Comparison

ZX Globus vs Pac.io

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

Head to head
About

ZX Globus

Control a sophisticated robot to save the planet Xenon from destruction by restoring the central reactor's energy. Avoid enemy robots and deactivate bombs to complete your mission. This version retains the original graphics and sound while improving gameplay.

Highlights
  • Robot control
  • Planet saving mission
  • Energy restoration
  • Bomb deactivation
  • Enemy robot avoidance
  • Original graphics and sound
Read full description

Globus, the most sophisticated robot in the universe, has been put under your control in order to rid the "Xenon" planet of its total destruction. To achieve it you must restore the energy level of all sectors of the central reactor. Avoid the robots that the enemy sends to sabotage your mission. Deactivate the bombs before it's too late! Globus was developed for the popular ZX Spectrum computer in 1987 and remained unpublished until its release in 2017, 30 years later! Now you can enjoy this new version of that old game, which retains the same graphics, music and sound effects than the original ZX Spectrum version, and improves movement, score and gameplay in general. You can request a free copy of the original ZX Spectrum game by writing to: zxglobus@gmail.com

About

Pac.io

Engage in an addictive grid-battle by swiping to outsmart opponents and dominate the arena. Utilize a variety of power-ups and unlock unique skins to enhance your gameplay and rise through the ranks. Enjoy endless fun offline or online with intuitive controls.

Highlights
  • Swipe controls for movement
  • Strategic power-ups
  • Unlockable skins
  • Offline and online play
  • Intuitive gameplay
Features
Read full description

Pac.io – Swipe, Power Up, and Dominate the Grid! Dive into the ultimate io grid-battle! Swipe in four directions, outsmart your opponents, and become the King of the grid. Every move counts—strategize, dodge, and strike to stay on top! Unleash Epic Power-Ups Turn the tide of battle with incredible power-ups: Bomb, Ghost, 5x Multiplier, Magnet, Sword, Thunder, Freeze, Laser, and Speed Up. Eat bigger players, escape tricky situations, and crush your enemies with style. Use them wisely—power waits for no one! Unlock Legendary Skins Show off your legendary skins as you rise through the ranks. Each skin makes you look epic and adds extra flair while you dominate the battlefield. Game Highlights • Play anywhere—offline or online, anytime. • Smooth, intuitive swipe controls for lightning-fast moves. • Easy to learn, impossible to put down. • FREE to play with endless battles, power-ups, and epic fun! Swipe, power up, and conquer—become the ultimate legend in Pac.io!

Screenshots

ZX Globus4 screens
Pac.io4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: ZX Globus at none against Pac.io's 10. ZX Globus also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (78% vs 54%). Pac.io's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 18 months) and ratings volume (297 vs 12). On price, rating, device support and iOS requirement 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. Pac.io sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. ZX Globus asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for ZX Globus against 4.2 for Pac.io. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pac.io has 297 ratings behind it against 12, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of ZX Globus's written reviews are positive against 54% of Pac.io's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZX Globus ships an update every 18 months, Pac.io fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ZX Globus versus Pac.io: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZX GlobusPac.io
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (12 ratings)4.2 (297 ratings)
Positive reviews77.8% of reviews — better53.9% of reviews
Number of ratings12297 — better
Update frequencyEvery 18 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size68 MB139 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperFractal GraphicsNomadic Bear Games

Customer experience

ZX Globus

All ratings12 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral8.3%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative11.1%

Pac.io

All ratings297 ratings
Positive78.5%
Neutral4.7%
Negative16.8%
Written reviews89 reviews
Positive53.9%
Neutral10.1%
Negative36.0%

Bugs and requests

ZX Globus

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Pac.io

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • Ads crash game at end of video
  • Game freezes after ad completion
  • Pink screen ad that cannot be closed
  • Instant death upon spawning
  • Players getting stuck behind walls
Show 2 more
  • Power pellet duration inconsistencies
  • Game glitching and crashing frequently

Requested features

9 requests
  • Arrow buttons or D-pad controls instead of sliding
  • Ad-free premium version for purchase
  • Ability to disable ads with WiFi off
  • Friend list and private room creation
  • Real player names instead of randomized ones
Show 4 more
  • Grace period or invincibility after spawn
  • Sound effects and audio
  • New items, levels, and game updates
  • Revert to original 2024 version

In-app purchases

None

ZX Globus

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Pac.io

One-time10
  • Small Coin Pack$0.99
  • Medium Coin Pack$4.99
  • Magnet$4.99
Show 7 more
  • Thunder$4.99
  • Sword$4.99
  • Big Coin Pack$9.99
  • No Ads$9.99
  • Large Coin Pack$19.99
  • Huge Coin Pack$49.99
  • Massive Coin Pack$99.99

Questions

Is ZX Globus free?
ZX Globus is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pac.io free?
Pac.io is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ZX Globus or Pac.io?
ZX Globus and Pac.io are both rated 4.2 out of 5 on the App Store, from 12 and 297 ratings respectively.
Do ZX Globus or Pac.io have ads?
Pac.io shows ads; ZX Globus does not.
Which is updated more often, ZX Globus or Pac.io?
ZX Globus ships an update every 18 months, and Pac.io fortnightly. Most recently, ZX Globus was updated on September 13, 2026 and Pac.io on September 21, 2026.

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