Comparison

Space Pods vs Nova Island

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Space Pods

Features
Read full description

Space Pods is an arcade / space invaders / strategic / survival game, similar to a tower defense style game but with some original features and 80s style graphics. The goal of the game is to defeat all enemies in each world before your base is destroyed. To defeat all enemies for a world you must survive to all enemies waves, you must find the best strategy to win. There are a lot of enemies, weapons, defensive systems and extra bonuses. Build and increase the power of your pods to rule all the worlds. The space wars are about to begin... can you survive to all enemies waves? Download now the app and have fun !!! The full version is ad-free, have all the worlds and enemies unlocked and come with more than 300 levels.

About

Nova Island

Engage in strategic card battles with cute anime-inspired characters. Collect friends, powers, and skins while competing in PvP matches or embarking on an adventure. Build decks and master unique playstyles.

Highlights
  • Collectible card battles
  • Strategic deck building
  • PvP and PvE modes
  • Character collection
  • Cosmetic customization
  • Daily challenges
  • Draft mode
Features
Read full description

Discover friends and card duels in this exciting strategic adventure game! Nova Island is an anime inspired card game with cute characters, amazing strategy, and an engaging adventure!  And totally ad free! Looking for a unique collectible card game that combines strategy & chance? On Nova Island, you can take on challenges, play quick matches with friends, or compete against players from around the world to climb the leaderboard. Play cards to gain strength, deal damage, plan ahead, and disrupt opponents in ways they’ll never see coming. It’s fun! Try it out for free and discover its complete strategic freedom! Alert!  A new Nova Researcher has arrived on the island!  With your help and the various Pros by your side, collect all of the Friends, Powers, and customizable Skins found on this colorful island.  Go out on an adventure of a lifetime and see all of the fun in store for you! Quick PvP Matches in Every Mode Compete in fast online Ranked Matches versus players around the world.  Try out your strategic thinking in a unique single-player experience with new themes popping in the Daily Challenges. The Best of Your Favorite TCG and CCG Experiences Train your skills with the Turbo Chaos Draft Challenge against players around the world in a fast-paced draft mode. Challenge yourself with a PVE singleplayer journey around the island and tricky limited time game modes. Level up on Research Road and collect over 100 cards and over 1500 cosmetics, including: - 8 Pros, each with a thematic soundtrack and unique playstyle. - Over 70 Friends with cute animations, sound effects, and custom skins to change their look! So get in there and build your deck with strategy and style! Pick Your Prize or Try Your Luck: Use your winning Tokens on the Vending Machines to collect rewards, level up your favorite strategies, and unlock new cards. You’ll learn more about Nova Island, the Pros and Friends inhabiting the districts, and the challenges that await you as you explore! We have a growing community who love to chat! Discuss tips and tricks with some real Nova Island Pros!  Join in for all fun things NOVA ISLAND! Discord: https://play.novaisland.com/discord Need SUPPORT? Visit our Website: https://novaisland.com or Email us: hello@thirteengames.com Just some important legal information: PRIVACY POLICY: https://novaisland.com/privacy-policy TERMS OF SERVICE: https://novaisland.com/terms-of-service

Screenshots

Space Pods4 screens
Nova Island4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Nova Island at none against Space Pods's shown. Nova Island also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 30 months). Space Pods's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Space Pods sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Nova Island sells 66 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Space Pods ships an update every 30 months, Nova Island every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Space Pods versus Nova Island: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpace PodsNova Island
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.3 (237 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—60.4% of reviews
Number of ratings—237 — better
Update frequencyEvery 30 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS11.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size35 MB262 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperRaffaele AmusoThirteen Games, LLC

Bugs and requests

Space Pods

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Nova Island

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Soft-locking tutorial
  • Inconsistent performance on some devices

Requested features

4 requests
  • Offline mode or paid full version
  • Ability to play with friends
  • More character/card customization options
  • Improved tutorial and onboarding experience

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Space Pods

One-time1
  • Full version$2.99
66 purchases

Nova Island

One-time66
  • 90 Island Credits$0.99
  • Researcher’s Starter Bundle$0.99
  • Circuit Boiz Bundle 2$0.99
Show 63 more
  • Circuit Boiz Bundle 1$0.99
  • 4th Anniversary Emotes Bundle1$0.99
  • Halloween Juice Emote$0.99
  • Max Halloween Emote$0.99
  • Artillery Pack$0.99
  • Doodle Branehart Emote$0.99
  • 75 Island Credits2 variants$1.99
  • Welcome Bundle$1.99
  • Power Outage Pack$1.99
  • Researcher's Starter Bundle2 variants$1.99
  • Circuit Boiz Pack$1.99
  • Rerun Activate$1.99
  • Sprynk Activate$1.99
  • Hackmaster Activate$1.99
  • Escape Pod Activate$1.99
  • Novas Special BF$1.99
  • Food Emote Bundle$1.99
  • Cosmicosi Legendary Skin$1.99
  • Cannonball Level Up$1.99
  • Welcome Party Bundle$2.99
  • Mage Rerun$2.99
  • Oddball Filthy Clean Skin$2.99
  • Giving Tree Unlock$2.99
  • Giving Tree Level Up$2.99
  • New Season Novium Special$2.99
  • Greenhouse Pack$2.99
  • Daily Login Bonus$3.99
  • Rainbow Gemma Skin$3.99
  • Gemma Activate$3.99
  • EOY Winter Skins 2024$3.99
  • Unlock Sparki$3.99
  • Nova Tree Giving Tree$3.99
  • Cosmicosi Activate$3.99
  • Crystal Kitten$3.99
  • Arcade Pack$3.99
  • Ghost Blazer$3.99
  • Candy Weade$3.99
  • Frankenjazzy$3.99
  • 575 Island Credits$4.99
  • ULTIMATE Welcome Bundle$4.99
  • Welcome Party Bundle$4.99
  • Bloom King BC Special$4.99
  • 80s Sparki$4.99
  • Observatory Pack$4.99
  • 225 Island Credits$4.99
  • Intranet Pack$5.99
  • Activation Starter Bundle$5.99
  • One Cent and IP$6.99
  • Khrys and Flutter$6.99
  • Crystal Cats$8.99
  • 1175 Island Credits$9.99
  • Nova Tree Bundle$9.99
  • Welcome Bundle 5$9.99
  • Boost Pack C$9.99
  • Hooligan Bundle$9.99
  • Boost Pack B$9.99
  • 480 Island Credits$9.99
  • Ancient 9 Skins$14.99
  • EOY Credits Special 2024$14.99
  • 2400 Island Credits$19.99
  • Super Boost Pack C$19.99
  • 1020 Island Credits$19.99
  • 2155 Island Credits$39.99

Questions

Is Space Pods free?
Space Pods is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nova Island free?
Nova Island is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Space Pods or Nova Island have ads?
Space Pods shows ads; Nova Island does not.
Which is updated more often, Space Pods or Nova Island?
Space Pods ships an update every 30 months, and Nova Island every 3 weeks. Most recently, Space Pods was updated on October 26, 2026 and Nova Island on October 22, 2026.

Other comparisons