Comparison

Gyre vs Tile Isle

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

Head to head
About

Gyre

Features
Read full description

Six coloured rings stand between your marker and the compass in the middle. Turn the rings until the gaps line up, roll the marker through, and find the shortest way out. 99 mazes, on iPhone and Apple Watch. HOW TO PLAY Swipe anywhere on the maze to turn the selected ring. Tap a coloured thumb under the board to pick another ring. Swipe the marker up or down and it rolls along the top lane, as far as the open gaps let it. READ THE DOTS Several rings can cover the same wall. The dots on the centre line show which rings still block the way. When a ring turns green, the path is open. Line up the gaps first, then move. EVERY MAZE IS FAIR No luck, no dead ends. A solver checks every maze before it ships, so there is always a way through, and par is the fewest moves possible. Replay a level and you get the same maze, so you can learn it and beat your own best. THREE STARS PER LEVEL Finish at or under par for three stars. One star unlocks the next maze, so you can keep going now and come back for a better route later. 99 mazes that get harder step by step, up to traps that run two rings deep. ON YOUR WRIST Gyre also runs on Apple Watch, no iPhone needed. Turn the rings with the Digital Crown and swipe to move the marker. Your stars sync both ways, so a maze you beat on the watch counts on the phone too. Levels 1-8 are free on the watch; one purchase unlocks the rest. MADE FOR QUIET MOMENTS - Works offline - No account, no sign-up - Light theme by day, dark theme at night - Pick your marker style and size, and how big the wall dots are - Sound, haptics and motion cues can all be turned off - No energy, no timers, no move limits FREE TO PLAY On iPhone, Gyre is free with a small banner ad. One purchase removes the ad for good. The only other purchase is the watch level pack. Level 1 is waiting. Start turning.

About

Tile Isle

A multiplayer word game for up to 8 players, offering offline play against AI or local pass-and-play. Customize match rules, enjoy classic crossword mechanics, and track games with companion apps.

Highlights
  • Up to 8 player multiplayer
  • Offline play against AI
  • Customizable match rules
  • Classic crossword mechanics
  • Apple Watch companion app
  • Match history and dictionary
Features
Read full description

Welcome to Tile Isle, a multiplayer word game designed for groups large and small. Key Features • Multiplayer for up to 8 Players, play with a massive group of friends! • Play Offline: Play against up to 7 CPU opponents across 4 difficulty levels, or pass your device around to take turns with multiple people. No internet connection needed. • Customizable Match Rules: Tailor every game to fit your playstyle. Mix up the rules with a multitude of configuration options, including bigger board sizes, special tiles, and a ton of options for scoring and multipliers. • Classic Word Mechanics: Enjoy familiar, satisfying crossword-style tile placement where strategic positioning and vocabulary are your keys to success. • Quick, Effortless Matchmaking: Sign in automatically with Game Center, no account to create. Jump into Quick Play, get matched at random, or invite friends by simply sending a link. • Stay in the Game: Track your matches from your wrist with the Apple Watch companion app and complications, or check in from your Home Screen or Lock Screen with widgets. • Match History & Dictionary: Review every turn of a match: words played, definitions, and points earned. • Make It Yours: Personalize your board with purchasable themes.

Screenshots

Gyre4 screens
Tile Isle4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Tile Isle at none against Gyre's shown. Gyre's advantage is iOS requirement (16.4 vs 18.0). 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. Gyre sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Tile Isle sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Gyre ships an update weekly, Tile Isle every 4 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Gyre versus Tile Isle: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGyreTile Isle
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 4 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS16.4 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size50 MB16 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperViktor SlivinskyiEvan Peacock

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Gyre

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99
10 purchases

Tile Isle

One-time10
  • Halloween Theme$1.99
  • Winter Theme$1.99
  • Volcanic Theme$1.99
Show 7 more
  • Autumn theme$1.99
  • Cherry Blossom Theme$1.99
  • Valentine's Day Theme$1.99
  • 4th of July Theme$1.99
  • New Year's Eve Theme$1.99
  • Lunar New Year Theme$1.99
  • All Themes Bundle$14.99

Questions

Is Gyre free?
Gyre is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Tile Isle free?
Tile Isle is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Gyre or Tile Isle have ads?
Gyre shows ads; Tile Isle does not.
Which is updated more often, Gyre or Tile Isle?
Gyre ships an update weekly, and Tile Isle every 4 days. Most recently, Gyre was updated on October 31, 2026 and Tile Isle on October 31, 2026.

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