# Shadowmatic vs Prune

The clearest difference is rating: Shadowmatic at 4.8 against Prune's 4.3. Shadowmatic also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 66%) and ratings volume (2.1K vs 568). Prune's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On update cadence, ads, chart position and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Shadowmatic holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.1K and 568 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Shadowmatic's written reviews are positive against 66% of Prune's.

Shadowmatic ships an update every 2 months, Prune every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shadowmatic | Prune |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$3.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shadowmatic/id775888026/reviews)** | [4.3 (568 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prune/id972319818/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.1K** | 568 |
| Positive reviews | **85.8% of reviews** | 66.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#21** | #44 |
| Size | 388 MB | 123 MB |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | 11.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [TRIADA Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/775888029) | [Joel McDonald LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/972319817) |

## What reviewers say

### Shadowmatic

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

**Currently charting:** #21 Top Paid · Family, #48 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


### Prune

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/prune/id972319818)

**Currently charting:** #44 Top Paid · Family, #114 Top Paid · Puzzle (US App Store)

Cultivate a digital tree in a hostile world by guiding its growth towards sunlight. Uncover a hidden story and bring life to a forgotten landscape with this meditative and beautiful game.

**Highlights:** Grow and shape trees, Minimalist art and interface, Meditative music and sound, No in-app purchases or monetization, Share tree creations, iCloud progress synchronization

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌳 Beautiful, elegant design
- 🕹️ Relaxing, meditative gameplay
- 🎶 Calming, atmospheric soundtrack
- 🌟 Unique, artistic experience
- 👍 Simple and intuitive controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Levels can feel too time-sensitive
- 🤔 Unclear objectives and mechanics
- 🕰️ Game is too short for the price
- 🐛 Performance issues on older devices

**Reported bugs**

- Progress reset after updates
- Unresponsive controls at times

**Requested features**

- More levels and content updates
- Zen mode with no time constraints
- Level editor and sharing capabilities
- Improved tutorials and explanations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shadowmatic free?

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

### Is Prune free?

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

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

Shadowmatic is rated higher. Shadowmatic averages 4.8 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Prune averages 4.3 from 568 ratings.

### Do Shadowmatic or Prune have ads?

Neither Shadowmatic nor Prune shows ads.

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

Shadowmatic ships an update every 2 months, and Prune every 6 weeks. Most recently, Shadowmatic was updated on September 22, 2026 and Prune on September 24, 2026.

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

Shadowmatic currently peaks at #21 in the App Store charts, and Prune at #44. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*