Pixel Drop vs The Needle in the Haystack
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Pixel Drop
Control a dynamic hole to swallow colorful pixels and match them with their corresponding targets. Clear all gates by filling them with the correct colors to win each level in this engaging puzzle game.
- Dynamic hole control
- Pixel collection and swallowing
- Color matching with gates
- Level-based progression
- Satisfying visual feedback
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Pixel Drop: The Gates - Colorful Pixel Sort Puzzle with a Hungry Hole! Get ready for Pixel Drop, a pixel sort puzzle where a hole in the middle of the board swallows every pixel you drop. Sink colorful pixels into the hole, watch them travel through, and sort them into the matching gates around the board. Each gate has its own color and its own limit, so every drop counts. Plan ahead, watch the capacity numbers, and enjoy the satisfaction of a clean clear as you work through 200+ colorful levels. Pixel Drop is a puzzle experience that keeps you coming back for more. Open the gates and start your journey! Quick Play Guide - Start Simple: Drop the pixels into the hole and sort them into matching gates. - Watch the Limits: Every gate holds a set number of pixels. Count before you drop. - Plan Ahead: Pixels lock each other in place. Free the right one first. - Think Fast: Beat the clock to complete levels and unlock new challenges. Cool Features - Satisfying Hole Mechanic: Pixels get sucked in and sorted with a satisfying snap. - Colorful Gates: Match pixel colors to gates and clear the board completely. - Strategic Gameplay: Start simple, think twice. Every move shapes the board. - Offline Play: Enjoy anywhere, anytime: no wi-fi required. - Colorful Visuals: Bright 3D pixels and smooth animations in every level. Pixel Drop: The Gates is designed for puzzle lovers who enjoy color sorting, block-jam puzzles, and hole games. Download Pixel Drop now and see how many gates you can open!
The Needle in the Haystack
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The impossible search becomes a game: every new haystack hides exactly one needle among five million individually addressable straws. Circle the whole pile, zoom down to individual fibres and pull straws directly from the material. The haystack visibly reacts to every removal. No artificial hint automatically reveals the needle. The complete manual search is free and always solvable. Optional Haystack Credits (in-app purchase) unlock the Poke and timed power-ups. The app shows ads; you decide at first launch and any time in Settings whether they may be personalised. No subscriptions. Included: - a deterministically generated 3D haystack with exactly 5,000,000 straw IDs - direct searching on iPhone and iPad - a companion Apple Watch experience - VoiceOver, large text, Reduce Motion, and separate audio and haptic controls - local saves and optional private iCloud backup - no mandatory account; Sign in with Apple only for the optional credit purchase Patience game, technical simulation and performance art meet in one improbably large task.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Pixel Drop at 15.0 against The Needle in the Haystack's 18.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Pixel Drop sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and The Needle in the Haystack sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Pixel Drop | The Needle in the Haystack |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (267 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 267 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days | Every 4 days |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 227 MB | 51 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Moment Games Teknoloji Anonim Sirketi | Alessandro Brning |
In-app purchases
Pixel Drop
- Fail Offer$0.99
- Coin Pack 1$1.99
- Starter Pack$1.99
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- Coin Pack 2$7.99
- NoAds$7.99
- Coin Pack 3$14.99
- Coin Pack 4$29.99
- Coin Pack 5$54.99
- Coin Pack 6$99.99
The Needle in the Haystack
- 100 Credits$0.99
- 300 Credits$2.99
- 500 Credits$3.99
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- 1,000 Credits$8.99
- 2,000 Credits$17.99
- 5,000 Credits$44.99
- 10,000 Credits$89.99
Questions
Is Pixel Drop free?
Is The Needle in the Haystack free?
Do Pixel Drop or The Needle in the Haystack have ads?
Which is updated more often, Pixel Drop or The Needle in the Haystack?
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