Comparison

Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle vs Tectonic Star

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

Head to head
About

Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle

Embark on a puzzle adventure across five magical realms with over 250 unique levels. Choose between classic logic-based picture cross puzzles or a relaxing color-by-number experience. Enjoy brain-teasing fun at your own pace, with or without an internet connection.

Highlights
  • 250 handcrafted levels
  • Two game modes: Nonogram and Color-by-Number
  • Five distinct magical realms
  • Progressive difficulty
  • Offline play supported
  • No time limits
  • Star rating system
Features
Read full description

Pixel Realms - A relaxing picross and color-by-number puzzle adventure through magical worlds! Embark on an epic journey through 5 enchanting realms, each with 50 unique picture cross puzzles to solve. With two engaging game modes - Nonogram (picross) and Color-by-Number - Pixel Realms offers hours of brain-teasing entertainment for puzzle lovers of all ages. Explore 5 Magical Realms Garden Realm - A peaceful garden filled with flowers, trees, and gentle creatures Fire Realm - A volcanic landscape with lava rivers and ember forests (Unlock at 30 stars) Water Realm - An underwater world with coral reefs and ancient ruins (Unlock at 75 stars) Ice Realm - A frozen tundra of glaciers, snowflakes, and crystalline wonders (Unlock at 120 stars) Space Realm - The vast cosmos filled with planets, nebulae, and distant galaxies (Unlock at 165 stars) Two Game Modes Nonogram Mode (Picross / Picture Cross / Griddlers): Classic logic puzzle gameplay loved by millions Use number clues to reveal hidden pixel art pictures Train your brain with increasing difficulty Perfect for fans of hanjie and logic puzzles Color-by-Number Mode: Relaxing coloring experience Match colors to numbers to complete beautiful artwork Perfect for unwinding after a long day Great for all skill levels Features 250 Handcrafted Levels - Each level reveals a unique pixel art object Progressive Difficulty - Start easy, master the challenge Star Rating System - Earn up to 3 stars per level per mode (1500 total stars!) Energy System - Balanced gameplay with energy mechanics Beautiful Visuals - Each realm has its own stunning theme and atmosphere Offline Play - No internet required for core gameplay Family Friendly - Suitable for all ages (3+) No Time Limits - Solve puzzles at your own pace How to Play Nonogram (Picross): Read the number clues on rows and columns Tap cells to fill or mark as empty with X Use logic to reveal the hidden pixel art picture! Color-by-Number: Select a color from the palette Tap cells with matching numbers Complete the colorful artwork! Perfect For: Fans of picross, nonogram, and picture cross puzzles Logic puzzle enthusiasts Color by number lovers Brain training and mental exercise Relaxing casual gameplay Family-friendly entertainment Download Pixel Realms today and start your puzzle adventure!

About

Tectonic Star

Features
Read full description

Tectonic Star brings the addictive logic puzzle known as Tectonic (or Suguru) directly to your screen. The goal is simple but the logic gets deep: fill irregularly shaped cages with sequences of numbers, making sure that identical digits never touch each other—not even diagonally. Features Multiple difficulty levels, from beginner-friendly grids to expert challenges. A clean, distraction-free interface designed to help you focus. Intuitive number input with error highlighting and custom note symbols. Track your solving time, stats, and personal best records. Infinite, uniquely generated puzzles to keep your brain engaged. Why Tectonic Star? Unlike Sudoku's fixed 9x9 grid, Tectonic's irregular regions demand a completely different kind of spatial reasoning, making every puzzle a fresh mental workout. Whether you're a seasoned logic puzzle fan or just discovering the genre, Tectonic Star offers a highly satisfying, screen-friendly way to train your brain. Perfect for a quick mental break or a longer, focused session—you can pick up where you left off, anytime, anywhere. How it works behind the scenes Every puzzle you play is generated on the fly using a custom algorithm that guarantees a unique, logically solvable board without any guesswork. Here is a peek at how the engine builds them: 1. Cage Growth: The generator starts with a blank grid and randomly grows irregular cages (up to size 5) while simultaneously placing a valid, solved digit inside each cell. (Fun fact: the algorithm actually runs much faster on tall grids, so if you request a wide puzzle, it temporarily turns it sideways to build it before flipping it back!) 2. Clue Removal: Once it has a fully solved board, it starts pulling numbers off the grid in a random order. It keeps a removal only if the puzzle remains uniquely solvable. 3. Human-like Grading: To figure out exactly how hard a puzzle is, the engine solves its own creation just like a human would. It applies different tiers of deduction techniques, and the puzzle's final star rating (1 to 5) is determined by the most advanced logic required to crack it. This guarantees that a 4-star puzzle will always genuinely require a 4-star trick to solve! Download Tectonic Star and see how sharp your logic really is.

Screenshots

Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle4 screens
Tectonic Star3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Tectonic Star at none against Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle's 4. Tectonic Star also leads on ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement 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. Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Tectonic Star asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle ships an update every 8 days, Tectonic Star fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle versus Tectonic Star: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNonogram Picross Logic PuzzleTectonic Star
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterFortnightly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size60 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMohamed NagyBas Spijkerman

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle

One-time4
  • Hint Pack — 5 Hints$0.29
  • Hint Pack — 15 Hints$0.49
  • Remove ad$1.99
Show 1 more
  • Lifetime$5.99
None

Tectonic Star

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle free?
Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tectonic Star free?
Tectonic Star is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle or Tectonic Star have ads?
Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle shows ads; Tectonic Star does not.
Which is updated more often, Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle or Tectonic Star?
Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle ships an update every 8 days, and Tectonic Star fortnightly. Most recently, Nonogram Picross Logic Puzzle was updated on October 31, 2026 and Tectonic Star on October 31, 2026.

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