Comparison

Engineering Adventures vs Osmo Words Classic

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

Head to head
About

Engineering Adventures

This app complements an out-of-school engineering curriculum by providing audio messages triggered by QR codes in accompanying journals. It covers 11 different engineering units, from building earthquake-resistant structures to designing space gloves.

Highlights
  • QR code scanner
  • Audio messages from characters
  • 11 engineering units
  • Complements curriculum
  • Interactive learning
Features
Read full description

Messages from the Duo is designed to be used in conjunction with the out-of-school time engineering curriculum Engineering Adventures. Eleven units are available, including: 1. Hop to It: Safe Removal of Invasive Species 2. Bubble Bonanza: Engineering Bubble Wands 3. To the Rescue: Engineering Aid Drop Packages 4. Shake Things Up: Engineering Earthquake Resistant Buildings 5. Go Green: Engineering Recycled Racers 6. Liftoff: Engineering Rockets and Rovers 7. The Sky’s the Limit: Engineering Flying Technologies 8. Music to My Ears: An Acoustical Engineering Challenge 9. A Slippery Slope: Engineering Avalanche Protection Systems 10. Light Up the Night: An Electrical Engineering Challenge 11. In Good Hands: Engineering Space Gloves Educators and kids can use the special QR code scanner in this app to scan the codes in their Engineering Journals and play audio messages from India and Jacob, Engineering Adventures’ “travelling duo.” For more information about how to download or purchase an Educator Guide and Engineering Journal, visit the Engineering Adventures website at engineeringadventures.org. Produced by Owen Berliner and the Engineering is Elementary Team Developed by Sean Fitzgerald and Tarrant Cutler Illustrated by Ross Sullivan-Wiley

About

Osmo Words Classic

Embark on a word puzzle adventure where you guess and spell words based on on-screen images. Engage in collaborative or competitive play with friends or AI characters. This app blends physical and digital play for a magical learning experience.

Highlights
  • Guess and spell words from images
  • Collaborative and competitive play
  • Physical and digital interaction
  • Word puzzle adventure
  • Hands-on learning experience
Read full description

Explore the land of Words, a magical place where characters challenge you to guess and spell the on-screen images. Play collaboratively or competitively with your real-life friends or our loveable characters! Words have power in this adventure! Will you become the Word Champion? "This interplay between the physical and digital realms looks and feels like magic." - Forbes "Osmo has been a revolution in our family." - Wired Awarded: **Best Design** - Good Design, 2016 **Best Product Designs** - Fast Company Finalist, 2016 **Innovative Toy of the Year** - TOTY Finalist, 2015 **Best Inventions** - TIME, 2014 *Requires the Osmo Base and Words tiles found at www.playosmo.com * Please see our device compatibility list here: https://support.playosmo.com/hc/articles/115010156067 About Osmo: Osmo is using the screen to create a new healthy, hands-on learning experience that promotes creativity, problem solving and social interaction. We do this with our reflective artificial technology.

Screenshots

Engineering Adventures3 screens
Osmo Words Classic4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Engineering Adventures at free against Osmo Words Classic's free with in-app purchases. Engineering Adventures also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 15.0). Osmo Words Classic's advantage is ratings volume (271 vs 3) and rating (4.0 vs 3.7). On price, review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Osmo Words Classic holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Osmo Words Classic has 271 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 33% and 34% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Engineering Adventures ships an update every 7 months, Osmo Words Classic every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and November 12, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Engineering Adventures versus Osmo Words Classic: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEngineering AdventuresOsmo Words Classic
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)4.0 (271 ratings) — better
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews33.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3271 — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size159 MB305 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMuseum of ScienceTangible Play

Customer experience

Engineering Adventures

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

Osmo Words Classic

All ratings271 ratings
Positive74.5%
Neutral5.5%
Negative19.9%
Written reviews109 reviews
Positive33.9%
Neutral9.2%
Negative56.9%

Bugs and requests

Engineering Adventures

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Osmo Words Classic

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • App crashes on startup or during gameplay
  • App closes unexpectedly after completing levels
  • Tile recognition fails (e.g., D recognized as C, B as P)
  • Stuck on 'Please Wait, Downloading' screen indefinitely
  • White/blank screen on app launch
Show 7 more
  • App freezes during level transitions
  • Update installation freezes and drains battery
  • Incompatibility with iOS 17 devices
  • Menu screen displays nothing
  • App won't open on iPhone despite download
  • Game randomly closes before battles begin
  • Double-counting letter tiles and false error buzzes

Requested features

11 requests
  • Lowercase letter option for early readers
  • Adjustable difficulty settings and timer options
  • More vocabulary words and content levels
  • Chapter 2 and additional game chapters
  • Ability to load custom images and family names
Show 6 more
  • Language switching within app without iPad settings change
  • Sight words and alphabet learning levels
  • Larger vocabulary library for junior games
  • Handwritten text recognition instead of tiles only
  • Divider for competitive multiplayer mode
  • British English and international vocabulary options

In-app purchases

None

Engineering Adventures

No in-app purchases

None

Osmo Words Classic

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Engineering Adventures free?
Engineering Adventures is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Osmo Words Classic free?
Osmo Words Classic is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Engineering Adventures or Osmo Words Classic?
Osmo Words Classic is rated higher. Engineering Adventures averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Osmo Words Classic averages 4.0 from 271 ratings.
Do Engineering Adventures or Osmo Words Classic have ads?
Neither Engineering Adventures nor Osmo Words Classic shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Engineering Adventures or Osmo Words Classic?
Engineering Adventures ships an update every 7 months, and Osmo Words Classic every 2 months. Most recently, Engineering Adventures was updated on November 11, 2026 and Osmo Words Classic on November 12, 2026.

Other comparisons