# Mars Tycoon vs Mars Mystery

The clearest difference is rating: Mars Mystery at 4.5 against Mars Tycoon's 3.8. Mars Mystery also leads on review sentiment (64% vs 56%) and ratings volume (620 vs 159). Mars Tycoon's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mars Tycoon sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Mars Mystery sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Mars Mystery holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 159 and 620 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 56% of Mars Tycoon's written reviews are positive against 64% of Mars Mystery's.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mars Tycoon | Mars Mystery |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (159 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-tycoon/id1006391962/reviews) | **[4.5 (620 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-mystery-hidden-objects/id1577196255/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 159 | **620** |
| Positive reviews | 55.6% of reviews | **63.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | — | Every 11 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 23 MB | 123 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Tim Webster](https://appshunter.io/developer/945837393) | [Crisp App Studio](https://appshunter.io/developer/1143551614) |

## What reviewers say

### Mars Tycoon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-tycoon/id1006391962)

Build and manage the first human colony on Mars. Survive hostile conditions by finding water and power, synthesizing air, and growing your settlement. Exploit Martian resources and expand your industry to ensure the survival of your astronauts.

**Highlights:** Build first human colony on Mars, Synthesize elements for survival, Grow colony with new visitors, Expand industry and exploit resources, Manage astronaut survival

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Building Materials 2000 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Building Materials 4000 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Building Materials 20000 | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🧠 Challenging strategic gameplay requiring careful planning
- 🎮 Unique concept with no direct competitors in app store
- 🎨 Retro pixelated art style appeals to players
- 🎯 Addictive gameplay loop once mechanics are understood
- ⚙️ Complex resource management and optimization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Astronauts frequently get stuck in buildings or clusters
- 🐛 Poor pathfinding AI causes colonist deaths
- ⏱️ Extremely long wait times for MAV resupply missions
- 🎮 Steep learning curve with unclear mechanics
- 📦 Limited map space restricts late-game expansion

**Reported bugs**

- Astronauts get stuck in buildings and cannot exit
- Astronauts cluster together and block each other's movement
- Game data resets when app is refreshed or closed
- Game crashes unexpectedly, especially during building
- Pipe connections randomly disconnect

**Requested features**

- Expandable map or multiple planets to explore
- Creative/sandbox mode for experimentation
- Natural disasters like dust storms or volcanic activity
- Ability to visit other planets with varying difficulty
- More building variety and complexity


### Mars Mystery

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-mystery-hidden-objects/id1577196255)

Embark on a thrilling hidden object adventure on Mars. Explore its mysterious landscapes, uncover the secrets of failed expeditions, and race back to Earth. This game offers a unique sci-fi plot and trains your eyes and mind.

**Highlights:** Hidden object gameplay, Explore Mars locations, Sci-fi plot, Hints for beginners, Replayable scenes, Eyes and mind training

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Preview Hints Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| NoAds | $0.99 | one-time |
| Time Machine | $0.99 | one-time |
| Instant Hint | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gold Master | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and visual design
- 💡 Innovative hidden object gameplay with unique theme
- 🌍 Educational language learning feature
- 👍 Responsive developer that listens to player feedback
- ⭐ Engaging and enjoyable gameplay experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📺 Excessive and inappropriate advertisements
- 😤 Overly difficult star achievement system
- 🔄 Game progression bugs causing scene resets
- ⏱️ Limited content length

**Reported bugs**

- Skip ad button not functioning properly
- Scene reversion to jungle/animal scenes without clear objectives
- Three-star achievement system not triggering despite repeated play
- Hint system required to progress past certain scenes

**Requested features**

- Longer gameplay with more levels
- Better ad filtering for family-friendly content
- Improved star achievement mechanics clarity


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mars Tycoon free?

Mars Tycoon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Mars Mystery free?

Mars Mystery is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Mars Tycoon or Mars Mystery?

Mars Mystery is rated higher. Mars Tycoon averages 3.8 out of 5 from 159 ratings, while Mars Mystery averages 4.5 from 620 ratings.

### Do Mars Tycoon or Mars Mystery have ads?

Mars Mystery shows ads; Mars Tycoon does not.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*