CoreShift vs Box Craze
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CoreShift
Read full descriptionHide full description
CoreShift is a sleek, minimalist strategy game based on Neutron — a classic abstract board game of pure skill, positioning, and tactics. Easy to learn. Deep to master. Every move can open a path, create a trap, or turn the match completely. No randomness. No hidden information. Pure strategy. THE GAME Play on a 5×5 grid. Each player controls five pieces, while a single amber token — the Neutron — begins at the center. On every turn, you must: 1. Slide the Neutron as far as it can move. 2. Slide one of your own pieces (horizontal, vertical, or diagonal). Pieces move until blocked by the edge or another piece — they cannot jump. How to win: * Move the Neutron onto your own baseline. * Trap your opponent so they have no legal Neutron move. QUICK OR CLASSIC * Quick mode: Fast, aggressive openings with immediate tension. * Classic mode: Traditional rules where the first player skips the opening Neutron move for a more balanced start. THREE AI DIFFICULTY LEVELS * Easy: Learn the fundamentals. * Medium: Strong tactical play. * Hard: Advanced Monte Carlo Tree Search (MCTS) AI that adapts to every position. ONLINE MULTIPLAYER — BETA Play real-time matches worldwide through Game Center. Our Elo rating system (starting at 1200) ensures you always face a fair challenge. * Climb the Ranks: Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, and Diamond. * Social: Add friends after matches, send instant rematches, and react with quick chat. * No Waiting: If no live opponent is available, Skynet — our built-in AI — keeps the match moving. TOURNAMENT MODE Five rounds. One run. No breaks. Easy → Medium → Medium → Hard → Hard Win all five to complete the challenge and track your progress on Game Center. STATISTICS & ACHIEVEMENTS Track win rates, streaks, fastest victories, and total play time. Unlock badges and Game Center achievements tied to real milestones. DESIGNED FOR iOS * Flat, minimal design with Dark and Light mode. * Smooth animations and haptic feedback on every move. * Atmospheric audio and satisfying "game feel." CoreShift is free to play. Tournament rounds 3–5 and Hard AI require a one-time Pro upgrade ($3.99).
Box Craze
Read full descriptionHide full description
Box Craze is a strategy-based board game, the ultimate version of the classic Dots and Boxes game. Box Craze offers a perfect blend of fun, competition, and strategic thinking for all ages. It's an ideal puzzle game to enjoy quality time with your friends and family. Features: • Supports AI and 2–4 multiplayer gameplay. • Smart AI that anticipates your moves and challenges your strategy. • Unlock new gameplay experiences with unique and exciting modes. • Add an extra layer of challenge with the Timer option (Off, 15s, 30s, 60s, 90s), including penalty. • Switch between Square and Hexagon shapes. • Six unique grid sizes let you control the game's complexity and duration. • No need to connect dots, just tap to select the pre-drawn lines, making the gameplay fast, fun, and perfect for all ages. • Get 500 free stars instantly when you install the game! • Free to play. Claim stars regularly to enjoy unlimited gameplay without spending a dime. • Smooth performance and easy one-touch controls. • Play anywhere, anytime, without an internet connection. How to Play: • Each player selects one available line during their turn. • Completing a cell allows the player to score and take another turn. • The turn ends when the player fails to complete a cell. • The player with the highest score wins the game. If the scores are equal, the game ends in a draw. Game Rules: • The first turn is chosen at random, followed by the other. • A line cannot be selected more than once. AI Gameplay: When playing against the AI, it follows the same rules and aims to complete cells strategically. Game Modes: • Default – The classic Dots and Boxes experience with standard rules. • Quick – Start the game with a few randomly pre-selected lines for faster gameplay. • Power – Grab powered cells to earn bonus points and boost your score faster. • Dice – Each player gets 1–6 random moves per turn, with no extra moves for completing cells. Timer (Off, 15s, 30s, 60s, 90s): • Each player has a set time to make a move based on the selected timer setting. • Make your move before time runs out, or be ready for the penalty (a randomly selected line). • If a player gets an extra turn, the timer resets for that turn. Tips: • A one-time entry fee unlocks unlimited gameplay with free restarts every time you play. • Claim your free reward regularly. • Plan your next move during your opponent’s turn. • Aim to create sequences that allow you to score multiple times in a single turn. • Think strategically to avoid making moves that allow your opponent or the AI to score multiple times in one turn. Challenge our AI, designed to provide a strategic and engaging gameplay experience. It plays by the same rules and will test your decision-making skills with its advanced algorithms. Download Box Craze now and compete with the AI, your friends, or your family members. What are you waiting for? Start your ultimate Dots and Boxes adventure today! The game is also known by many names, including Dots and Squares, Dot Box Game, Dots and Lines, Dots and Dashes, Connect the Dots, Dots Game, Smart Dots, Boxes, Squares, Paddocks, Square-It, Dots, Dot Boxing, The Dot Game, Line Game, Dot to Dot Grid, La Pipopipette, and Pigs in a Pen. We'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions to help us improve!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: CoreShift at none against Box Craze's shown. CoreShift also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. CoreShift sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Box Craze sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
CoreShift ships an update every 3 weeks, Box Craze every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CoreShift | Box Craze |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 32 MB | 162 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jozsef Farkas | Saad Ali |
In-app purchases
CoreShift
- CoreShift Pro$3.99
Box Craze
- 100 Stars$1.99
- 230 Stars$2.99
- 350 Stars$3.99
Show 7 moreShow fewer
- Remove Ads Upgrade$7.99
- 1,050 Stars$8.99
- 1,400 Stars$10.99
- Remove Ads +$11.99
- 3,000 Stars$21.49
- 7,800 Stars$52.99
- 16,800 Stars$105.99









