# Monomals vs Hot Lava

The clearest difference is rating: Monomals at 4.7 against Hot Lava's 4.1. Monomals also leads on monetization model (free vs paid) and review sentiment (76% vs 68%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Monomals holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4K and 3.1K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 76% of Monomals's written reviews are positive against 68% of Hot Lava's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monomals | Hot Lava |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monomals/id1030010370/reviews)** | [4.1 (3.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hot-lava/id1469252166/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **4K** | 3.1K |
| Positive reviews | **76.4% of reviews** | 68.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Size | 925 MB | 2.6 GB |
| Requires iOS | 13.5 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [PICOMY](https://appshunter.io/developer/883602036) | [Klei](https://appshunter.io/developer/534603952) |

## What reviewers say

### Monomals

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monomals/id1030010370)

Embark on a musical adventure by fishing for unique creatures that help you compose original music. Explore vibrant underwater worlds, battle rivals, and share your creations with a global community.

**Highlights:** Catch unique Monomals, Compose music in MonoMaker, Explore 28 oceanic courses, Compete in music charts, Share music creations online, Console-quality graphics

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Game Controller support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great game
- 🎨 Gorgeous graphics
- 🎶 Awesome music
- 🕹️ Fun and engaging gameplay
- 🎮 Smooth controls

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Challenging and frustrating at times
- 🎶 Music creation tool is too complex
- 🔍 Progression issues (unable to revisit older levels)

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes at specific levels/bosses
- Glitches that prevent progression
- Issues with saving/loading custom music
- Control problems (unresponsive, fling issues)

**Requested features**

- More levels and content
- Improved music creation tools (more instruments, layering, automation)
- Better save/progress system
- Difficulty options (easy mode)
- Controller support improvements


### Hot Lava

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hot-lava/id1469252166)

Experience the thrill of childhood imagination in this first-person adventure game. Run, jump, and climb through nostalgic environments, avoiding molten lava and other hazards. Play solo or with friends in a game of skill and ingenuity.

**Highlights:** First-person parkour gameplay, Nostalgic environments, Multiplayer with friends, Leaderboards for speedruns, Obstacle avoidance challenges

**Features:** With Apple Arcade, Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great game
- 🚀 Awesome graphics
- 👍 Fun gameplay
- 👍 Nostalgic vibes
- 👍 Good for speedrunning

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Glitchy controls
- 🐛 Difficulty issues
- 🔋 Drains device battery
- 👎 Lacking multiplayer features

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch
- Freezing and performance issues
- Disappearing save data
- Unresponsive controls
- Gyroscope problems

**Requested features**

- Add multiplayer mode
- Improve controls and sensitivity
- Add more levels and content
- Provide controller support
- Allow custom music playback


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monomals free?

Monomals is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Hot Lava free?

Hot Lava is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Monomals or Hot Lava?

Monomals is rated higher. Monomals averages 4.7 out of 5 from 4K ratings, while Hot Lava averages 4.1 from 3.1K ratings.

### Do Monomals or Hot Lava have ads?

Neither Monomals nor Hot Lava shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monomals or Hot Lava?

Monomals ships an update every 3 months, and Hot Lava every 3 months. Most recently, Monomals was updated on November 6, 2026 and Hot Lava on November 6, 2026.

---

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