Comparison

Blackbox vs Sum Hero

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

Head to head
About

Blackbox

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
Read full description

So you think you understand this thing you’re holding? Think again. Stop tapping. Stop swiping. In fact, stop touching the screen at all. To crack Blackbox’s puzzles you’ll need to find solitude and stillness, climb mountains, call on friends, get in tune with the cosmos, and think outside the box. Minimalistic visual clues make for incredibly satisfying “Aha!” moments, while sonic interfaces provide an extra level of guidance and nuance that makes Blackbox accessible with or without vision. Thoughtful haptic feedback, Easter eggs on Easter eggs, and solutions that can’t be found beneath the glass of your screen redefine what a puzzle can be. You’ll never see your device the same way again. Think you’re clever? Prove it. (Blackbox is a living game under active development by Ryan McLeod. When not eating burritos or drinking coffee, he’s busy designing and developing new Blackbox challenges.) ■

About

Sum Hero

Features
Read full description

Sum Hero is a fast-paced maths battle game where quick thinking wins. Solve simple arithmetic questions, race against your opponent, and build your score with speed, accuracy, and streaks. Every match is short, sharp, and easy to jump into, making it perfect for a quick brain workout whenever you have a spare minute. Answer quickly to earn more points, stay accurate to build streak bonuses, and climb the leaderboard as you improve. Whether you are practising mental maths, challenging yourself, or battling for a higher rank, Sum Hero keeps maths simple, competitive, and fun.

Screenshots

Blackbox4 screens
Sum Hero4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Sum Hero at none against Blackbox's 10. Sum Hero also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 9 days). Blackbox's advantage is chart position (#42 vs unranked). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. Blackbox sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Sum Hero asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Blackbox ships an update every 9 days, Sum Hero every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Blackbox versus Sum Hero: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBlackboxSum Hero
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (110K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews92.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings110K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 9 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#42 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.615.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size209 MB66 MB
Age rating+412+
DeveloperShapes and Stories LLCSydney Quant Pty Ltd

Bugs and requests

Blackbox

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Hints not working as expected
  • Progress reset after app update

Requested features

4 requests
  • 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

Sum Hero

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Blackbox

One-time10
  • Tiny Hint Pack$1.19
  • Small Hint Pack$2.39
  • Erudite Pack$2.99
Show 7 more
  • Push Pack$2.99
  • Coffee for Ryan$4.49
  • Basic Pack$4.99
  • Medium Hint Pack$5.00
  • All Knowing Pack$7.99
  • Large Hint Pack$10.00
  • Extra Large Hint Pack$20.00
None

Sum Hero

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Blackbox free?
Blackbox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Sum Hero free?
Sum Hero is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Blackbox or Sum Hero have ads?
Neither Blackbox nor Sum Hero shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Blackbox or Sum Hero?
Blackbox ships an update every 9 days, and Sum Hero every 3 days. Most recently, Blackbox was updated on November 5, 2026 and Sum Hero on October 31, 2026.

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