Comparison

Light Up vs Merge Stack

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

Head to head
About

Light Up

This logic puzzle game combines adorable cats with deduction challenges. Place cats on a grid to claim territory, using number clues and strategic paw prints to solve each unique puzzle. Enjoy a relaxing, stress-free experience with no timers.

Highlights
  • Healing cat puzzles
  • Elegant logic deduction
  • Smooth difficulty curve
  • Offline play
  • Minimal UI
  • No stress, no timers
Features
Read full description

Classic Light Up logic puzzle: light up every white cell, place bulbs to match the numbers, and never let bulbs shine on each other. A game of pure logic — no luck, no hidden information. When you're stuck, the answer isn't a guess; it's the move you haven't seen yet. How to Play • Place a bulb — light spreads through its entire row and column. • Black cells block the light. • The number on a black cell tells you exactly how many bulbs must sit next to it. • No two bulbs may ever shine on each other. • Light up every white cell to win. Key Features • Hundreds of handcrafted puzzles, from gentle warm-ups to expert grids • A logic-first hint system: understand the ""why"", not just the ""where"" • A clean, minimalist board built for deep focus • Play at your own pace: offline, no timers, no pressure — just enjoy the puzzle Numbers never lie. A 3 wants exactly three bulbs beside it; a 0 wants none. When the last dark cell lights up, it's because you reasoned your way there. No countdown rushes your next move. Brew a coffee, pick a quiet evening, and let the board shut out the noise of the world — every cell you light brings a moment of calm. Download now and light up your first board. Terms of Service: https://oakevergames.com/tos.html Privacy Policy: https://oakevergames.com/pp.html

About

Merge Stack

Features
Read full description

Slide. Merge. Pop! Merge Stack: Color Block is the satisfying color puzzle that's easy to learn and hard to put down. Swipe to slide the blocks across the board, line up matching colors, and stack five of the same color to make them burst. One clean rule, endless clever moves. Every swipe shifts the whole board, so the fun is in planning ahead. Set up chains, clear crowded columns, and keep your grid open for the next move. Simple to pick up, tricky to master.

Screenshots

Light Up4 screens
Merge Stack4 screens

Verdict

The call

Light Up and Merge Stack are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

ScorecardNo meaningful differences
Light Up versus Merge Stack: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterLight UpMerge Stack
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (21 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings21 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supported—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size206 MB238 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperOakever GamesKite Games

In-app purchases

None

Light Up

No in-app purchases

None

Merge Stack

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Light Up free?
Light Up is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Merge Stack free?
Merge Stack is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Light Up or Merge Stack have ads?
Both Light Up and Merge Stack show ads.
Which is updated more often, Light Up or Merge Stack?
Light Up ships an update every 2 months, and Merge Stack every 2 months. Most recently, Light Up was updated on October 26, 2026 and Merge Stack on October 4, 2026.

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