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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Merge Cooking® vs Merge Inn

Merge Cooking® 4.7★ · Free + IAP 70
Winner Merge Cooking®
Merge Inn 4.7★ · Free + IAP 65

Merge Cooking® has a slight edge due to its unique gameplay elements and fewer reports of game-breaking bugs, despite both apps sharing similar monetization complaints.

Full reviews: Merge Cooking® · Merge Inn

Merge Cooking® and Merge Inn are both free-to-play merge games with in-app purchases, offering similar core gameplay. Both face significant user frustration regarding energy limitations and aggressive monetization, but Merge Cooking® offers more varied gameplay and fewer critical bugs, while Merge Inn struggles with persistent technical issues and repetitive ads.

Head to head

Features & Gameplay edge: Merge Cooking®R5R10R13R14
Merge Cooking® Merge Cooking® offers a fresh twist on merging games by incorporating machines to cook food, which users find unique and entertaining R14. It also includes mini-games, though some users find the side races frustrating and unwinnable R5. The graphics are generally praised as cute and cozy R5. However, some users report false advertising, with the actual game differing significantly from the ads R10R13.
Merge Inn Merge Inn is described as a relaxing and fun merge game . Users appreciate its straightforward nature . However, some find the gameplay tedious, especially when needing to generate multiple items for a single request . There are also reports of issues with evolving generators between seasons and a lack of space on the board due to many generators .
Ease of Use & Progression tieR3R4R9R12
Merge Cooking® Users find Merge Cooking® easy to play initially , but progression becomes very slow and difficult at higher levels due to energy limitations and slow generator reload times R3R4R9R18. Many feel the game forces them to spend real money to advance R4R15R18. Some also report issues with not receiving promised energy or rewards from events R12R27.
Merge Inn Merge Inn also faces significant criticism for slow progression, primarily due to insufficient energy and long refresh times for item boxes and generators . Users report that generators run out quickly, sometimes after only a few taps . The game is described as tedious and requiring a lot of time to progress .
Reliability & Bugs edge: Merge Cooking®R1R7R22R27
Merge Cooking® Merge Cooking® users report occasional app freezes, lost items, and missing progress R1R28R43. There are also complaints about new updates changing gameplay negatively, such as requiring more energy per item R22 or removing free ad features for energy R27. Some users dislike the use of AI for illustrations R7.
Merge Inn Merge Inn has more frequent and severe reports of technical issues. Users commonly experience lost progress and purchases when transferring devices or after updates R67. Many report being unable to open the app due to connectivity errors or after updates . There are also complaints about ads not crediting rewards and glitches with the collections section .
Price & Value (Free + IAP) tieR3R4R15R18
Merge Cooking® Merge Cooking® is frequently criticized for being a 'money grab' or having a 'massive pay wall' R3R4R15. Users feel compelled to spend real money to make progress, especially as energy and generator reloads become excessively slow R18R19. Some users report that making in-app purchases can even remove options for getting additional free energy .
Merge Inn Merge Inn also draws heavy criticism for its aggressive monetization. Users feel that everything costs a fortune to skip and that the game is designed to make them spend money . There are complaints about excessive pop-up offers for purchases every time the app is opened . Some users were even charged unexpectedly or lost paid items .
Ads edge: Merge Cooking®R3R5R10R13
Merge Cooking® Merge Cooking® generally has 'little to no ads' during gameplay, which many users appreciate R3R5. However, some report having to click out of multiple ads (up to 9) just to start playing R32 and find pop-up ads for purchases frustrating R54. A significant number of complaints also revolve around misleading ads that depict a different game than what is downloaded R10R13.
Merge Inn Merge Inn has a mixed history with ads. Some long-time players note a recent increase in ads, with ads appearing every minute, leading them to consider deleting the game . Others still claim 'no ads' . There are also complaints about inappropriate ads and ads not automatically returning to the game . Similar to Merge Cooking®, pop-up offers for purchases are a major annoyance .
Support edge: Merge Cooking®R1R28R43R67
Merge Cooking® Users of Merge Cooking® have reported issues like lost items and progress, with an expectation for problems to be resolved R1R28R43. However, there's no direct feedback on the effectiveness of their customer support.
Merge Inn Merge Inn users have explicitly stated difficulty contacting customer support R67 and reported that customer service was unhelpful when progress and purchases were lost .
Pick Merge Cooking® if

You prefer a merge game with unique cooking mechanics and cute graphics, and you are willing to tolerate occasional bugs and aggressive monetization for a more varied gameplay experience R5R14.

Pick Merge Inn if

You are looking for a relaxing merge game and are less bothered by repetitive tasks, provided you don't encounter the critical bugs or excessive ads reported by some users .

Evidence note: Both apps are free-to-play with IAP, and a significant portion of negative reviews for both stem from the free-tier friction (energy limits, slow progression) and aggressive monetization, which is common in this genre. Merge Inn's recent negative reviews highlight a decline in user experience due to increased ads and critical bugs, which Merge Cooking® seems to avoid to the same extent.

