Disaster Detector vs Hurricane.io
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
Hurricane.io
Become a massive hurricane in this online strategy game. Absorb clouds to grow, destroy cities to gain powers, and compete against other players worldwide. Can you become the ultimate storm?
- Grow by absorbing clouds and smaller hurricanes
- Destroy cities to charge special powers
- Compete against real players globally
- Collect coins for power upgrades
- View real-world hurricane data
- Live text chat for socialization
- Offline mode available
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///// GROW. SURVIVE. DESTROY! Hurricane.io is an online strategy game where you are the hurricane. You'll start as a tiny tropical storm, but by absorbing clouds you can get massive in no time. Destroying cities charges special powers, but you'll shrink while on land. Activate your powers at the perfect time to unleash chaos on the world — and the competition! That's right. You're not the only cyclone around, and angering a bigger hurricane might get you eaten. But when you're a Perfect Storm, the whole sky is yours to devour! How long can you survive? How big can you get? And how much destruction can you cause? ///// FEATURES Compete against real players from around the world Gain size and wind speed by absorbing clouds… or smaller hurricanes! Destroy cities to charge and unleash devastating powers Collect coins to trade for stronger powers See real-world hurricane data from JTWC & NHC Socialize and strategize in live text chat Use Party Mode to play in private rooms with friends Hurricane.io is played online by default, but offline mode is available at all times. ///// DISCORD Want to befriend other hurricanes? Found a bug or other in-game problem? Join our official Discord community! Developers and players alike will be glad to say hi and help out. https://discord.gg/9CFM6dQDXx The End User License Agreement can be found at: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Disaster Detector at none against Hurricane.io's 17. Disaster Detector also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (75% vs 49%). Hurricane.io's advantage is ratings volume (1.3K vs 54) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). On price and rating 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. Hurricane.io sells 17 one-off in-app purchases. Disaster Detector asks for nothing beyond the download.
Disaster Detector holds the better App Store score, 4.1 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hurricane.io has 1.3K ratings behind it against 54, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of Disaster Detector's written reviews are positive against 49% of Hurricane.io's.
Disaster Detector ships an update every 3 months, Hurricane.io every 6 weeks. Both last shipped on October 13, 2026.
| Parameter | Disaster Detector | Hurricane.io |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.1 (54 ratings) — better | 3.9 (1.3K ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews — better | 48.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 54 | 1.3K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | Every 6 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 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 57 MB | 357 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Smithsonian Institution | Vidreya Gaming |
Customer experience
Disaster Detector
Hurricane.io
Bugs and requests
Disaster Detector
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Hurricane.io
Reported bugs
4 issues- Frequent crashes and disconnections
- Graphical issues and performance problems
- Inconsistent or non-functioning in-app purchases
- Inability to log in or create accounts
Requested features
5 requests- Add single-player/offline mode
- Improve server stability and matchmaking
- Implement better anti-cheat/anti-hack measures
- Introduce more game modes and content updates
- Allow for private/custom servers
In-app purchases
Disaster Detector
No in-app purchases
Hurricane.io
- 200 Coins$1.99
- 200 coins$1.99
- 500 Coins$2.99
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- 500 coins$2.99
- 1000 Coins$3.99
- 1,000 coins$3.99
- Remove Ads$4.99
- 2000 Coins$4.99
- 2,000 coins$4.99
- 5000 Coins$5.99
- 5,000 coins$5.99
- 10,000 Coins$9.99
- 10,000 coins$9.99
- 25,000 Coins$19.99
- 25,000 coins$19.99
- 50,000 Coins$34.99
- 150,000 Coins$59.99
Questions
Is Disaster Detector free?
Is Hurricane.io free?
Which has better reviews, Disaster Detector or Hurricane.io?
Do Disaster Detector or Hurricane.io have ads?
Which is updated more often, Disaster Detector or Hurricane.io?
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