# Nightgate vs Subnautica

The clearest difference is update cadence: Subnautica at fortnightly against Nightgate's every 5 months. Subnautica also leads on chart position (#120 vs unranked). Nightgate's advantage is price ($3.99 vs $9.99) and ratings volume (1.3K vs 107). On rating, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Nightgate costs $3.99 and Subnautica $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Nightgate against 4.6 for Subnautica. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nightgate has 1.3K ratings behind it against 107, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 95% of Nightgate's written reviews are positive against 86% of Subnautica's.

Nightgate ships an update every 5 months, Subnautica fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nightgate | Subnautica |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$3.99** | $9.99 |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nightgate/id1116808304/reviews)** | [4.6 (107 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subnautica-below-zero/id6749406060/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.3K** | 107 |
| Positive reviews | **94.8% of reviews** | 86.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#120** |
| Size | 162 MB | 2.2 GB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Semidome Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/779855685) | [Unknown Worlds](https://appshunter.io/developer/1733568374) |

## What reviewers say

### Nightgate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nightgate/id1116808304)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 🎨 Stunning visuals
- 🎵 Immersive soundtrack
- 👍 Simple yet challenging
- 🌟 Unique and innovative

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes or bugs
- 🕹️ Slightly difficult controls
- 📏 Levels could be more varied
- 🕰️ Game is a bit short

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes when switching apps
- Levels sometimes reset unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- More levels and content updates
- Ability to reset progress
- Multiplayer or online features


### Subnautica

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/subnautica-below-zero/id6749406060)

**Currently charting:** #120 Top Paid · Action, #125 Top Paid · Adventure (US App Store)

Embark on an underwater survival adventure in an arctic alien ocean. Investigate mysteries, craft equipment, and explore new biomes and creatures. Survive the cold and uncover the truth behind an ancient alien civilization.

**Highlights:** Explore alien ocean biomes, Craft habitats and equipment, Survive freezing temperatures, Investigate alien mysteries, Discover new creatures, Pilot vehicles like Seatruck and Snowfox

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nightgate free?

Nightgate costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Subnautica free?

Subnautica costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Nightgate or Subnautica?

Nightgate is rated higher. Nightgate averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while Subnautica averages 4.6 from 107 ratings.

### Do Nightgate or Subnautica have ads?

Neither Nightgate nor Subnautica shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Nightgate or Subnautica?

Nightgate ships an update every 5 months, and Subnautica fortnightly. Most recently, Nightgate was updated on September 24, 2026 and Subnautica on September 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*