Comparison

Thrive Merge vs Chain Reaction

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

Head to head
About

Thrive Merge

Features
Read full description

Thrive Merge is a calm, beautiful merge puzzle with a wellness twist. Combine items to build your wellness hub, fulfill orders, and grow through four themed worlds - at your own relaxed pace, or against the clock when you want a challenge. MERGE & BUILD Combine items to discover higher tiers and furnish your wellness hub. FOUR WORLDS Holistic, Gym & Fitness, Wellness Retreat (Spa), and Sports Academy - each with its own chains, art, and feel. WELLNESS JOURNEY A relaxed, stress-free mode focused on progress and satisfying merges. DAILY CHALLENGES Three hand-tuned challenges a day (Easy / Medium / Hard) with timers, move limits, and real fail states. Clear the Hard one for an exclusive cosmetic. COLLECTIONS Discover and complete every chain across all worlds. SATISFYING FEEL Bouncy merges, particle bursts, and gentle motion designed to relax. Free to play. Optional ads and in-app purchases support development.

About

Chain Reaction

Leap over pegs to capture them and build combo chains in this endless puzzle game. Strategically clear space to prevent the board from overflowing as new pegs appear each turn. Master special pegs and dynamic game rules for a unique challenge.

Highlights
  • Combo chains for high scores
  • Special pegs with unique effects
  • Dynamic 'Run Director' game rules
  • Game Center leaderboards
  • Achievements
  • Haptic feedback and sound effects
Features
Read full description

One move. A whole chain reaction. Hop a piece over its neighbor, capture it, and keep going. Long chains multiply your score, bombs and rockets clear the board, and new pieces keep pouring in. Stop thinking ahead and the board floods. How long can you last? Learn it in 10 seconds. Then try to beat your best. WHY IT'S HARD TO PUT DOWN - Combos at x3, x4 and beyond from a single move - Bombs, rockets, portals, gold, ice and more, each one changes your next move - Runs get wilder: double bombs, extra spawns, a shrinking board. No two runs play the same - Crisp haptics and juicy sound on every combo - Weekly and all-time Game Center leaderboards - Achievements to hunt Perfect for a queue, the train, or "just one more run" before bed. Download it and see how far one chain can take you.

Screenshots

Thrive Merge4 screens
Chain Reaction4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chain Reaction at none against Thrive Merge's 9. On price, update cadence, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Thrive Merge sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Chain Reaction asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Thrive Merge ships an update every 2 weeks, Chain Reaction fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Thrive Merge versus Chain Reaction: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterThrive MergeChain Reaction
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterFortnightly
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Ad-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size119 MB17 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperRafael TonAleksey Arkhipov

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Thrive Merge

One-time9
  • Handful of Gems$0.99
  • Energy Drink$0.99
  • Starter Bundle$2.99
Show 6 more
  • Pouch of Gems$2.99
  • Unlock Gym & Fitness$2.99
  • Unlock Wellness Retreat$3.99
  • Unlock Sports Academy$4.99
  • Chest of Gems$7.99
  • Wellness Bundle$9.99
None

Chain Reaction

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Thrive Merge free?
Thrive Merge is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Chain Reaction free?
Chain Reaction is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Thrive Merge or Chain Reaction have ads?
Both Thrive Merge and Chain Reaction show ads.
Which is updated more often, Thrive Merge or Chain Reaction?
Thrive Merge ships an update every 2 weeks, and Chain Reaction fortnightly. Most recently, Thrive Merge was updated on October 31, 2026 and Chain Reaction on November 5, 2026.

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