Comparison

Nightgate vs The Shine

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

Head to head
About

Nightgate

Navigate a dark, digital world in the year 2398 as the last remaining life form on Earth. Explore 50 handcrafted levels, avoid enemies, and uncover the mysteries of this futuristic landscape. Enjoy an immersive experience with a stunning minimalist design and original soundtrack.

Highlights
  • 50 handcrafted levels
  • Avoid enemies
  • Immersive digital environments
  • Original soundtrack
  • Minimalist design
  • Discover achievements
  • iCloud progress sync
Features
Read full description

In the year 2398, a network of intelligent computers known as Nightgate, is the last remaining life form on Earth. "Stunning" - The Daily Dot "A Neon-Soaked Art Installation" - Stuff TV "One of the best soundtracks I've heard in a while" - MacStories "A Gorgeous Minimalist Experience" - TouchArcade "Top 10 Indie Mobile Games of 2016" - Indie Game Reviewer "10 Best Video Game Soundtracks of 2016" - FACT Magazine "A pretty cool mixture of laid back and frantic" - Gamezebo "Wide range of challenges and mechanics" - Pocket Gamer "Feels right at home on the Apple TV" - iLounge "Wonderfully Intuitive Controls" - Cult of Mac "A Triumph in Design" - TapSmart "Immersive and Captivating" - AppAdvice –– Step into the computer and make your way through 50 handcrafted levels. Avoid enemies as you interact with a dark digital world and explore what lies beyond the futuristic landscapes of Nightgate. Features: • Universal app for iPhone, iPad and Apple TV • No ads, no in-app purchases • Immersive digital environments • Over 40 minutes of original soundtrack (also available on iTunes Music Store) • Minimalist design featuring vibrant colors and complex geometries • Discover achievements scattered throughout the game • In-game camera to capture beautiful screenshots • Sync your progress using iCloud • Fully localized for English, Spanish, French, Japanese, Chinese, German, Italian, Korean, Portuguese and Russian

About

The Shine

Features
Read full description

In a world of ancient legends, where the shadows reign supreme, and darkness is a virtue, there exists a creature of the night known as Murk. Born in fear of the Sun's deadly rays, this being has lived in obscurity, hidden away in the deepest, darkest corners of the land. And yet, Murk is not content with his secluded existence. He longs to extend the duration of the night, to keep his world forever shrouded in darkness. But to do so, he must gather dust and shining light from mushrooms, stars, and dew and fill his dark machine. Thus begins a perilous journey through the treacherous forests and murky swamps, where the creatures of the night thrive, and the dangers lurk in every shadow. With your help, Murk must evade the perils that lie ahead, collecting all the light he can to power his machine and keep the night alive. As you guide Murk on his journey, you will encounter ancient tomes and mystical artefacts that will aid you in your quest. But beware, for the forces of light will stop at nothing to prevent Murk from achieving his goal. So sharpen your senses and embrace the darkness, for in The Shine, you will embark on an epic journey through a world of fantasy and adventure, a world that only the bravest of souls can conquer. Features: Uncover the enthralling story of Murk, the creature of darkness, as you help it evade the sun's life-threatening rays. Skillfully maneuver through challenging landscape, unlocking hidden secrets and treasures that await discovery. Light Collection: Search for hidden sources of light scattered throughout the game. Collect them all to lengthen the night, giving your creature more time to thrive and explore. The gameplay is simple but addictive: tap to jump, tap and hold to jump higher. As you collect more lights, you unlock power-ups that can help you on your journey, such as speed boosts, invincibility shields, and more. But be careful, as the night is full of dangers, such as obstacles, enemies, and traps that can quickly end your run. There are many boosers like> Light value multiplier, Moon shield, Red mushroom shiled, Bad star shield, Spider shield

Screenshots

Nightgate4 screens
The Shine4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: The Shine at Free against Nightgate's $3.99. Nightgate's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ads (none vs shown). On 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

The Shine is free to download; Nightgate costs $3.99 up front. The Shine sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Nightgate asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nightgate ships an update every 5 months, The Shine every 14 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Nightgate versus The Shine: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNightgateThe Shine
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (1.3K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews94.8% of reviews—
Number of ratings1.3K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 months — betterEvery 14 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size162 MB430 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperSemidome Inc.White Cube d.o.o.

Bugs and requests

Nightgate

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Game crashes when switching apps
  • Levels sometimes reset unexpectedly

Requested features

3 requests
  • More levels and content updates
  • Ability to reset progress
  • Multiplayer or online features

The Shine

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Nightgate

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

The Shine

One-time5
  • Ads Removal$1.99
  • 10 Stars$1.99
  • 20 Stars$2.99
Show 2 more
  • 50 Stars$3.99
  • 100 Stars$4.99

Questions

Is Nightgate free?
Nightgate costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is The Shine free?
The Shine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Nightgate or The Shine have ads?
The Shine shows ads; Nightgate does not.
Which is updated more often, Nightgate or The Shine?
Nightgate ships an update every 5 months, and The Shine every 14 months. Most recently, Nightgate was updated on October 20, 2026 and The Shine on October 6, 2026.

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