Disaster Detector vs Sandbox XL
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Disaster Detector
This educational game allows players to predict and prepare for natural disasters like tornadoes and earthquakes. By analyzing data from various scientific tools, users can help cities mitigate damage and save citizens. It's designed for learning but fun for all ages.
- Predict tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and hurricanes
- Analyze data from Doppler radar, anemometers, barometers, and seismometers
- Learn to forecast events using current and historical data
- Generate printable reports
- Suitable for classroom or home use
- Audio and text interplay
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The citizens of Smithsonville are in dire need of a Disaster Detector! Help Smithsonville and other cities predict and prepare for natural disasters. Use tools to make predictions and save the city from damage by helping citizens prepare properly. Are you up for the challenge? From the Smithsonian Science Education Center, Disaster Detector teaches players how to analyze and interpret data on natural hazards to forecast future catastrophic events and how to implement tools to mitigate the effects of those disasters. FEATURES - Prepare the city for possible tornadoes, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and hurricanes - Analyze data from tools such as Doppler radar, anemometers, barometers, and seismometer - Players learn how to analyze current and historical data to make predictions - Printable reports - For use in the classroom or at home - Aligned to national science standards for middle school but great for players of any age - Audio and text interplay
Sandbox XL
Engage in a fun, physics-based sandbox game where you can interact with numerous elements like water, magma, and fire. Simulate natural phenomena to create volcanoes, lakes, and geysers, and enjoy experimenting with the laws of nature.
- Physics-based sandbox gameplay
- Interact with water, magma, acid, sand, fire, gunpowder, oil, wood
- Create volcanoes, lakes, seas, geysers
- Simulate physical phenomena
- Experiment with nature's laws
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Have fun with Sandbox XL an addictive physics-based sandbox style game. You can interact with various elements such as water, magma, acid, sand, fire, gunpowder, oil, wood and more. Create volcanoes, lakes, seas, geysers by simulating physical phenomena and enjoying yourself with the nature's laws.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Disaster Detector at none against Sandbox XL's 1. Disaster Detector also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.1 vs 3.7). Sandbox XL's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. Sandbox XL sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Disaster Detector asks for nothing beyond the download.
Disaster Detector holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 59 and 53 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Disaster Detector's written reviews are positive against 61% of Sandbox XL's.
Disaster Detector ships an update every 3 months, Sandbox XL every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Disaster Detector | Sandbox XL |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (59 ratings) — better | 3.7 (53 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better | 60.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 59 — better | 53 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 5.1.1 — better | 11.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 57 MB | 24 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Smithsonian Institution | Raffaele Amuso |
Customer experience
Disaster Detector
Sandbox XL
In-app purchases
Disaster Detector
No in-app purchases
Sandbox XL
- Remove ad$1.99
Questions
Is Disaster Detector free?
Is Sandbox XL free?
Which has better reviews, Disaster Detector or Sandbox XL?
Do Disaster Detector or Sandbox XL have ads?
Which is updated more often, Disaster Detector or Sandbox XL?
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