# Criminal Case vs Backyard Hunt

The clearest difference is ads: Backyard Hunt at none against Criminal Case's shown. Backyard Hunt also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). Criminal Case's advantage is chart position (#136 vs unranked). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Criminal Case sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Backyard Hunt sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Criminal Case ships an update every 3 months, Backyard Hunt every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Criminal Case | Backyard Hunt |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (36K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/criminal-case-hidden-objects/id767473889/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **36K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 59.9% of reviews | **66.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#136** | — |
| Size | 132 MB | 133 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Pretty Simple](https://appshunter.io/developer/767473892) | [R-DEV LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/1583687284) |

## What reviewers say

### Criminal Case

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/criminal-case-hidden-objects/id767473889)

**Currently charting:** #136 Top Free · Adventure (US App Store)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pizza | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Instant Analysis | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ham | $0.99 | one-time |
| Instant Access | $0.99 | one-time |
| Instant Analysis | $1.99 | one-time |
| Instant Analysis | $2.99 | one-time |
| Pizza | $2.99 | one-time |
| 1 Complete Meal | $3.99 | one-time |
| 1 Burger | $4.99 | one-time |
| 2 Burgers + 1 Free Orange Juice | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Backyard Hunt

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backyard-hunt-scavenger-game/id6477857266)

Create and play custom QR code scavenger hunts for interactive adventures. Design hunts with various clue types and themes, then share them for real-world exploration and learning. Suitable for all ages and events, it encourages problem-solving and outdoor activity.

**Highlights:** Custom QR code scavenger hunts, Themed templates or start from scratch, Add custom clues, riddles, and tasks, Print or share QR codes, Solve clues to unlock next location, Adjust clue difficulty for all ages, Play solo or invite others

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro Monthly | $8.99 | per month |
| Pro Annualy | $89.99 | per year |
| Backyard Hunt Pro Lifetime | $119.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Criminal Case free?

Criminal Case is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Backyard Hunt free?

Backyard Hunt is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Criminal Case or Backyard Hunt have ads?

Criminal Case shows ads; Backyard Hunt does not.

### Which is updated more often, Criminal Case or Backyard Hunt?

Criminal Case ships an update every 3 months, and Backyard Hunt every 3 weeks. Most recently, Criminal Case was updated on November 10, 2026 and Backyard Hunt on November 4, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*