Frequently asked

Do Merge Cooking® and Merge Inn have many ads?
Merge Cooking® generally has few in-game ads, though users report many pop-ups for purchases and misleading ads outside of gameplay R3R5R32R54. Merge Inn has seen a recent increase in ads, with some users reporting ads every minute, alongside frequent pop-up offers for purchases .
Is it hard to progress without paying in Merge Cooking® or Merge Inn?
Yes, both Merge Cooking® and Merge Inn are frequently criticized for making progression very difficult without spending money, due to severe energy limitations, slow generator recharge times, and high costs for in-game items R3R4R18R19.
Do these games have issues with lost progress?
Merge Cooking® users have reported isolated incidents of lost progress and items R1R28R43. Merge Inn has more widespread and severe reports of lost progress and purchases, particularly when transferring devices or after game updates, with users stating customer service was unhelpful R67.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R5] Merge Cooking® 5/5 · US The best relaxing game: Perfect game to relax. Little to absolutely no ads. Cute graphics. Great mini games. Great all around
  2. [R10] Merge Cooking® 1/5 · US Stupid deceiving app: I was playing my regular game and this came up as an ad and I was playing the ad and cooking food so I downloaded the game because it was fun. Turns out it was not even the same! It’s deceiving and I’m deleting it now!!
  3. [R13] Merge Cooking® 1/5 · US not like the ad: i wanted the cake sorting game not this
  4. [R14] Merge Cooking® 4/5 · US Unique: I usually hate merging games, but the use of machines to cook certain food and make certain things instead of only merging for them gives it a fresh new twist. The only thing I wish for is that there be more of the cooking fever style levels. I want more bonus levels like that and with different food themes, otherwise I feel like there’s no point in the original bonus levels being there in
  5. [R3] Merge Cooking® 3/5 · US great game BUT money driven: Everyone loves a game that has no ads, YES. But, when you run out of energy or your generators run out of energy, it takes long to reload and it’s very easy to get caught up spending real money. vERY EASY. Especially because as the game progresses, it takes longer or more energy to create the things needed. Also, I don’t think the ads correctly depict how the game is p
  6. [R4] Merge Cooking® 1/5 · US Massive pay wall: If you want to play, you have to pay. You get only 100 energy a day and each level you need about 1000. Don’t waste your time or money
  7. [R9] Merge Cooking® 3/5 · US Way too slow: This game takes waaay too long for energy/generators to reload
  8. [R12] Merge Cooking® 3/5 · US It’s mid: I used to love this game. I noticed that when you’re supposed to get extra energy you don’t actually get it. There was an 30 event where you finish orders in a certain a moment time and you get extra energy and I’ve been finishing orders and I haven’t got any extra energy .
  9. [R1] Merge Cooking® 1/5 · US Error: Today my app froze and the briefcase with crystals and energy disappeared. Please fix this problem. · translated
  10. [R7] Merge Cooking® 2/5 · US Was great before AI: I loved this game but now they’re using AI for their illustrations. It feels lazy and like they don’t really care about their players if they can’t pay someone to illustrate a game board. Seriously.
  11. [R22] Merge Cooking® 2/5 · US New update: The game has a new feature where u need two energy for 1 item. Better items I guess but still getting low items on a 2 energy level. Water????? Have played for aloooooong time have went through many upgrades that rip us all off. Done playing this crooked game. DONT play this game, trust me not worth it.
  12. [R27] Merge Cooking® 3/5 · US Was a Great Game: This game used to be so fun until they removed a lot of the free add features that gave you extra energy. Now they require you to either spend money or use gems to get more energy and it takes way longer to create dishes and level up. I’m starting to be less interested in the game since I have to wait even longer to get energy. Booo.
  13. [R15] Merge Cooking® 3/5 · US Fun but….: Fun game but the generators run out too quickly which clearly makes it about money
  14. [R18] Merge Cooking® 3/5 · US Love but Hate: I absolutely loved this game but unfortunately I’m currently at a level 55 and it is taking forever to even complete one meal. I have played this game non stop but it doesn’t get anywhere with only a max of 100 energy. The only way to continuous keeping playing is by spending an insane amount of money
  15. [R28] Merge Cooking® 1/5 · US Am I donating money to be scammed or what?: 7ljwBvMHnIYF5Mrfo9G6 I made a chum salmon, it was just lying there minding its own business, waiting for its time. I didn't even have orders for it! I complete a round, the tasks refresh, and then red caviar is needed. I searched everywhere, but my CHUM SALMON is nowhere to be found! And this isn't the first time! My patience has just run out! · translated
  16. [R43] Merge Cooking® 2/5 · US Lost Progress & Purchase: The app is decent, but it’s supposed to save progress through multiple devices. When you log into a new device with your same email. After I made a purchase I lost everything.
  17. [R67] Merge Inn 2/5 · US Container Booster Problem: I love this game, but when I bought a new iPad and transferred the game I lost the container booster. Not really worth playing anymore. No way to contact customer support.
  18. [R32] Merge Cooking® 4/5 · US 9 ads to click out of: 9 ads I had to click out of just to start playing the game. 9! That’s brutally annoying.
  19. [R54] Merge Cooking® 3/5 · GB Good game, too many pop ups.: This game is constantly trying to get you to pay for energy. I understand the odd pop up, but having to X away 3 or 4 pop ups throughout game play is exceptionally frustrating. I’m also a regular player, but still have never completed a full card collection. It also takes ages to save up your card points to exchange them in and get 0 new ones? Proper joke.
  20. [R19] Merge Cooking® 2/5 · US Too much down time!: This is an updated review. I originally had it as 3 stars but now I am down rating it. It’s a fun game when you can actually play it. The cool down periods and time it takes to cook take way too long. You get maybe 10 hits on the generator before it freezes you out. The cooking times are outrageous. It took me 5-6 hours to get to a mango because the 3 fruit generators went in

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store