Comparison

Hexiled vs Downwordly

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

Head to head
About

Hexiled

This is an addictive and challenging word game with multiple modes to suit different play styles. Test your vocabulary, learn new words, and compete with friends or your own scores across 12 languages.

Highlights
  • Multiple game modes (Escape, Explore, Survive, Discover)
  • Vocabulary testing and word learning
  • Multiplayer challenges
  • 12 language options
  • Detailed post-game statistics
  • Original soundtrack
Features
Read full description

• #1 word game in 32 countries • Played over 10 million times • Four game modes, from frantic 30-second games to relaxed, untimed play • 12 languages, each with its own full dictionary Hexiled is an original word game played on a hexagon grid. Trace words through neighboring tiles: each word must touch an empty space on the board and be at least as long as the number shown on its tiles. The tutorial gets you started in a minute. FOUR WAYS TO PLAY • ESCAPE - timing adapts to how well you play, so it's a frantic challenge at any level. A game takes a couple of minutes, or 15-30 seconds if you're really good. • SURVIVE - every word earns you more time. A test of quick thinking, vocabulary and endurance that fits a 1-5 minute break. • EXPLORE - no time limit. Relax and rack up a high score, or hunt for the longest words. • DISCOVER - reach the edge of the board in as few words as possible. It gets harder as you get better. PLAY IN 12 LANGUAGES English, Français, Deutsch, Nederlands, Español, Português, Italiano, Svenska, Norsk, Dansk, Русский, Ελληνικά Switch language any time. It's a great way to build vocabulary in a language you're learning. ALSO INCLUDES • Game Center leaderboards and achievements • Detailed post-game stats and all-time records • Color themes • A killer original soundtrack • Play offline, no account needed • iPhone, iPad and Mac Hexiled is free to play with ads. A one-time purchase removes ads and adds your Best Words list. WHAT PLAYERS SAY "The best word game I have ever played" - sboyce_tw "One of the best games on the App Store - great word based game" - tcfairfax "A very satisfying hexagonal word search maze-like. Highly recommend!" - BookishMatt "This game is so amazing! I'm addicted to it" - jotap_rios "Spellbinding new wordplay app" - Evaluapp

About

Downwordly

A word building game where you strategically use available letters to form the longest possible words. Engage in turn-based multiplayer or test your skills in various solo modes, including daily challenges and puzzle-solving.

Highlights
  • Word building with limited letters
  • Turn-based multiplayer
  • Solo play modes
  • Daily challenges
  • Puzzle mode
  • Leaderboards
Features
Read full description

Downwordly is a word building game that challenges you to make the most out of the letters you have. Not all letters you see are playable! Use your intellect to find the best word you can make while also planning for the future. Play against your GameCenter friends in turn-based multiplayer! Play solo with an endless stack of letters! Try searching for words in Puzzle mode! Work your way through a new set of 5 layers of tiles every day in the Daily Challenge! See how you stack up against your friends and the world on the leaderboards. ========= LAYER TWO ========= • Solo Versus - Test your skills against four different difficulties of computer opponents. • 50 new Puzzles • 8 new themes • Customize your theme and app icon • Compete on 2 new leaderboards What's the longest word you can make?

Screenshots

Hexiled4 screens
Downwordly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Downwordly at Free against Hexiled's $3.99. Downwordly also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Hexiled's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (90% vs 74%). On rating, ratings volume, ads 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

Downwordly is free to download; Hexiled costs $3.99 up front. Downwordly sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Hexiled asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Hexiled against 4.7 for Downwordly. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 417 and 757 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 90% of Hexiled's written reviews are positive against 74% of Downwordly's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hexiled ships an update every 3 months, Downwordly every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Hexiled versus Downwordly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHexiledDownwordly
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (417 ratings) — better4.7 (757 ratings)
Positive reviews90.3% of reviews — better74.1% of reviews
Number of ratings417757 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#6 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size72 MB90 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperTriplezeroBird Cartel LLC

Customer experience

Hexiled

All ratings417 ratings
Positive94.7%
Neutral4.1%
Negative1.2%
Written reviews290 reviews
Positive90.3%
Neutral6.6%
Negative3.1%

Downwordly

All ratings756 ratings
Positive93.7%
Neutral4.0%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews54 reviews
Positive74.1%
Neutral13.0%
Negative13.0%

Bugs and requests

Hexiled

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Downwordly

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Multiplayer games not showing up correctly
  • Rewind arrow causing game to get stuck
  • Puzzle mode issues with overlapping words
  • Endless mode not dropping enough letters

Requested features

6 requests
  • Auto-orientation for iPad
  • Dark theme option
  • Leaderboards for Endless mode
  • Hints for Puzzle mode
  • Ability to restart Daily Challenge
Show 1 more
  • Improved multiplayer experience

In-app purchases

None

Hexiled

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Downwordly

One-time2
  • Multiplayer+$1.99
  • Layer Two$2.99

Questions

Is Hexiled free?
Hexiled costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Downwordly free?
Downwordly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Hexiled or Downwordly?
Hexiled is rated higher. Hexiled averages 4.7 out of 5 from 417 ratings, while Downwordly averages 4.7 from 757 ratings.
Do Hexiled or Downwordly have ads?
Neither Hexiled nor Downwordly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hexiled or Downwordly?
Hexiled ships an update every 3 months, and Downwordly every 4 days. Most recently, Hexiled was updated on November 1, 2026 and Downwordly on November 3, 2026.

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