# Blackbox vs Little Alchemy 2

The clearest difference is ads: Blackbox at none against Little Alchemy 2's shown. Blackbox also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 4 months) and review sentiment (93% vs 77%). Little Alchemy 2's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Blackbox sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Little Alchemy 2 sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Blackbox holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Blackbox has 109K ratings behind it against 11K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 93% of Blackbox's written reviews are positive against 77% of Little Alchemy 2's.

Blackbox ships an update every 9 days, Little Alchemy 2 every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Blackbox | Little Alchemy 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (109K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackbox/id962969578/reviews)** | [4.6 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/little-alchemy-2/id1214190989/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **109K** | 11K |
| Positive reviews | **92.6% of reviews** | 76.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#30** | #130 |
| Size | 209 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Shapes and Stories LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/962969577) | [Jakub Koziol](https://appshunter.io/developer/542467149) |

## What reviewers say

### Blackbox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blackbox/id962969578)

**Currently charting:** #30 Top Free · Trivia, #81 Top Grossing · Trivia (US App Store)

This puzzle game challenges you to solve intricate problems without touching the screen. It utilizes minimalistic visual cues, sonic interfaces, and haptic feedback to guide you through unique challenges that require thinking outside the box. Discover a new way to interact with your device and prove your cleverness.

**Highlights:** Touchless gameplay, Minimalistic visual clues, Sonic interfaces, Haptic feedback, External puzzle solving, Easter eggs

**Features:** Family Sharing, iMessage stickers

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tiny Hint Pack | $1.19 | one-time |
| Small Hint Pack | $2.39 | one-time |
| Erudite Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Push Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Coffee for Ryan | $4.49 | one-time |
| Basic Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Medium Hint Pack | $5.00 | one-time |
| All Knowing Pack | $7.99 | one-time |
| Large Hint Pack | $10.00 | one-time |
| Extra Large Hint Pack | $20.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Unique and creative gameplay
- 🤔 Challenges users to think outside the box
- 😄 Humorous and witty comments
- 🔑 Utilizes phone features in innovative ways

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Extremely challenging puzzles
- 💰 Expensive for additional content
- 🤖 Concerns about app accessing device permissions
- 🚗 Puzzles requiring travel/location are inaccessible for some

**Reported bugs**

- Hints not working as expected
- Progress reset after app update

**Requested features**

- Add ability to earn hint credits through watching ads
- Include more free puzzles
- Improve accessibility for users with limited mobility
- Provide better guidance and instructions for puzzles


### Little Alchemy 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/little-alchemy-2/id1214190989)

**Currently charting:** #130 Top Free · Family (US App Store)

Combine elements to create new items and discover the world. This crafting game offers a vast library of discoverable items with unique descriptions and a vibrant art style. Explore your progress through an in-game encyclopedia.

**Highlights:** Combine elements to create new items, Discover a vast library of items, Vibrant art style, Original soundtrack, In-game encyclopedia, Explore item connections

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bundle of 2 Research Points | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 8 Research Points | $2.99 | one-time |
| Myths and Monsters | $2.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 16 Research Points | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great game
- 🤩 Fun and addictive
- 💡 Clever combinations
- 🎨 Nice designs
- 🧠 Educational and challenging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Progress resets/disappears
- 🔍 Difficult to find items in large list
- 💰 Myths and Monsters pack too expensive
- 🤔 Gets repetitive/boring over time

**Reported bugs**

- Progress resets randomly
- Purchased content disappears
- Scrolling issues
- Certain combinations not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add more items and combinations
- Improve hint system
- Add ability to save/restore progress
- Organize items into categories
- Add more fantasy/creative elements


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Blackbox free?

Blackbox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Little Alchemy 2 free?

Little Alchemy 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Blackbox or Little Alchemy 2?

Blackbox is rated higher. Blackbox averages 4.8 out of 5 from 109K ratings, while Little Alchemy 2 averages 4.6 from 11K ratings.

### Do Blackbox or Little Alchemy 2 have ads?

Little Alchemy 2 shows ads; Blackbox does not.

### Which is updated more often, Blackbox or Little Alchemy 2?

Blackbox ships an update every 9 days, and Little Alchemy 2 every 4 months. Most recently, Blackbox was updated on September 25, 2026 and Little Alchemy 2 on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Blackbox or Little Alchemy 2?

Blackbox currently peaks at #30 in the App Store charts, and Little Alchemy 2 at #130. 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.*