Comparison

Brain Stars vs Minesweeper Buddy

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

Head to head
About

Brain Stars

Features
Read full description

Train your brain with a collection of fun and challenging puzzle games designed to improve focus, speed, and memory. Whether you have a few minutes to spare or want a longer brain workout, these puzzles will keep your mind active while providing hours of entertainment. Features - Multiple engaging puzzle games - Improve reaction speed and decision-making - Boost focus and concentration - Strengthen memory and pattern recognition - Progressive difficulty levels to match your skills - Suitable for kids, adults, and seniors - Simple controls with an intuitive interface - Play anytime, even without an internet connection Challenge yourself to beat your best scores, sharpen your cognitive abilities, and enjoy a fun daily brain workout. Whether you’re looking to improve your concentration, increase your mental speed, or enhance your memory, this app offers the perfect mix of entertainment and brain training. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Minesweeper Buddy

This classic puzzle game guarantees no guessing with solver-checked boards. Enjoy daily challenges, compete with friends in live duels, and utilize helpful hints. It offers various modes and customization options for a refined Minesweeper experience.

Highlights
  • Solver-checked boards guarantee no guessing
  • Daily Challenge with unique boards
  • Buddy Duel for live multiplayer races
  • Hint system with technique explanations
  • Multiple board sizes and difficulty levels
  • Offline play with Bolty Bot
  • Customizable themes and accessibility options
Features
Read full description

Minesweeper Buddy is the classic game with one promise: you will never have to guess. Every board is checked by a solver before it reaches you, so every mine can be found by reasoning, and Bolty, your lightning-bolt buddy, reacts to every move. NEVER A GUESS • 5,000 boards, 1,000 at each of five sizes: 9×9 with 10 mines up to the classic 16×30 with 99. • Each level is graded by the techniques it needs, from simple counting to 1-2-1 patterns and case analysis. • Three lives: a wrong tap shows the mine and costs 30 seconds, and the game ends on the third. • Stuck? A hint shows the next safe move and names the technique behind it. A NEW BOARD EVERY DAY • The Daily Challenge is the same board for everyone, everywhere, ramping up from Easy on Monday to Master on Sunday. • Build a streak, and catch up on any day you missed from the calendar. • See how today compares with your personal best, your usual time and your trend at every level. PLAY WITH FRIENDS • Buddy Duel: race a friend live on the identical board and watch their progress. • Practice against Bolty Bot, even offline. • Send a "beat my time" challenge over Messages: no account, the board travels in the link. • Game Center leaderboards for every level, the daily and the week, plus 23 trophies. MADE WITH CARE • Tap to open, long-press to flag. • Time Attack mode when you want a sprint, and 3BV stats for the purists. • Board themes, dark mode, large text, VoiceOver and a full iPad layout. • Free to play, with occasional ads that never interrupt a board. One purchase removes them for good — in this game, or in every Buddy game at once with the Thunder Buddy Pass. • No account needed.

Screenshots

Brain Stars4 screens
Minesweeper Buddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Brain Stars at none against Minesweeper Buddy's shown. Brain Stars also leads on iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases 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. Brain Stars sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Minesweeper Buddy sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Brain Stars versus Minesweeper Buddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBrain StarsMinesweeper Buddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 daysEvery 3 days
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.6 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB24 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKumari RekhaThunder Buddy

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Brain Stars

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly$4.991 Month
  • Yearly$24.991 Year
2 purchases

Minesweeper Buddy

One-time2
  • Remove Ads$2.99
  • Thunder Buddy Pass$9.99

Questions

Is Brain Stars free?
Brain Stars is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Minesweeper Buddy free?
Minesweeper Buddy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Brain Stars or Minesweeper Buddy have ads?
Minesweeper Buddy shows ads; Brain Stars does not.
Which is updated more often, Brain Stars or Minesweeper Buddy?
Brain Stars ships an update every 3 days, and Minesweeper Buddy every 3 days. Most recently, Brain Stars was updated on October 25, 2026 and Minesweeper Buddy on October 29, 2026.

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