Comparison

Hive Order vs Gleamworks

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

Head to head
About

Hive Order

A hexagon-based puzzle game where players match numbers to clear cells and advance through levels. Offers both a challenging regular mode with a final boss and an endless arcade mode for high scores.

Highlights
  • Hexagon board matching
  • Number merge puzzles
  • Regular mode with final level
  • Arcade mode for high scores
  • Progressive difficulty
Features
Read full description

A game of matching numbers on a hexagon board. Win all the cells and overcome the final level to beat the game in regular mode! Then try for as many points in arcade mode!

About

Gleamworks

Guide beams of colored light through an intricate grid of optical pieces by rotating mirrors, splitters, and filters. Solve logic puzzles with no timers or move limits, at your own pace. Features additive color mixing and a colorblind-friendly mode.

Highlights
  • 250 handcrafted puzzles
  • 6 unique piece types
  • Additive color mixing
  • No timers or move limits
  • Offline play
  • Colorblind-friendly mode
Features
Read full description

Direct beams of colored light through an intricate grid of optical pieces. Rotate mirrors, splitters, filters, portals, and combiners to guide every beam to its matching receiver. Gleamworks is a thoughtful puzzle game built around light, color, and precision. Each level places every piece on the board — your job is to find the right rotation for each one. No guessing, no inventory management, just clean logic. FEATURES - 250 handcrafted puzzles across 12 difficulty tiers - 6 unique piece types: mirrors, filters, splitters, portals, combiners, and walls - Additive color mixing — combine red, yellow, and blue beams to create new colors - New mechanics introduced gradually as you progress - No timers, no energy systems, no move limits - Play at your own pace — offline, on your schedule - Hints available when you need a nudge - Colorblind-friendly mode with shape-based cues START SIMPLE, GO DEEP Early levels teach you the basics with mirrors and filters. By the midgame, you're splitting beams, mixing colors, and routing light through portals. Late-game puzzles demand creative thinking across large grids with every piece type in play. DESIGNED FOR FOCUS No flashing notifications, no social pressure, no pay-to-win mechanics. Gleamworks respects your time and attention. Sit down, solve a puzzle or ten, and walk away satisfied. **What's New (first release):** Welcome to Gleamworks! 250 light beam puzzles await. Rotate mirrors, mix colors, and guide every beam to its receiver.

Screenshots

Hive Order4 screens
Gleamworks3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Hive Order at none against Gleamworks's shown. Hive Order also leads on ratings volume (14 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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. Hive Order sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and Gleamworks sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Hive Order against 5.0 for Gleamworks. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hive Order has 14 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hive Order ships an update every 2 days, Gleamworks daily. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
Hive Order versus Gleamworks: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHive OrderGleamworks
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (14 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 daysDaily — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB242 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJin ChenJames Knarr

Customer experience

Hive Order

All ratings14 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Gleamworks

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Hive Order

One-time2
  • Premium Version Unlock$1.99
  • Tip Developer$2.99
1 purchases

Gleamworks

One-time1
  • Gleamworks Ad-Free$2.99

Questions

Is Hive Order free?
Hive Order is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Gleamworks free?
Gleamworks is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hive Order or Gleamworks?
Hive Order and Gleamworks are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 14 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Hive Order or Gleamworks have ads?
Gleamworks shows ads; Hive Order does not.
Which is updated more often, Hive Order or Gleamworks?
Hive Order ships an update every 2 days, and Gleamworks daily. Most recently, Hive Order was updated on November 5, 2026 and Gleamworks on November 5, 2026.

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