# Tension Head — merge.survive.destroy.ascend. > Merging roguelite survival game with chain reactions and permanent upgrades. (iPhone/iPad app by Robert Lothian.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tension-head/id6759580212 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Robert Lothian](https://appshunter.io/developer/1794088570) - Category: Games, Entertainment, Action, Puzzle - Price: Free with in-app purchases - Rating: 4.70/5 from 3 App Store ratings · 3 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 14.0 · 107 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2026-06-09 - Data updated: 2026-07-22 - Monetization: free with in-app purchases - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tension-head/id6759580212/reviews.md ## What is Tension Head? Tension Head is a merging roguelite where every run is a fight against the walls closing in on you. Stack shapes, trigger chain reactions, and score big before the pressure destroys you. MERGE & SURVIVE Drop shapes into the arena and merge matching tiers to score. But the walls never stop closing. Every merge pushes them back — just enough to breathe. BUILD YOUR COMBO Chain merges to multiply your score. The longer your streak, the higher the multiplier. Think less puzzle game, more trick run. ROGUELITE DEPTH Between runs, spend Crowns on permanent upgrades that carry across every run. Each run offers power-ups with unique evolutions and wild synergies — combine them right and watch everything break open. CURSES & CONSEQUENCES Every run comes with a cost. Curses stack. Walls shrink faster. The danger line rises. Learn to work with what you're dealt or get crushed. ASCENSION MODE Beat the game? Good. Now do it with the walls shrinking 30% faster. Now do it with one life. Now do it with radioactive junk dropping into your arena. Ten escalating modifiers. Each one a new way to suffer. VISUAL THEMES Unlock a collection of visual filters that transform the entire look of the game. Each one earned through play — or unlocked instantly with Premium. SOMETHING ELSE IS HERE Pay attention. Not everything is what it seems. Some testers have found things that weren't meant to be found. A ghost in the code. PREMIUM — $3.99 One purchase. No subscription. Removes all ads and unlocks every visual theme instantly. 100% indie — your support means a lot. merge. survive. destroy. ascend. ## Key features - Merge shapes to score - Trigger chain reactions - Permanent roguelite upgrades - Escalating difficulty modes - Unlockable visual themes - Hidden game elements ## Pricing and in-app purchases Base price: Free. **One-time purchases** | Purchase | Price | Type | | --- | --- | --- | | Premium | $3.99 | one-time | ## Recent user reviews (3 of 3) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tension-head/id6759580212/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Great take on a Suika game *2026-07-08* Very fun and engaging! **Developer response:** Thanks for the great review! Don’t be afraid to try the ascension difficulty levels, that will make the game more challenging after you have unlocked some upgrades! There are some fun new mechanics hidden in there. ### 5/5 — So good *2026-07-05* I started playing the free version and later realized that an hour had passed. I then purchased the ad removal option. **Developer response:** Thank you for the great review and support! Glad to hear you are enjoying the game. ### 5/5 — Very fun Suika type game *2026-06-09* Simple premise, just match the same shapes. Easy to pick up and play when you have 10 min to kill. Starts off hard until you get some upgrades going then it becomes pretty easy. Plus you can buy it for a few bucks which I appreciate. **Developer response:** Thanks for the great review! Don’t be afraid to try the ascension difficulty levels, that will make the game more challenging after you have unlocked some upgrades! There are some fun new mechanics hidden in there. ## Frequently asked questions about Tension Head ### What is Tension Head? Tension Head is a merging roguelite game where players merge shapes to survive a collapsing arena. Each run involves strategic merging, chain reactions, and permanent upgrades to overcome increasing difficulty. ### How does the merging gameplay work in Tension Head? Players drop shapes into the arena and merge matching tiers to score points. Merging also pushes back the closing walls, providing temporary relief and creating opportunities for longer survival streaks. ### What are the roguelite elements in Tension Head? Between runs, players can spend 'Crowns' on permanent upgrades that persist across all future playthroughs. Each run also offers unique power-ups with evolving abilities and synergies to discover. ### Does Tension Head have different game modes? Yes, Tension Head features an 'Ascension Mode' with ten escalating modifiers. These modifiers increase the challenge, such as faster wall shrinking or limited lives, offering new ways to play. ### Can I change the look of Tension Head? Tension Head allows players to unlock a collection of visual themes that alter the game's appearance. These themes are earned through gameplay or can be instantly unlocked with the Premium purchase. ### What is the Premium purchase in Tension Head? The Premium purchase for $3.99 is a one-time payment that removes all advertisements and instantly unlocks every visual theme. It is a way to support the indie developer. ### Does Tension Head have ads? Yes, Tension Head contains advertisements. The Premium purchase offers an ad-free experience. ### What devices is Tension Head available on? Tension Head is currently supported on iPhone and iPod devices. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.1.1 — 2026-07-13 Fixes to Score Attack ### 1.1.0 — 2026-07-10 Brand new mode! Score Attack! Beat the clock and set a high score on the Leaderboard. ### 1.0.8 — 2026-07-09 Ascension bug fix ### 1.0.7 — 2026-07-08 Bug fixes and optimisations ### 1.0.6 — 2026-06-25 Cleaned up title screen art, modifications to cloud saving, fixed trophy bug, achievements, added unlockable skin. ## More apps by Robert Lothian - [Archivist Browser](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/archivist-browser/id6756570654) All apps by Robert Lothian: https://appshunter.io/developer/1794088570 ## Related topics [robert lothian](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/robert-lothian) --- *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 2026-07-22.*