Comparison

Sudoku Star vs Basic NumberPlace Red

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

Head to head
About

Sudoku Star

This is a classic Sudoku puzzle game designed for enthusiasts. It offers unlimited games, multiple difficulty levels, and advanced features like pencil marks and error highlighting. Enjoy a clean interface optimized for playability on iOS devices.

Highlights
  • Unlimited Sudoku games
  • Five difficulty levels
  • Built-in solver
  • Autosave and restore
  • Game statistics tracking
  • Automatic and manual pencil marks
  • Color-coded error and conflict highlighting
Features
Read full description

Sudoku game optimized for serious Sudoku players! Check out our reviews: "Best Sudoku. Best one out there. Great game play." "Best? Yes it is! I've played my share of sudoku games, and this one tops them" "Hands down, this is the best sudoku implementation on the iPhone." "The best iPhone Soduku game there is. Intuitive and easy to learn user interface, with all the the right features and functions." "Best Sudoku on any computer. This is the best Sudoku that I have seen for any computing device." "This is the best sudoku! I love sudoku and I downloaded and paid for a lot of different sudoku games, but this is the only one I kept on my iPhone and the only one I've kept playing. Thanks for doing such an awesome job on this game!" "Now try the best. Tried/bought numerous 'top-rated' Sudoku apps and they all have something to offer; this is the one I actually play. Wish I would have found this one earlier." "Great Sudoku for iPhone! The best iPhone Sudoku game there is." "Wow. Believe the reviews. Sudoku Star is that good." Platform: • Universal app for iPhone + iPad, iOS 15 or later • Optimized for all iPhone and iPad screen sizes Basics: • Unlimited number of games, five doubly-graded levels of play • Symmetric games with unique solutions • Six built-in color schemes • Built-in solver • Autosave and restore of game in progress • Game stats: wins, best/average times, percentile, trend, mistakes Gameplay automation: • Both automatic and manual pencil marks • Integrated, graduated hint system • Bookmarks stack for trial-and-error backtracking Visualization: • Optional color-coded errors • Optional color-coded conflicts • Optional highlighting of selected digits and marks • Digits done feedback Great user interface: • Both digit-first and cell-first entry • Large, easy-to-read digits • Unlimited undo and redo, undo to last correct • No pop-up entry menus covering board • All key features accessible from main screen • Optimized to maximize playability • Respects your privacy, collects no data linked to you

About

Basic NumberPlace Red

This game challenges players to fill a 9x9 grid with numbers 1-9. Numbers must not repeat in any row, column, or 3x3 subgrid. The game provides a partially filled grid to start.

Highlights
  • 9x9 grid puzzle
  • Number placement 1-9
  • Row, column, and 3x3 subgrid rules
  • Pre-filled numbers
  • Sudoku gameplay
Features
Read full description

"Number Place Red" is a game where players enter numbers 1 to 9 in 9 by 9 cells, which consist of 9 sets of 3 by 3 cells, in columns, rows, and 3 by 3 cells without overlapping any two of them. - The 9 by 9 cells, which consist of 9 groups of 3 by 3, already contain the numbers in question. - If you manage to enter numbers 1 to 9 in columns, rows, and 3 by 3 cells without overlaps based on the numbers in question, the game is over. Number Place = Sudoku( 数独 ) Numpre!

Screenshots

Sudoku Star4 screens
Basic NumberPlace Red4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Basic NumberPlace Red at 5.0 against Sudoku Star's 4.5. Basic NumberPlace Red also leads on monetization model (free vs ad-supported) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15.5). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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

Basic NumberPlace Red holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sudoku Star ships an update every 12 months, Basic NumberPlace Red every 21 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Sudoku Star versus Basic NumberPlace Red: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSudoku StarBasic NumberPlace Red
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (2 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 12 months — betterEvery 21 months
Ads—No
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationAd-supportedFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.57.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB10 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperWildcrest AssociatesRUCKYGAMES CO., LTD.

Customer experience

Sudoku Star

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Basic NumberPlace Red

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Sudoku Star

No in-app purchases

None

Basic NumberPlace Red

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Sudoku Star free?
Sudoku Star is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Basic NumberPlace Red free?
Basic NumberPlace Red is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Sudoku Star or Basic NumberPlace Red?
Basic NumberPlace Red is rated higher. Sudoku Star averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Basic NumberPlace Red averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Which is updated more often, Sudoku Star or Basic NumberPlace Red?
Sudoku Star ships an update every 12 months, and Basic NumberPlace Red every 21 months. Most recently, Sudoku Star was updated on October 3, 2026 and Basic NumberPlace Red on October 4, 2026.

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