Comparison

Backwords Game vs The Needle in the Haystack 2

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

Head to head
About

Backwords Game

Features
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Backwords is the reverse-speech party game built on one gloriously ridiculous loop. One player records a secret phrase. The app plays it backwards. The next player hears nothing but that backwards gibberish and has to mimic it out loud, sound for sound, with no idea what the original was. Then the app reverses THEIR attempt — and everyone hears whether the imitation actually flipped back into something like real words. That's when the guessing starts. After hearing their own reversed-back recording, the mimicking player calls out what they think the original phrase was. The first player reveals the truth: nailed it, or nowhere close? Cue the cheering, the arguing, and the "okay, one more time." HOW TO PLAY - Player 1 records a secret phrase (Player 2 doesn't hear it) - The app flips it into backwards audio - Player 2 listens and copies the backwards sounds out loud - The app reverses Player 2's attempt - Player 2 hears the result and guesses the original phrase - Player 1 reveals whether the guess was right WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT - Everyone sounds ridiculous and nobody is safe - The double-reverse reveal is pure suspense every single round - Pass-and-play built for two players or a whole room - Hundreds of phrases from "almost doable" to "absolutely not" - Settle every "that totally counts" debate out loud, together - Share your most unhinged attempts straight to the group chat It feels impossible — until someone's backwards "good morning" flips back into actual words and the whole room loses it. Some people speak three languages. The real flex is speaking one of them backwards. Download Backwords and find your hidden talent.

About

The Needle in the Haystack 2

Collaborate with friends or join a public crew to search for a hidden needle in a massive haystack. Collect hay, earn in-game currency, and purchase tools and machines to aid your search. Play solo or with up to eight players.

Highlights
  • Cooperative multiplayer gameplay
  • Resource collection and management
  • Tool and machine upgrades
  • Private and public game yards
  • Solo play option
  • Hands-only challenge mode
Features
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One enormous haystack. One hidden needle. A crew that works together. Create a private yard for friends or join a public crew. Up to eight players collect hay, take it to the dealer and spend shared in-game money on tools, research and machines. You can also play solo. Start with your hands, use shovels and pitchforks, fill buckets and wheelbarrows, and build conveyor lines. Generators, balers, robot arms and scanners help your crew. Support excavated tunnels and recover the needle yourself. Then start a new search area. Choose hands-only mode for an extra challenge. The game needs an internet connection. You can play solo without signing in; shared online yards and account features use Sign in with Apple. Optional credit packs are available through in-app purchases. Credits buy selected permanent personal tools. Tools needed to reach the goal are also obtainable with money earned through play.

Screenshots

Backwords Game4 screens
The Needle in the Haystack 24 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Backwords Game at none against The Needle in the Haystack 2's 4. Backwords Game also leads on ads (none vs shown). The Needle in the Haystack 2's advantage is iOS requirement (17.0 vs 26.1). On price 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. The Needle in the Haystack 2 sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Backwords Game asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Backwords Game versus The Needle in the Haystack 2: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackwords GameThe Needle in the Haystack 2
PriceFreeFree
Rating—1.3 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—25.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—4 — better
Update frequency—Every 2 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS26.117.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB274 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperYevhenii HalkinAlessandro Brning

In-app purchases

None

Backwords Game

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

The Needle in the Haystack 2

One-time4
  • 50 Credits$3.99
  • 100 Credits$8.99
  • 500 Credits$44.99
Show 1 more
  • 1,000 Credits$89.99

Questions

Is Backwords Game free?
Backwords Game is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Needle in the Haystack 2 free?
The Needle in the Haystack 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Backwords Game or The Needle in the Haystack 2 have ads?
The Needle in the Haystack 2 shows ads; Backwords Game does not.

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