What the Shell vs DotCraft
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Dynamic and original gameplay
- Simultaneous play
- Capture opponent's turtles
- Claim neutral eggs
- Play against AI
- Play with friends
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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.
DotCraft
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Connect. Create. Conquer. DotCraft is a shape-forming puzzle game where you drag between glowing dots to create connections, form geometric shapes, and solve increasingly challenging puzzles — all wrapped in a striking neon aesthetic. Draw lines between dots to form triangles, squares, and circles. Each level presents a unique objective: create specific shapes within a limited number of moves. Plan your connections carefully, master special dot types, and earn up to three stars on every level. HUNDREDS OF PUZZLES Progress through 200+ handcrafted levels across four tiers — Introduction, Strategy, Challenge, and Expert. Start with the fundamentals and work your way up to mind-bending puzzles that demand precision and planning. FIVE SPECIAL DOT TYPES Navigate fixed, moving, colored, blocked, and disappearing dots. Each type adds a new layer of strategy to every puzzle. STRATEGIC HINT SYSTEM Stuck on a tricky level? Use hints to reveal the next shape or the exact connection to draw. But use them wisely — hints are limited and using them costs points. COMPETE GLOBALLY Climb the Game Center leaderboards, unlock achievements, and compare your scores with players around the world. EARN STARS & REWARDS Master each level for a perfect three-star rating. Earn bonus hints through daily streaks, tier completions, and skilled play. DESIGNED FOR EVERYONE A colorblind-accessible mode ensures every player can enjoy the full experience. Haptic feedback and sound effects bring each connection to life. No ads. No pay-to-win. Just puzzles.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: What the Shell at 16.0 against DotCraft's 18.6. On price, ads, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | What the Shell | DotCraft |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (6 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 6 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | — |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 18.6 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 138 MB | 5 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Chuck Smith | Dusan Dimitrijevic |
In-app purchases
What the Shell
No in-app purchases
DotCraft
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is What the Shell free?
Is DotCraft free?
Do What the Shell or DotCraft have ads?
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