Quadrivium vs Squared2
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side โ with what reviewers say about each.
Quadrivium
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Four logic puzzles on one square grid. Futoshiki, Skyscrapers, Magic Square and Calcudoku share the same board. In three of them every digit appears once per row and column, and the Magic Square uses every number exactly once. What differs is the clue around the grid: the signs between two cells, the numbers along the edge, the sum of every line, the target of a cage. Every puzzle is generated when you start it. You choose the size and the level, and for Calcudoku also which operations appear and how large a cage may grow. The hint never leaves you stuck. It names the rule that applies right now and shows the cells it applies to. Every puzzle the app builds can be solved with the techniques of its own level: no guessing, no dead ends. A daily puzzle, one puzzle type per weekday. Statistics, achievements, ten color worlds, and a newspaper world of its own on iPad. No account, no ads, no tracking. What you play stays on your device. I build this on my own: every rule, every hint, all 45 languages, one desk. No studio behind me, no ads, no tracking, no subscription. Write to me and a person answers. Happy puzzling, Tobias
Squared2
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No Ads, No Subscriptions, No Tracking. Draw the fourth side. Claim the box. Take another turn. In Squared2, one well-timed move can open a whole chain and turn a close game around. The pencil-and-paper classic Dots and Boxes is back for quick matches and friendly rivalries. Play with two, three, or four people, or challenge the computer. This is a game I remember playing in school with my friends, and I am so pleased to bring it to a new, modern digital format. This game goes by a few other names too, depending on where you grew up: Boxes, Squares, Paddocks, or Pigs in a Pen. MORE WAYS TO PLAY TOGETHER - Pass & Play: gather around one screen and take turns. - Live online: challenge friends and trade moves in real time. - Turn-based online: take your turn when it suits you, without needing everyone online together. - Nearby: connect on separate devices and play people in the room. Each seats two, three, or four players. Online matches use Game Center. Local and nearby play do not require a Game Center account. Online features are subject to account restrictions. THE PAPER CLASSIC, MADE FOR YOUR SCREEN Clean dot grids, colorful claims, and an ink-on-paper design in light and dark keep the board easy to follow. Play on iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac, with support for 50 languages. One purchase covers all four: play with the Siri Remote on the TV, or with menus and the keyboard on the Mac. OPTIMIZED FOR IPHONE DUO Open the phone and the board fills the inner display; close it and your game carries on, on the outer display, right where you were. SIMPLE RULES. SATISFYING TACTICS. Join two dots with a line. Complete a box and it belongs to you, marked with your initial or player number. You also get another turn. Finish with the most boxes to win. The challenge is knowing which line to leave. Give away the wrong opening and your opponent may collect a chain of boxes before you play again. Look ahead, time your moves, and make the next turn count. How to Play and the Video Instructions teach the chain strategy. PICK YOUR PACE Choose eight board presets, from 3ร3 dots to a sprawling 12ร12 grid. Start small for a quick round or settle into a larger contest. The Swedish opening begins with the border already drawn, changing the choices from the first move. Four computer strengths, Easy through Expert, give you room to learn and a reason to improve. Ask for a hint when you want a nudge, undo during local play to try another approach, and revisit a finished game with Watch Replay. KEEP YOUR PLACE. BUILD YOUR RECORD. Local games save as you play, with room for up to six unfinished games, and iCloud carries them to your other devices. Return when you're ready for the next round. Earn XP in qualifying games, climb the levels, and pursue 28 achievements and six Game Center leaderboards. Track your wins, boxes, chains, and progress. Pass & Play is for the rivalry, not XP. One purchase. No subscriptions or in-app purchases. No third-party ads or tracking. We may show you our other games. Pick a board. Bring your friends. Leave them one less box.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Squared2 at weekly against Quadrivium's every 2 months. Squared2 also leads on price ($1.99 vs $3.99) and device support (4 vs 2). On ads, in-app purchases and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS
Quadrivium costs $3.99 and Squared2 $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Quadrivium ships an update every 2 months, Squared2 weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 31, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Quadrivium | Squared2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 | $1.99 โ better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Weekly โ better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV โ better |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17.0 โ better |
| Further details โ not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 12 MB |
| Age rating | +4 | +4 |
| Developer | Tobias Reithmeier | HOLLENDER CONSULTING LLC |
In-app purchases
Quadrivium
No in-app purchases
Squared2
No in-app purchases









