# Shadowmatic vs Rules!

The clearest difference is rating: Shadowmatic at 4.8 against Rules!'s 4.2. Shadowmatic also leads on ratings volume (2.1K vs 67) and review sentiment (86% vs 69%). Rules!'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and price ($2.99 vs $3.99). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Shadowmatic costs $3.99 and Rules! $2.99 up front. Shadowmatic sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Rules! asks for nothing beyond the download.

Shadowmatic holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shadowmatic has 2.1K ratings behind it against 67, 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 69% of Rules!'s.

Shadowmatic ships an update every 2 months, Rules! monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shadowmatic | Rules! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **$2.99** |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowmatic/id775888026/reviews)** | [4.2 (67 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rules/id840811083/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.1K** | 67 |
| Positive reviews | **85.8% of reviews** | 68.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#36** | — |
| Size | 388 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.2 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TRIADA Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/775888029) | [137b](https://appshunter.io/developer/411511949) |

## What reviewers say

### Shadowmatic

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

**Currently charting:** #36 Top Paid · Family, #82 Top Paid · Puzzle (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


### Rules!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/rules/id840811083)

Engage in a fast-paced, challenging, and fun puzzle game with a hundred levels. Features a daily brain workout for Apple Watch and animated stickers. Offers multiple game modes and unique mechanics.

**Highlights:** Daily Apple Watch brain workout, Animated sticker pack, Beginner, Expert, or Timeless game modes, Multi-touch interface, Color perception assistance, Surprising new game mechanics

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Challenging and fun game
- 👍 Gorgeous design and smooth UI
- 👍 Great brain workout
- 👍 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Fair monetization with no ads or IAPs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Very short time limit
- 🔁 Having to restart from level 1 after losing
- 🎨 Colorblind-unfriendly
- 🤔 Repetitive gameplay with same rule order

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing and crashing issues, especially on Apple Watch
- Unresponsive tapping on certain tiles

**Requested features**

- Option to save progress and continue from last level
- Randomized rule order
- Difficulty settings with longer time limits
- Colorblind accessibility options
- More game modes and challenges


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shadowmatic free?

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

### Is Rules! free?

Rules! costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Shadowmatic or Rules!?

Shadowmatic is rated higher. Shadowmatic averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Rules! averages 4.2 from 67 ratings.

### Do Shadowmatic or Rules! have ads?

Neither Shadowmatic nor Rules! shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shadowmatic or Rules!?

Shadowmatic ships an update every 2 months, and Rules! monthly. Most recently, Shadowmatic was updated on September 25, 2026 and Rules! on September 22, 2026.

---

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