Comparison

Root Down vs Shadow Maker

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

Head to head
About

Root Down

An original abstract strategy game for two players with unique movement rules. Figure out how to move your pieces to capture your opponent's and win. Offers AI play and pass-and-play modes with variable setups.

Highlights
  • Abstract strategy gameplay
  • Unique piece movement rules
  • AI opponent
  • Pass-and-play mode
  • Variable game setups
Features
Read full description

Root Down is an original abstract strategy game designed by Martin Grider for 2-players. It's rules about which pieces you can move are a little quirky, but once you figure it out, it's very quick to play, and has some interesting gameplay mechanics. In Root Down, you have two types of pieces. There are "kicker" pieces that must be next to a "root" piece to move. (Root pieces cannot move.) Kickers can only move exactly as far as the number of kickers next to the root. After a kicker moves, it "kicks" all of the neighboring pieces, then settles down into a new "root" piece. If you kick one of your own root pieces, it becomes another "kicker"! Kicking an opponent's root does the same, and if you kick it again before it has a chance to move, you'll to capture it! The game features an AI player, as well as pass-and-play options. There are several variable setups to chose from. Each one plays slightly different. Please use the "send feedback" button to send me your input, or email me: rootdown@abstractpuzzle.com

About

Shadow Maker

Recreate childhood shadow puppet memories by manipulating objects to form specific shadow shapes on a wall. Solve puzzles by positioning items correctly, avoiding collisions to advance through levels and watch your creations come to life.

Highlights
  • Shadow casting puzzles
  • Object manipulation
  • Collision avoidance
  • Low poly art style
  • Simple controls
Features
Read full description

Evoke your beautiful childhood memory of making shadows on wall using hand gestures or by using objects through playing Shadow Maker game. Get into the world of imagination that evokes the puzzling play of casting a shadow on the wall by moving the objects. Move the objects to their respective positions to form the targeted shadow shape. Use your smart mind to make sure that the objects don't collide. Collision may cause to reset the level. After achieving the targeted shadow shape, you can see the particular shadows moving around. Game features : *Incredible short Puzzles to see amazing shadows being created. * Simple Controls - Hold and Move the Object. * Top-notch Low poly art style. * Easy to Master.

Screenshots

Root Down4 screens
Shadow Maker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Root Down at 100% against Shadow Maker's 29%. Root Down also leads on rating (4.0 vs 2.9) and ads (none vs shown). Shadow Maker's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 27 months) and ratings volume (21 vs 3). On price, 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Root Down holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shadow Maker has 21 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Root Down's written reviews are positive against 29% of Shadow Maker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Root Down ships an update every 27 months, Shadow Maker every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Root Down versus Shadow Maker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRoot DownShadow Maker
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (3 ratings) — better2.9 (21 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better28.6% of reviews
Number of ratings321 — better
Update frequencyEvery 27 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.411.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB199 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMartin GriderStreet Lamp Games Private Limited

Customer experience

Root Down

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Shadow Maker

All ratings21 ratings
Positive38.1%
Neutral14.3%
Negative47.6%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive28.6%
Neutral14.3%
Negative57.1%

In-app purchases

None

Root Down

No in-app purchases

None

Shadow Maker

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Root Down free?
Root Down is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Shadow Maker free?
Shadow Maker is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Root Down or Shadow Maker?
Root Down is rated higher. Root Down averages 4.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Shadow Maker averages 2.9 from 21 ratings.
Do Root Down or Shadow Maker have ads?
Shadow Maker shows ads; Root Down does not.
Which is updated more often, Root Down or Shadow Maker?
Root Down ships an update every 27 months, and Shadow Maker every 2 weeks. Most recently, Root Down was updated on November 1, 2026 and Shadow Maker on November 3, 2026.

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