# Ink or Swim

> Tap-based arcade game with underwater exploration and challenges. (iPhone/iPad app by Valorian Games Pty Ltd.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ink-or-swim/id1214155203 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Valorian Games Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1213681854)
- Category: Games, Entertainment
- Price: Free
- Rating: 4.74/5 from 471 App Store ratings · 31 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 10.0 · 151 MB
- Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Chinese, Spanish and 1 more
- Released: 2018-02-07
- Data updated: 2026-06-10
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ink-or-swim/id1214155203/reviews.md

## What is Ink or Swim?

Time your taps to stay afloat, dodging killer coral and salty sea-enemies!
Power up with the super starfish and turn the tables on your foes!
Collect over 30 underwater worlds from Captain's Cove to Rockabilly Bay
Simple to learn yet hard to master, Ink or Swim is a squidstastic time for all!
 
Features:

- Pick up and play, no tutorial required
- 32 quirky underwater worlds to unlock!
- Dive into bright colors, cheerful chiptune music and challenging gameplay
- Lightning fast rounds for when you ride the bus, subway or toilet!
- Be the top squid - swim to the top of the leaderboard or share snapshots with your friends

## Key features

- Tap-based gameplay
- 32 underwater worlds
- Power-ups
- Leaderboards
- Quick rounds
- No tutorial required

## What do users think of Ink or Swim?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🎨 Excellent pixel art and aesthetic design
- 👍 Responsive and intuitive controls
- 🎮 Addictive and engaging gameplay mechanics
- ✨ Charming character and world design
- 🌊 Unique marine-themed environments
- 💎 High-quality production for mobile game
- 🎯 Simple yet challenging difficulty balance
- 🎵 Great soundtrack quality

**Cons**

- 📺 Excessive video advertisements
- 💰 Ads persist after paid purchase
- 🔄 Duplicate world unlocks from random rewards
- 🎵 Same music across all worlds
- 🎮 Gameplay becomes repetitive over time
- ⚠️ Offensive/racist advertisements displayed
- 🛍️ Annoying clams and treasure box system

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Save data not persisting after closing app
- Earned currency/shells lost on restart
- Ad removal not working after purchase
- Star protection does not prevent death as intended

**Most requested features**

- Ability to avoid duplicate world unlocks
- Additional power-ups beyond rainbow star
- Weapons or combat mechanics against jellyfish
- Unique soundtrack for each world
- Donation feature for developers
- Bubble-clearing mechanic after star effects end

## Recent user reviews (10 of 31)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ink-or-swim/id1214155203/reviews.md

### 5/5 — AMAZING!

*2020-10-23, version 1.3*

THIS GAME IS THE DOG’S BOLLOCKS!

### 5/5 — Aesthetic™️

*2020-08-17, version 1.3*

I love the pixel art so much. I love unlocking new seas it's a bop

### 5/5 — Awesome!

*2020-04-20, version 1.2*

It’s a great game and reminds me of the Splatoon mini games! But everybody’s a critic. One minor thing that I don’t like is how the star after its affects does not do anything to protect you from dying. Add like a thing where after the affects were off the whole thing bubbles up getting rid of everything! It would make it easier.

### 1/5 — Derogatory and Racist Ad

*2020-04-13, version 1.2*

I want this game removed. While my son was playing it had an ad stating “All Jews must die.”

### 3/5 — Would be 5 stars but...

*2019-11-11, version 1.2*

I am still getting ads after making a purchase. In the game, it says that the purchase of any of the worlds removes ads from the game. But it didn’t work for me. I really hate being interrupted by ads and it makes it even more infuriating because I paid money to get rid of them. Otherwise this is a great game, with charming graphics and really good controls. I like how the jellyfish bounces off the walls and rapidly bouncing off the wall can be used strategically to get through tight areas. I just wish I wasn’t interrupted with ads that I paid to remove.

### 5/5 — Amazing

*2019-06-07, version 1.2*

This game is fun I hope that the creator(s) make more great games like this one.

### 5/5 — A Testament to Great Mobile Games

*2018-07-09, version 1.0*

Ink or Swim is one of the relatively few well-made games on the mobile market. The game is oozing with charm and character which shows how passionate the developers were about this game. An example being the environments. Every time you unlock a new character, not only do you unlock a new skin, but also a new background. These backgrounds are unique, and a few even have some skins for enemies and hazards. Another example of passion is the title and the style. Unlike most mobile games, this doesn't have some 'Flappy Bird-Crossy Road' clone title, it has a pun, which is great. Also unlike most mobile games on the market right now, the protagonist of the game isn't some ball and other geometric shapes that have no substance whatsoever. It's a bunch of squids and a variety of other marine creatures. I really hope this fantastic game gets more attention. It's clear that the devs put their heart and souls into this, and I really wish they would add a donation feature.

### 5/5 — Best endless game EVER 10/10

*2018-06-24, version 1.0*

It's just good

### 4/5 — So many world duplicates.

*2018-03-19, version 1.0*

Although the prizes are completely random, I enjoy collecting clams to unlock new worlds, even if they unlock very infrequently, but I more often find myself receiving duplicates of them. Why not offer the option to avoid them by paying more clams? I know I would gladly use that feature.

### 3/5 — Ye boi

*2018-03-14, version 1.0*

my friend loves this game so we she wants me to play to try to beat her. i don’t really like this game but i get $20 if i win soooo

## Frequently asked questions about Ink or Swim

### What is Ink or Swim?

Ink or Swim is a tap-based arcade game where players time their taps to navigate an underwater environment. The goal is to stay afloat, dodge obstacles like killer coral, and defeat sea enemies. Players can also collect power-ups to aid them in their journey.

### What are the key features of Ink or Swim?

Key features include simple pick-up-and-play mechanics with no tutorial required, 32 unique underwater worlds to unlock, bright visuals, cheerful chiptune music, and challenging gameplay. It also offers lightning-fast rounds suitable for short play sessions and leaderboards to compete with friends.

### Is Ink or Swim free to play?

Yes, Ink or Swim is a free-to-play game. The provided information indicates it does not have in-app purchases or advertisements, suggesting a completely free experience.

### What kind of gameplay can I expect from Ink or Swim?

The gameplay is described as simple to learn but hard to master. It focuses on precise timing for taps to control movement and avoid hazards. The game offers challenging rounds and encourages players to aim for high scores on leaderboards.

### What platforms is Ink or Swim available on?

While the specific platforms are not detailed in the provided description, it is presented as a mobile application. Typically, games of this nature are available on both iOS and Android operating systems.

## Version history (last 1 release)

### 1.4 — 2020-11-29

Updated plugins used in the project to the latest version

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-06-10.*