# Cracking the Cryptic

> Curated Sudoku Puzzles

Canonical page: [https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1629992934](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1629992934)

## Overview

- **ID:** `id1629992934`
- **Platform:** Apple
- **Type:** Apple app
- **Status:** Available
- **Publisher:** Nick Carney
- **Category:** Puzzle
- **Rating:** 4.40 / 5 (208 ratings)
- **Version:** 1.2.36
- **Last updated:** 2026-05-27
- **First published:** 2022-07-08
- **Size:** 234 MB
- **Data as of:** 2026-09-03
- **Store listing:** [Apple App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cracking-the-cryptic/id1629992934)
- **Privacy policy:** [http://studiogoya.co/policy/cracking\_the\_cryptic.html](http://studiogoya.co/policy/cracking_the_cryptic.html)

## Description

OUR NEWEST PACK – CLASSIC VOLUME #2! Classic Sudoku is where it all began, and there's still plenty of skill to deploy and new techniques to explore. For Classic Sudoku 2 we commissioned 20 puzzles from Nikoli, created 20 in-house, and sourced 20 more from Sam Cappleman-Lynes, resulting in a 60-puzzle pack that will delight and challenge you.

Welcome to Cracking the Cryptic's brand-new Sudoku app. Unlike other Sudoku apps, this collection features handcrafted puzzles from the world's best constructors. Each pack highlights authors such as Phistomefel, Clover, Sam Cappleman-Lynes, Christoph Seeliger, Richard Stolk, jovi_al, Qodec, Prasanna Seshadri and more. Downloading grants access to a free variety pack by Prasanna Seshadri with seven puzzles inspired by our previous apps (Sandwich, Classic, Chess, Thermo, Miracle, Killer and Arrow Sudoku). Paid packs are available for all skill levels with unique variants, and more free and paid content will be released in the future.

## Rankings

- #104,727 — Overall

## Review summary

Users praise Cracking the Cryptic for strong, varied puzzles and strong value, especially for fans of the YouTube channel who enjoy re-solving to improve times. However, the app faces persistent drawbacks: heavy gating behind paid packs with little free content and difficulty sampling, frequent bugs that cause crashes, freezes, and lost progress, and hints that are often unclear, inconsistent, or plagued by typos and mislabeling. Newcomers may find the experience daunting. Overall, puzzle quality is high, but reliability and onboarding require improvements.

### Pros

- High-quality, varied puzzles, including variety Sudoku, tied to the Cracking the Cryptic channel.
- Great value for money with repeatable puzzles and time-tracking to improve performance.
- Fans of the Cracking the Cryptic channel will enjoy the companion app.
- Puzzles span from easy to very challenging and are satisfying to solve.

### Cons

- Puzzle content largely gated behind paid packs with limited free access; hard to sample before buying.
- Frequent bugs causing crashes, freezes, and loss of puzzle progress; some updates cause display issues.
- Hints are often hard to follow, with typos, mislabeling of coordinates, and inconsistent guidance.
- Not beginner-friendly; the app assumes purchases and advanced solver skill, making it difficult for new users.

## Similar extensions and apps

- [Classic Sudoku!](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1488838275) — 4.70 / 5
- [Killer Sudoku CTC](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1544165118) — 4.60 / 5
- [Miracle Sudoku](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1527363795) — 4.80 / 5
- [Sandwich Sudoku](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1476116705) — 4.90 / 5
- [Sudoku by Joseph](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id421136193) — 4.70 / 5
- [Sudoku\_Titan](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6736524445)
- [Sudoku Puzzle Pack](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6767266582) — 5.00 / 5
- [Sudoku: Puzzle Brain Game](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6767797599)
- [Vintage Sudoku: Expert Logic](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6761068717)
- [Thermo Sudoku](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1513994223) — 4.80 / 5
- [Pure Sudoku: 9 Logic Puzzles](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6759659433)
- [Nineward Sudoku](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id6774396277)

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Source: [Chrome-Stats](https://chrome-stats.com/d/id1629992934)