Comparison

Criminal Case vs Criminal Case

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

Head to head
About

Criminal Case

Engage in a captivating detective adventure by investigating crime scenes, gathering clues, and interrogating suspects. Analyze evidence to uncover the truth and bring murderers to justice in a grim city. Prove your detective prowess in this immersive hidden object game.

Highlights
  • Investigate crime scenes
  • Examine and analyze clues
  • Interrogate witnesses and suspects
  • Solve murder cases
  • Play with friends
  • Analyze evidence
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

A murder has been reported in Grimsborough, Detective. Grab your badge — the Chief is waiting. Criminal Case is the original hidden object detective game: the award-winning phenomenon that has turned more than 100 million players into detectives since 2012. Search crime scenes for clues, examine the evidence, interrogate the suspects — and when the proof is solid, arrest the killer yourself. INVESTIGATE CRIME SCENES Every case starts at the scene of the crime. Search gorgeous hand-drawn locations for hidden objects and vital clues, race the clock for the best score, and earn the stars that move your investigation forward. RUN THE LAB Take your findings to the forensics team. Analyze samples, decode messages, reconstruct torn documents and match fingerprints. In Grimsborough, every detail talks — if you know how to listen. INTERROGATE THE SUSPECTS Bring witnesses and suspects in for questioning. Compare their statements with the facts, catch them lying, and profile your killer trait by trait until only one name is left. ARREST THE KILLER Most mystery games end when you find the last object. Criminal Case is where it gets serious: match the evidence to your suspects and put the right one behind bars. Get it wrong, and a killer walks free. ONE CITY. 56 CASES. ONE CONSPIRACY. From the smokestacks of the Industrial Area to the runways of the Airport, the six districts of Grimsborough hide 56 murder cases — and the deeper you dig, the clearer it becomes that they are all connected. THE ORIGINAL, SINCE 2012 Facebook Game of the Year 2013. More than 100 million detectives worldwide. The classic that defined crime investigation games on mobile — still updated, still free, still one of a kind. Played back in the day? Welcome back, partner. Jones kept your desk exactly as you left it. BETTER WITH FRIENDS Connect with your friends to team up on investigations, compare your detective skills on the leaderboards, and send each other energy and gifts. THE FIRST OF 8 SEASONS Grimsborough is where the saga begins. Once you have cleaned up this city, seven more seasons of Criminal Case are waiting for you — from Pacific Bay all the way to Paris. Criminal Case is free to play, with optional in-app purchases (you can disable these in your device settings). The optional Pizza subscription raises your energy bar to 170 and removes ads: 2.99 USD/week (or local equivalent) after a 3-day free trial, auto-renewing unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Terms of Service: https://prettysimplegames.com/legal/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://www.prettysimplegames.com/legal/privacy-policy The killer thinks they got away with it, Detective. Prove them wrong.

About

Criminal Case

Engage in a thrilling hidden object adventure game where you join the police force to solve murder mysteries. Investigate crime scenes, analyze evidence, and interrogate suspects to bring killers to justice. Prove your detective prowess in this captivating storyline.

Highlights
  • Investigate crime scenes
  • Examine and analyze clues
  • Interrogate witnesses and suspects
  • Catch killers
  • Hidden object gameplay
  • Adventure storyline
Features
Read full description

A murder has been reported on Ocean Shore, Detective. Welcome to Pacific Bay — where paradise has a dark side. Criminal Case: Pacific Bay is the second season of the award-winning hidden object detective series that has turned more than 100 million players into detectives. Search crime scenes for clues, examine the evidence, interrogate the suspects — and when the proof is solid, arrest the killer yourself. Standalone story: no prior season needed. INVESTIGATE CRIME SCENES Every case starts at the scene of the crime. Search gorgeous hand-drawn locations for hidden objects and vital clues, race the clock for the best score, and earn the stars that move your investigation forward. RUN THE LAB Bring your findings to the Pacific Bay crime lab. Analyze samples, decode messages, reconstruct torn documents and match fingerprints. In this city, every detail talks — if you know how to listen. INTERROGATE THE SUSPECTS Bring witnesses and suspects in for questioning. Compare their statements with the facts, catch them lying, and profile your killer trait by trait until only one name is left. ARREST THE KILLER Most mystery games end when you find the last object. Criminal Case is where it gets serious: match the evidence to your suspects and put the right one behind bars. Get it wrong, and a killer walks free. A WHOLE CITY TO CLEAN UP From the boardwalk of Ocean Shore to the swamps of Bayou Bleu, from the movie studios of Ivywood Hills to the casinos of Paradise City — every neighborhood of Pacific Bay is a different slice of America, and every one of them hides a killer. Case after case, the deeper you dig, the clearer it becomes: something is rotten in paradise. MEET YOUR PARTNERS Officer Amy Young — rookie, brilliant, and far too honest for this city. Detective Frank Knight — veteran, cynical, and hiding more than he lets on. With Chief Marquez's team behind you and a coroner who swears the corpses talk to her, you never investigate alone. FROM THE MAKERS OF THE ORIGINAL Facebook Game of the Year 2013. More than 100 million detectives worldwide. Pacific Bay is season two of the saga that defined crime investigation games on mobile — still updated, still free, still one of a kind. Cleaned up Pacific Bay back in the day? Welcome back, partner. Amy saved you a seat, and Frank saved you the paperwork. BETTER WITH FRIENDS Connect with your friends to team up on investigations, compare your detective skills on the leaderboards, and send each other energy and gifts. SEASON 2 OF 8 Pacific Bay is one chapter of the Criminal Case saga. Start here, or go back to Grimsborough where it all began — then follow your badge around the world, through time, and all the way to Paris. Criminal Case: Pacific Bay is free to play, with optional in-app purchases (you can disable these in your device settings). Terms of Service: https://prettysimplegames.com/legal/terms-of-service Privacy Policy: https://www.prettysimplegames.com/legal/privacy-policy The tide can wash away footprints, Detective. It can't wash away evidence.

