Fix EV3 Rover vs Ellipse
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Fix EV3 Rover
Program a robot vehicle using instructions inspired by LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3. Learn basic programming techniques useful for robotics competitions without needing any equipment or prior experience. Explore a new planet by guiding the robot through challenges.
- LEGO MINDSTORMS EV3-inspired programming
- Icon-based and Scratch-based language options
- Learn programming for robotics competitions
- Robot equipped with motors and sensors
- Progressively complex game levels
- In-game symbol dictionary
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THE GAME Fix EV3 Rover is a fun game where you get to program a robot vehicle using instructions loosely based on the LEGO® MINDSTORMS® EV3 programming languages. And now you can choose whether you want to use the older, icon-based language instructions or the newer Scratch-based language instructions. Completing each level of this game will help you learn basic programming techniques that are particularly useful for participating in FIRST® LEGO® League (FLL®) competitions. No robotic equipment or previous programming experience is necessary. EV3 ROVER’S STORY EV3 Rover is a robot vehicle sent on a rocket from Earth to the planet Nuftobor. Unfortunately a major solar flare occurred shortly after takeoff, erasing all programs from the robot’s memory. While EV3 Rover made it safely to Nuftobor’s surface, it cannot move on its own without programmed instructions -- instructions that YOU must provide! Your goal is to Fix EV3 Rover so that it can complete its mission of exploring its new surroundings. EQUIPMENT EV3 Rover is equipped with motor-driven wheels for moving and turning, a sensor to detect dark-colored ground beneath it, and a front touch sensor bumper to detect obstacles in its path. In later levels of the game you can program its scooper-arm to lift, carry, and drop boulders found on the planet’s surface. CHALLENGES You’ll face challenges that require logical thinking and spatial intelligence, while being guided through progressively more complex game levels. And if you forget the meaning of any programming symbols, you can easily look them up using the in-game symbol dictionary. Get ready for a fun and engaging adventure as you Fix EV3 Rover! Intended for ages 9+. Also available at the Mac App Store. Images of the Mars surface courtesy of NASA/JPL. LEGO®, MINDSTORMS®, and LEGO® logos are trademarks of The LEGO® Group, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this product. FIRST®, and all of its trademarks, FIRST®, FIRST® LEGO® League, and FLL® are trademarks of FIRST®, which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse this product.
Ellipse
Design, build, and launch rockets with realistic orbital mechanics. Explore celestial bodies and experience dynamic physics for a true-to-life space simulation. Ideal for aspiring engineers and space enthusiasts.
- Rocket design and customization
- Realistic orbital mechanics
- Explore celestial bodies
- Dynamic physics engine
- Space exploration simulation
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Build your own vehicles and conduct your own space missions to explore space. Launch capsules, satellites, land on the Moon, land on Mars. - Real orbital mechanics and physics, nothing is faked - Planets based on real solar system data - Thrilling visual effects - No ads, no account required, free to download
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Ellipse at monthly against Fix EV3 Rover's every 10 months. Ellipse also leads on ratings volume (2K vs 9). Fix EV3 Rover's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (100% vs 79%). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases 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. Fix EV3 Rover sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Ellipse sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Fix EV3 Rover against 4.7 for Ellipse. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ellipse has 2K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 100% of Fix EV3 Rover's written reviews are positive against 79% of Ellipse's.
Fix EV3 Rover ships an update every 10 months, Ellipse monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Fix EV3 Rover | Ellipse |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (9 ratings) | 4.7 (2K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 78.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 9 | 2K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 28 MB | 245 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | David Offen | Starwelds |
Customer experience
Fix EV3 Rover
Ellipse
Bugs and requests
Fix EV3 Rover
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Ellipse
Reported bugs
12 issues- Connected parts don't work
- Staging issues (last stage goes first)
- Fairings don't attach
- Cannot delete after spawning samples
- Detached parts don't detach
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- Game freezes during missions
- Parachute gets cut before launch
- Expansion pack causes build issues
- Glitches on iPad
- Rocket parts don't separate
- Capsule doesn't separate from rocket near the moon
- Build area barrier
Requested features
49 requests- Add more planets
- Add astronauts
- Add a delete button
- Add more parts (solar panel, battery, antenna, wing, landing leg, chassis, monopropellant tank, docking port)
- Add electricity consumption
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- Add plane flight mechanics
- Add planet navigation (like SFS)
- Improve RCS control
- Improve plane aerodynamics
- Improve RCS in docking mode
- Add launch instructions
- Add symmetry feature
- Add staging mechanic
- Add modding or community made packs
- Add individual save slots
- Add more free stuff
- Add engine mounts
- Add SRB customizations
- Make fuel tanks adjustable
- Add emergency escape towers
- Add Jupiter and its moons
- Add Deimos (Mars' second moon)
- Add gas giants and their moons
- Add controllers support
- Add better damage and break apart models
- Add rovers
- Add Saturn V rocket parts
- Add free space shuttle
- Adjust planet speed
- Add more buildings around Earth
- Make planets more detailed
- Add more expansion parts
- Make build area better
- Remove build area barrier
- Add Saturn V rocket
- Add gas giants
- Add gas giant moons
- Add Deimos
- Add Jupiter and its 4 biggest moons
- Add more free parts
- Add tutorial on how to build
- Improve realism
- Add space stations
- Add more capsules
- Add bigger fuel tanks
- Add bigger rocket booster fuel
- Add more detailed graphics
- Add more parts to build planes
- Add a tutorial for maneuvers
In-app purchases
Fix EV3 Rover
- Fix EV3 Rover Pro upgrade$0.99
Ellipse
- Large Parts$2.99
- Heavy Lift Program$4.99
- Expansion$4.99
