Simply Cryptic vs Solitaire After Dark
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Simply Cryptic
A cryptic crossword-inspired word game designed for quick, satisfying solves on mobile. It offers an accessible entry point to cryptic clues with optional explanations to help users learn the wordplay. Enjoy multiple difficulty levels and offline play.
- Cryptic clue solving
- Optional clue explanations
- Multiple difficulty packs
- Offline play
- Clean mobile design
- Hint system
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Simply Cryptic is a cryptic crossword-inspired word game built for quick, satisfying solves on iPhone. If cryptic clues have ever felt intimidating, this is your on-ramp. Each puzzle is designed to be clever but fair, and you can always view an optional explanation to learn the logic behind the clue. How it works: • Solve one cryptic-style clue at a time • Answers fit the exact letter count shown in parentheses • Use hints when you get stuck • Reveal an explanation to learn the wordplay and improve What’s inside: • Multiple difficulty packs: Easy, Classic, and Hard • Clean, distraction-free design built for mobile • Offline play (no account required) • New content can be added in future updates Simply Cryptic is the perfect word game for commuters, couch time, or anyone who likes puzzles that make you feel smart.
Solitaire After Dark
Experience a unique solitaire roguelike set in a 1960s cocktail lounge. Every move scores points as you manage a shelf of club patrons and mix card combinations to meet targets. Survive challenging boss nights and progress through a season of unique challenges.
- Scoring-based Klondike gameplay
- Collectible club patrons as relics
- Card manipulation mechanics
- Challenging boss nights
- Seasonal progression and challenges
- Multiple classic solitaire modes
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Solitaire After Dark is a solitaire roguelike set in a smoky 1960s cocktail lounge. Each Night deals a fresh Klondike board with a Heat target - you don't have to solve the board, you have to make it score. EVERY MOVE SCORES. Chips x Mult across your shelf: reveals, foundation plays, emptied columns, chains - and Trysts, when a Queen lands on her King and the whole table heats up. CHARM THE REGULARS. Fifty-plus club patrons join your shelf as relics, and their order changes the math. Arrange the shelf; that IS the strategy. MIX THE COCKTAILS. Tear a card into wildcards, fuse two into one, peek at face-downs, destroy a dead card. The rules are more of a dress code. SURVIVE THE VIPS. Boss Nights impose house rules - The Tease, The Bouncer, The Rush. Plan a week ahead and build for them. A SEASON OF NIGHTS. Eight Weeks, Tips and interest, Memberships, Outfits, Floors to climb, a Guest Book to fill - and seeded runs to share. OR JUST PLAY CARDS. Classic Klondike, Draw-3, Vegas, Winnable deals, Spider (1, 2, or 4 suits), and FreeCell - all dressed for the evening: living-portrait cards, club lighting, a swing soundtrack. FREE, NO STRINGS. No ads. No paywalls. Nothing at these tables is locked behind a purchase - every Night, every Regular, every classic table is just there. If the house treats you well there is an optional tip jar behind the Support Us door. A tip unlocks nothing. It just keeps the lights on.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Solitaire After Dark at Free against Simply Cryptic's $0.99. Solitaire After Dark also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Solitaire After Dark is free to download; Simply Cryptic costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Simply Cryptic against 5.0 for Solitaire After Dark. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Solitaire After Dark has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Simply Cryptic ships an update every 2 months, Solitaire After Dark every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Simply Cryptic | Solitaire After Dark |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $0.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (7 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 7 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.2 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 73 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Violet Rome LLC | Motivation Stack LLC |
Customer experience
Simply Cryptic
Solitaire After Dark
In-app purchases
Simply Cryptic
No in-app purchases
Solitaire After Dark
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Simply Cryptic free?
Is Solitaire After Dark free?
Which has better reviews, Simply Cryptic or Solitaire After Dark?
Do Simply Cryptic or Solitaire After Dark have ads?
Which is updated more often, Simply Cryptic or Solitaire After Dark?
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