn't a tap-the-button treadmill. The diary is the heart of it — a growing, personal record that makes the bond stick. FEATURES • A pixel-art pet with real personality and a name you choose • A fresh, hand-crafted-feeling diary entry every day, with a tone that follows your pet's mood • Ten starter personality types, each with its own voice — plus rare ones you unlock by caring consistently • Five care needs to balance: hunger, energy, fun, hygiene, and affection • Care streaks and milestones that grow your collection • A scrollable diary that becomes a little story of your time together PIXEL PAL PREMIUM (optional one-time unlock) • Remove ads • Read your pet's full diary history • Exclusive themes and accessories • Unlock rare personalities faster Pixel Pal Diary is free and supported by ads. Premium is a single purchase that unlocks everything forever — no subscription.
Screenshots
Verdict
Sudoku and PixelPalDiary are too close to call on the numbers: across 5 compared parameters — price, ads, in-app purchases and device support among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
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. Sudoku sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and PixelPalDiary sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
| Parameter | Sudoku | PixelPalDiary |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1 — better |
| Update frequency | Weekly | — |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 39 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Dongyang Gao | Christian Pedersen |
In-app purchases
Sudoku
- Monthly Premium$1.991 Month
- Lifetime Premium$14.99
PixelPalDiary
- Pixel Pal Diary Lifetime$4.99