Screenshots

Criminal Case4 screens
Criminal Case4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is chart position: Criminal Case at #143 against Criminal Case's unranked. Criminal Case also leads on ratings volume (36K vs 6.9K). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence 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. Criminal Case sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Criminal Case sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Criminal Case against 4.7 for Criminal Case. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Criminal Case has 36K ratings behind it against 6.9K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 60% of Criminal Case's written reviews are positive against 61% of Criminal Case's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 5, 2026.

Scorecard2 real differences · 9 level
Criminal Case versus Criminal Case: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCriminal CaseCriminal Case
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (36K ratings)4.7 (6.9K ratings) — better
Positive reviews59.9% of reviews60.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings36K — better6.9K
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#143 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.615.6
Further details — not scored
Size132 MB138 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperPretty SimplePretty Simple

Customer experience

Criminal Case

All ratings35,824 ratings
Positive91.6%
Neutral3.0%
Negative5.4%
Written reviews1,032 reviews
Positive59.9%
Neutral10.2%
Negative29.9%

Criminal Case

All ratings6,865 ratings
Positive92.6%
Neutral2.6%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews987 reviews
Positive60.9%
Neutral12.2%
Negative27.0%

User reviews

Criminal Case

From 36K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎮 Fun and intriguing game
  • 🕵️‍♀️ Interesting crime stories and puzzles
  • 🧠 Challenging and mentally stimulating
  • 🎨 Great graphics and visuals

Room to improve

  • 💰 Excessive ads and in-app purchases
  • ⌚ Slow energy recharge and long wait times
  • 🤖 Poor customer support and lack of response
  • 🔁 Repetitive gameplay and tedious tasks
  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and technical issues

Criminal Case

From 6.9K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💕 Addictive and fun
  • 🕵️‍♀️ Engaging crime stories
  • 🎨 Interesting characters
  • 🔍 Challenging hidden object scenes

Room to improve

  • 💰 Excessive in-app purchases
  • 🕰️ Long wait times for energy/lab results
  • 📺 Intrusive and frequent ads
  • 🐛 Bugs and crashes
  • 🔄 Lack of progress transfer between games

Bugs and requests

Criminal Case

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Inability to connect to Facebook and sync progress
  • Disappearing energy and in-game items
  • Freezing and crashing during gameplay

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to save energy and progress across sessions
  • More efficient energy system and reduced wait times
  • Improved customer support and communication
  • Reduced reliance on ads and in-app purchases

Criminal Case

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Sticker packs disappearing
  • Facebook login issues
  • Freezing and crashing after updates
  • Energy and progress not properly carried over when leveling up

Requested features

4 requests
  • Option to skip daily bonus spin
  • Ability to carry over progress and items between games
  • More interactive gameplay with characters
  • Reduced wait times and energy requirements

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Criminal Case

Subscriptions1
  • Pizza3 Days trial$2.997 Days
One-time9
  • Instant Analysis$0.99
  • Ham$0.99
  • Instant Access$0.99
Show 6 more
  • Instant Analysis$1.99
  • Instant Analysis$2.99
  • Pizza$2.99
  • 1 Complete Meal$3.99
  • 1 Burger$4.99
  • 2 Burgers + 1 Free Orange Juice$9.99
10 purchases

Criminal Case

Subscriptions1
  • Pizza3 Days trial$2.997 Days
One-time9
  • Instant Analysis$0.99
  • Instant Access$0.99
  • 1 Burger$0.99
Show 6 more
  • Instant Analysis$1.99
  • Instant Analysis$2.99
  • Pizza$2.99
  • Instant Analysis$3.99
  • 1 Complete Meal$3.99
  • 1 Burger + 50,000 Coins$4.99

Questions

Is Criminal Case free?
Criminal Case is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Criminal Case free?
Criminal Case is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Criminal Case or Criminal Case?
Criminal Case is rated higher. Criminal Case averages 4.7 out of 5 from 36K ratings, while Criminal Case averages 4.7 from 6.9K ratings.
Do Criminal Case or Criminal Case have ads?
Both Criminal Case and Criminal Case show ads.
Which is updated more often, Criminal Case or Criminal Case?
Criminal Case ships an update every 3 months, and Criminal Case every 3 months. Most recently, Criminal Case was updated on November 5, 2026 and Criminal Case on November 5, 2026.

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