Genesis vs Gourmet Merge
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Genesis
Engage in a cozy, clever hex puzzle game that guides you through the story of life on Earth. Snap gene-cells together to awaken over 100 creatures and explore 20 eras of history. Enjoy a satisfying challenge with optional extras and free updates.
- Hex gene-cell puzzle gameplay
- Collect 100+ creatures
- Explore 20 eras of Earth's history
- Gentle learning curve with increasing challenge
- Optional hints and cosmetic extras
- Accessibility features (colorblind assist, reduced motion)
- Daily streaks and mastery stars
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Genesis: Bioforge -- Grow every creature that ever lived! Genesis is a cozy, clever hex puzzle wrapped in the greatest story ever told — the story of life on Earth. Snap glowing gene-cells together so their edges match, and when the genome hums into place, something wakes up: a spark, a cell, a swimmer, a climber… one hundred creatures in all, waiting across four billion years. Your guide is Pip — a tiny, cheerful spark of life who's been around since the very beginning and has opinions about trilobites. Pip teaches as you play, celebrates your wins, and nudges (never nags) when you're stuck. The puzzle is gentle to learn and genuinely satisfying to master Every chapter adds one new idea — rotating cells, choosy sockets, cracked pieces that need extra care — taught with a friendly demo, never a wall of text. Early levels are a warm bath. Later levels will make you put your tea down. What makes Genesis different - A living collection — every level you clear wakes a new creature for your album. Watch your menagerie grow from the first glimmer of light toward the first curious mind. - Deep time, warmly told — 100 levels across 20 eras of Earth's history, from Primordial Dawn through ancient seas, great forests, and beyond, with true bits of science tucked into every chapter. - Cozy on the outside, cerebral on the inside — gooey, glossy cells, a board that glows back at every snap, and puzzles with real "aha" underneath the charm. - Generous by design — the whole 100-level journey is free to finish. No energy meters, no timers ticking while you think, no walls. Optional extras (a hint, a little Genome, a fancy board skin) are there if you want them — never required. - Made for every player — colorblind assist, reduced motion, high contrast, and simple one-handed portrait play. - Chase mastery — earn up to three stars on every level with cleaner, smarter solves, and keep a daily streak going. No account. No reading required to play. Just you, Pip, and the slow, wonderful business of becoming. And Genesis keeps growing — new worlds, creatures, and modes are on the way in free updates. Your album has room to spare. Life never stops becoming. Let's begin!
Gourmet Merge
Combine ingredients to craft dishes and serve customers in a culinary puzzle adventure. Renovate and design your dream bistro, uncover an engaging story, and play at your own pace. Become the ultimate head chef and build your restaurant empire.
- Merge and craft hundreds of items
- Renovate and design your bistro
- Serve unique customer orders
- Uncover an engaging story
- Relaxing, offline gameplay
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Welcome to Gourmet Merge, the ultimate culinary puzzle adventure where your passion for cooking meets bistro design! Combine delicious ingredients, craft mouthwatering dishes, and serve eager customers to earn coins and stars. Transform a run-down diner into a world-class luxury restaurant step-by-step! Key Features: MERGE & CRAFT: Combine hundreds of items! Turn simple beans into gourmet coffee, wheat into fresh pastries, and raw ingredients into five-star delicacies. RENOVATE & DESIGN: Spend your hard-earned rewards to restore tables, outdoor patios, kitchens, and cozy dining rooms. Customize your dream bistro your way! SERVE CUSTOMERS: Fulfill unique customer orders quickly to earn bonus rewards, level up, and unlock new areas of your restaurant. UNCOVER THE STORY: Follow an engaging narrative full of charming characters, culinary rivalries, and exciting kitchen secrets. PLAY AT YOUR OWN PACE: Relax with intuitive, stress-free gameplay anytime, anywhere—no internet required! Are you ready to become the ultimate head chef? Download Gourmet Merge today and start building your restaurant empire!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Gourmet Merge at none against Genesis's shown. Gourmet Merge also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 2 weeks). On price, rating, ratings volume 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. Genesis sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and Gourmet Merge sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Genesis against 5.0 for Gourmet Merge. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.
Genesis ships an update every 2 weeks, Gourmet Merge daily. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Genesis | Gourmet Merge |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Daily — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 15 MB | 135 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Aly Shehata | Maaz Arfi |
In-app purchases
Genesis
- Small Genome Pack$0.99
- Medium Genome Pack$1.99
- Pure Genesis$2.99
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- Large Genome Pack$4.99
- Founder's Pack$4.99
- Mega Genome Pack$9.99
Gourmet Merge
- Gem Pack 1$1.99
- Boost Pack$3.99
- No Ads$4.99
Show 6 moreShow fewer
- Gem Pack 2$5.99
- Pro Pack$7.99
- Gem Pack 3$12.99
- Gem Pack 4$19.99
- Gem Pack 5$59.99
- Gem Pack 6$99.99









