# Shadowmatic vs Crookhaven

The clearest difference is rating: Shadowmatic at 4.8 against Crookhaven's 4.3. Shadowmatic also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 71%) and ratings volume (2.1K vs 168). Crookhaven's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and update cadence (daily vs every 2 months). On ads, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

Shadowmatic costs $3.99 and Crookhaven $4.99 up front. Shadowmatic sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Crookhaven asks for nothing beyond the download.

Shadowmatic holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shadowmatic has 2.1K ratings behind it against 168, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Shadowmatic's written reviews are positive against 71% of Crookhaven's.

Shadowmatic ships an update every 2 months, Crookhaven daily. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shadowmatic | Crookhaven |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$3.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowmatic/id775888026/reviews)** | [4.3 (168 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crookhaven/id6473502953/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.1K** | 168 |
| Positive reviews | **85.8% of reviews** | 71.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | #104 | **#101** |
| Size | 388 MB | 358 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TRIADA Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/775888029) | [Fire Maple Games, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1446763739) |

## What reviewers say

### Shadowmatic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowmatic/id775888026)

**Currently charting:** #104 Top Paid · Family (US App Store)

Rotate abstract objects in a spotlight to cast recognizable silhouettes. Explore unique environments with captivating music and stunning visuals. Discover unexpected shapes and solve mind-bending puzzles.

**Highlights:** Rotate abstract objects, Create recognizable silhouettes, Stunning visuals, Relaxing gameplay, Unique thematic environments, Assistant button for hints

**Features:** iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pack of 20 Hint-Points | $0.99 | one-time |
| "Other Worlds" chapter | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 50 Hint-Points | $1.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 150 Hint-Points | $3.99 | one-time |
| Pack of 500 Hint-Points | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Unique and creative gameplay
- 👍 Relaxing and calming experience
- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and visuals
- 🧠 Challenging puzzles that exercise the mind
- 🎶 Soothing background music

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Precision issues with controls, especially for complex puzzles
- 🤔 Unclear objectives at times, making it difficult to understand what the desired solution is
- ⏱️ Frustration when getting stuck on a puzzle for a long time
- 👀 Difficult for left-handed players due to the positioning of the controls

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes or freezes on certain devices, especially newer iPad models
- Progress not saving properly, causing players to lose progress

**Requested features**

- More levels and new puzzle types to keep the game fresh
- Ability to save progress and resume puzzles
- Option to mirror the game screen for left-handed players
- Hints that provide more useful guidance, not just the final solution


### Crookhaven

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crookhaven/id6473502953)

**Currently charting:** #101 Top Paid · Family (US App Store)

Embark on a captivating treasure hunt in a charming seaside town. Decipher cryptic clues and uncover the secrets of a lost pirate fortune buried beneath the town's rich history. Prepare for a thrilling adventure filled with intriguing characters.

**Highlights:** Treasure hunt adventure, Decipher cryptic clues, Uncover lost pirate fortune, Explore a seaside town, Engage with intriguing characters

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Beautiful artwork and graphics
- 🤔 Engaging puzzles and mysteries
- 🕹️ Fun and immersive gameplay
- 🕰️ Lengthy and satisfying experience
- 🎮 Charming and nostalgic Fire Maple style

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🗺️ Overly large and confusing map
- 🔁 Repetitive fetch quests and back-and-forth
- 🤖 Obvious use of AI-generated art
- 🔋 Overheating issues on some devices
- 💰 Expensive for an older-style point-and-click game

**Reported bugs**

- Black screen issues on launch
- Inventory item display glitches

**Requested features**

- Ability to teleport between locations
- More intuitive map with location markers
- Clearer objectives and less backtracking
- Option to disable AI-generated art
- Improved performance optimization


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shadowmatic free?

Shadowmatic costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Crookhaven free?

Crookhaven costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Shadowmatic or Crookhaven?

Shadowmatic is rated higher. Shadowmatic averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Crookhaven averages 4.3 from 168 ratings.

### Do Shadowmatic or Crookhaven have ads?

Neither Shadowmatic nor Crookhaven shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shadowmatic or Crookhaven?

Shadowmatic ships an update every 2 months, and Crookhaven daily. Most recently, Shadowmatic was updated on October 17, 2026 and Crookhaven on October 16, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Shadowmatic or Crookhaven?

Shadowmatic currently peaks at #104 in the App Store charts, and Crookhaven at #101. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

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