Comparison

Sonic Surfer vs Backflip Playground

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

Head to head
About

Sonic Surfer

This unique game uses your ambient noise to control gameplay. Ride sound waves, collect suns, and avoid falling off your board. It adapts to any environment, turning everyday sounds into exciting gameplay.

Highlights
  • Reacts to ambient noise
  • Generates waves based on sound level
  • Collect suns to stop moonrise
  • Unlock 22 characters
  • Play with music
  • Adaptive gameplay
Features
Read full description

This game reacts to your ambient noise! Play ‚Sonic Surfer‘ when you ride the bus, at the park, in a waiting line or at other places where noise in different soundlevels occurs. Surf the waves and don't fall off your board! Can you collect enough suns to stop the moonrise? Loud sounds will create big waves while quiet sound will create small waves. No matter where you play, this game will always match your surroundings. For example, if you play ‚Sonic Surfer on the Bus loud noises will no longer bother you. If a baby is crying, the bus driver is honking or people are talking very loud your game will create bigger waves - you will jump higher and collect more suns. Keep in mind that we need access to your microphone! ACTION PACKED Play Sonic Surfer while you are listening to your favorite music!! DIVERSE Unlock 22 characters! Surf with Jade, Melissa, Eugene and Rainbow the Pony! WINNER - BW Goes Mobil Award 2016 ‚Sonic Surfer‘ won the first price at the category „Waiting line - never bored again“.

About

Backflip Playground

Perform backflips and jumps to reach goals or defeat opponents in this action-packed game. Enjoy stunning pixel graphics and realistic physics for endless entertainment. Remember, all in-game actions are fictional and should not be replicated.

Highlights
  • Perform backflips and jumps
  • Reach finish lines
  • Defeat enemies
  • Cinematic action
  • Pixel graphics
  • Physics effects
Features
Read full description

Jump and perform backflips to reach the finish line or take down enemies. Unleash your inner hero with cinematic action. The game with stunning pixel graphics and physics effects will keep you entertained in your spare time. All actions in the game are fictional, please do not perform these actions in real life.

Screenshots

Sonic Surfer4 screens
Backflip Playground4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sonic Surfer at 91% against Backflip Playground's 44%. Sonic Surfer also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.1) and ads (none vs shown). Backflip Playground's advantage is update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 16 months) and ratings volume (31 vs 4). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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. Sonic Surfer sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Backflip Playground sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sonic Surfer holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Backflip Playground has 31 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Sonic Surfer's written reviews are positive against 44% of Backflip Playground's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Sonic Surfer ships an update every 16 months, Backflip Playground every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Sonic Surfer versus Backflip Playground: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSonic SurferBackflip Playground
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (4 ratings) — better3.1 (31 ratings)
Positive reviews91.1% of reviews — better44.4% of reviews
Number of ratings431 — better
Update frequencyEvery 16 monthsEvery 4 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size155 MB160 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperPatrick FerlingLam Dao Thi Thanh

Customer experience

Sonic Surfer

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews135 reviews
Positive91.1%
Neutral5.2%
Negative3.7%

Backflip Playground

All ratings21 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral4.8%
Negative38.1%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive44.4%
Neutral11.1%
Negative44.4%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Sonic Surfer

One-time10
  • Acid$0.99
  • Alana$0.99
  • Bob$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Taj$0.99
  • Dark One$0.99
  • Isabell$0.99
  • Doge$0.99
  • Aaron$0.99
  • Leslie$0.99
  • Cereal$0.99
6 purchases

Backflip Playground

One-time6
  • coin 099$0.99
  • coin 199$1.99
  • starter pack$2.99
Show 3 more
  • no ads$2.99
  • coin 399$3.99
  • coin 799$7.99

Questions

Is Sonic Surfer free?
Sonic Surfer is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Backflip Playground free?
Backflip Playground is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sonic Surfer or Backflip Playground?
Sonic Surfer is rated higher. Sonic Surfer averages 4.8 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Backflip Playground averages 3.1 from 31 ratings.
Do Sonic Surfer or Backflip Playground have ads?
Backflip Playground shows ads; Sonic Surfer does not.
Which is updated more often, Sonic Surfer or Backflip Playground?
Sonic Surfer ships an update every 16 months, and Backflip Playground every 4 weeks. Most recently, Sonic Surfer was updated on October 21, 2026 and Backflip Playground on October 28, 2026.

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