Comparison

What the Shell vs Othello Puzzle

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

Head to head
About

What the Shell

A fast-paced, strategic board game where players capture turtles and claim neutral eggs. It offers dynamic, original gameplay with simultaneous turns, encouraging aggressive play and quick thinking. Enjoy challenging matches against friends or AI.

Highlights
  • Dynamic and original gameplay
  • Simultaneous play
  • Capture opponent's turtles
  • Claim neutral eggs
  • Play against AI
  • Play with friends
Features
Read full description

You both move at the same time, in secret. Only when the turtles land do you find out whose plan just fell apart. Oh no — this ain't your traditional five-in-a-row. What the Shell is the one you reach for when you and a friend are bored on the couch: "Wanna play What the Shell?" A game between two beginners can be over in three minutes, and somehow you're still at it two hours later, laughing every time your minds collide and another egg turns up on the board. "Simultaneous play boosts the fun of this intuitive, yet surprisingly deep board game." — Matthias Titze, Clarc producer (German Computer Game Award winner) There's no taking turns, and nobody goes first — so nobody gets the first-player edge. You lock in your move, your friend locks in theirs, and the board resolves both at once. Strategy still wins games, but you're up against a mind you can't see, and you never know where she just played. Sandwich two of their turtles and they're gone. Both reach for the same square and your turtles crash into an egg — and an egg is a curious thing: you can capture it, or hatch it. One bold move flips a game you'd already written off. Capture at the right moment and a chain reaction can tear through the position your friend spent the whole game building. It's never won or lost until the last move. Made for two: • Sit down together, each on your own phone or tablet, and battle it out face to face — best enjoyed in the same room • Or play online at your own pace, whether your friend's across town or across the world • No one around? Tap Quick Match for a random opponent, or take on the panda offline, from an easygoing Newcomer to a tough Expert • Got a controller? Connect it to your iPad or iPhone and play however you want Read the board, then read your friend. Capture a couple of turtles, deal with the eggs, line up five in a row — and enjoy the look on his face when it all comes together.

About

Othello Puzzle

Engage in a classic strategy board game with a modern twist. Outsmart sharp AI opponents on an 8x8 grid by strategically flipping discs. Master tactical thinking to dominate the board and achieve victory.

Highlights
  • Classic Othello gameplay
  • Strategic disc flipping mechanics
  • Challenging AI opponents
  • 8x8 grid board
  • Tactical thinking required
Features
Read full description

Othello Puzzle – The Strategic Mind Challenge brings the classic Othello experience to a whole new level. This isn't just a game of black and white discs – it's a battlefield where every move reshapes the entire board and every decision determines your fate. With elegant, polished gameplay and razor-sharp AI opponents, you'll need to think several moves ahead to dominate the 8x8 grid. Watch as your strategic placements flip entire rows of opponent pieces, turning defeat into victory in a single, brilliant move. This is the ultimate test for strategic masterminds, tactical thinkers, and anyone who craves the thrill of outsmarting their opponent. Can you control the board, anticipate every counter-move, and emerge victorious? The challenge awaits – prove your strategic supremacy!

Screenshots

What the Shell4 screens
Othello Puzzle3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: What the Shell at none against Othello Puzzle's shown. What the Shell also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 16 months) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, rating, 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

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for What the Shell against 5.0 for Othello Puzzle. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: What the Shell has 6 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

What the Shell ships an update every 8 days, Othello Puzzle every 16 months. The most recent releases landed on September 14, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
What the Shell versus Othello Puzzle: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWhat the ShellOthello Puzzle
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (6 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings6 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 8 days — betterEvery 16 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterAd-supported
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size137 MB27 MB
Age rating4++4
DeveloperChuck SmithMoritz Berger

Customer experience

What the Shell

All ratings6 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Othello Puzzle

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

What the Shell

No in-app purchases

None

Othello Puzzle

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is What the Shell free?
What the Shell is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Othello Puzzle free?
Othello Puzzle is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, What the Shell or Othello Puzzle?
What the Shell and Othello Puzzle are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 6 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do What the Shell or Othello Puzzle have ads?
Othello Puzzle shows ads; What the Shell does not.
Which is updated more often, What the Shell or Othello Puzzle?
What the Shell ships an update every 8 days, and Othello Puzzle every 16 months. Most recently, What the Shell was updated on September 14, 2026 and Othello Puzzle on September 30, 2026.

Other comparisons