Comparison

Block Wizard vs Lanterns

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

Head to head
About

Block Wizard

Experience a fresh take on block puzzles with unique obstacles and power-ups. Strategically place colorful blocks to clear rows and columns, solve level goals, and trigger satisfying chain reactions. Enjoy varied handcrafted levels, competitive challenges, and offline play.

Highlights
  • Level-by-level adventure
  • Unique obstacles and power-ups
  • Satisfying chain reactions
  • Varied handcrafted puzzle levels
  • 100-player challenge
  • Offline campaign play
Features
Read full description

One block can change the whole board. Block Wizard turns the classic 8×8 block puzzle into a level-by-level adventure filled with unique obstacles, clever power-ups and satisfying chain reactions. Drag colorful blocks onto the grid. Complete rows or columns to clear them, solve each level’s goal and keep the board open for your next move. Place the right block and watch obstacles break, power-ups activate and combos cascade across the board. A FRESH PUZZLE IN EVERY LEVEL Vines spread. Potions wait for the right move. Mailboxes stack up. Gems must be cleared in order. Magic orbs keep you guessing. Every obstacle changes the board and gives you a new problem to solve. POWER-UPS THAT CHANGE YOUR OPTIONS Blast a row and column at once, redirect a block to a better spot or reshape a difficult piece. Use each power-up at the right moment to open the board and turn a close call into a satisfying clear. BUILD BIGGER COMBOS Plan multiple clears instead of taking the first available line. Chain reactions together, earn more stars and enjoy a cascade of rewarding pops. MORE WAYS TO PLAY • Explore varied handcrafted puzzle levels • Enter the 100-player challenge and climb the leaderboard • Complete limited-time collection events for special rewards • Play campaign levels offline • Enjoy quick, comfortable one-handed sessions HOW TO PLAY • Drag blocks onto the 8×8 grid • Fill a complete row or column to clear it • Remove obstacles and complete the level goal • Keep space open for upcoming pieces • Combine clears and power-ups for bigger reactions Whether you want a relaxing break or a competitive puzzle challenge, every block you place matters. Download Block Wizard and find your flow.

About

Lanterns

A logic puzzle game where you place lanterns to illuminate every tile on the board. Solve over 10,000 unique puzzles with a daily challenge and a cozy, ad-free experience.

Highlights
  • Logic deduction puzzles
  • Over 10,000 unique rooms
  • Daily timed challenges
  • No countdown in campaign mode
  • Optional in-app purchases
  • Ad-free experience
Features
Read full description

Light every tile and bring a hidden world back to life. Lanterns is Akari, also called Light Up: a puzzle of pure deduction. Place lanterns so every open tile glows. Numbered walls tell you how many lanterns must touch them. Light stops at walls, and no two lanterns may shine on each other. Meet Pip, your lantern-moth companion, and explore over 10,000 puzzle rooms across 834 floors. Restore chapter landmarks as you progress, and take a break with Firefly Flight at chapter restorations. Campaign puzzles have no countdown. Take your time, mark your plans, use free Undo, and follow Why explanations on the board. Your unfinished campaign puzzle stays ready when you return. The Daily challenge brings one timed puzzle each local date: ninety seconds, one attempt, no hints or revives. Keep your daily streak going and look back on your results. See a score out of 100 after each campaign win, celebrate your personal best, and choose lantern styles as you make the world brighter. If you enjoy Nonogram, Picross, Sudoku, Hashi or Nurikabe, try a different kind of logic puzzle. Each board is generated and checked for a unique solution. Lanterns is free to download, with optional in-app purchases. Campaign entry tickets recover over time. Between-level ads may appear after the introductory levels; a one-time purchase removes forced ads permanently. Rewarded videos remain optional. No sign-in is required to play. Akari (Light Up) is Nikoli's puzzle form.

Screenshots

Block Wizard4 screens
Lanterns4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Lanterns at 100% against Block Wizard's 33%. Lanterns also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.8) and update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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. Block Wizard sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Lanterns sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Lanterns holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9 and 9 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 33% of Block Wizard's written reviews are positive against 100% of Lanterns's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Block Wizard ships an update every 3 weeks, Lanterns daily. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Block Wizard versus Lanterns: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlock WizardLanterns
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.8 (9 ratings)5.0 (9 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings99
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size447 MB151 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFUNJOY TECHNOLOGY LIMITED10X Ventures LLC

Customer experience

Block Wizard

All ratings8 ratings
Positive37.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews6 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral16.7%
Negative50.0%

Lanterns

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Block Wizard

One-time10
  • Block Wizard 2$1.99
  • Block Wizard 8$7.99
  • Block Wizard 10$9.99
Show 7 more
  • Block Wizard 15$14.99
  • Block Wizard 20$19.99
  • Block Wizard 30$29.99
  • Block Wizard 40$39.99
  • Block Wizard 55$54.99
  • Block Wizard 80$79.99
  • Block Wizard 100$99.99
4 purchases

Lanterns

One-time4
  • Pouch of Embers$1.99
  • The Gilded Lantern$2.99
  • Satchel of Embers$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Chest of Embers$9.99

Questions

Is Block Wizard free?
Block Wizard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lanterns free?
Lanterns is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Block Wizard or Lanterns?
Lanterns is rated higher. Block Wizard averages 2.8 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Lanterns averages 5.0 from 9 ratings.
Do Block Wizard or Lanterns have ads?
Both Block Wizard and Lanterns show ads.
Which is updated more often, Block Wizard or Lanterns?
Block Wizard ships an update every 3 weeks, and Lanterns daily. Most recently, Block Wizard was updated on October 28, 2026 and Lanterns on October 25, 2026.

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