# Tiny Armies vs Close Cities

The clearest difference is price: Close Cities at Free against Tiny Armies's $0.99. Close Cities also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.3) and review sentiment (69% vs 55%). Tiny Armies's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On ratings volume, update cadence, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Close Cities is free to download; Tiny Armies costs $0.99 up front. Close Cities sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Tiny Armies asks for nothing beyond the download.

Close Cities holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 310 and 356 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 55% of Tiny Armies's written reviews are positive against 69% of Close Cities's.

Tiny Armies ships an update monthly, Close Cities every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Tiny Armies | Close Cities |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.3 (310 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tiny-armies/id1152620025/reviews) | **[4.8 (356 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/close-cities/id6475958084/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 310 | **356** |
| Positive reviews | 54.7% of reviews | **69.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#189** | — |
| Size | 11 MB | 158 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brothers Flint](https://appshunter.io/developer/369225224) | [Juan Manuel Altamirano Argudo](https://appshunter.io/developer/391953849) |

## What reviewers say

### Tiny Armies

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tiny-armies/id1152620025)

**Currently charting:** #189 Top Paid · Puzzle (US App Store)

Engage in fast-paced conquest battles with tiny armies. Strategize your moves across various terrains and challenge opponents solo, locally, or globally via iMessage. Enjoy quick gameplay sessions with a visually striking presentation.

**Highlights:** Fast-paced conquest gameplay, Strategic unit movement, Terrain-based challenges, Solo and multiplayer modes, iMessage battles, Quick gameplay sessions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Simple and intuitive gameplay mechanics
- ⌚ Excellent Apple Watch integration
- 👥 Fun local multiplayer/pass-and-play mode
- 💰 Fair monetization with no ads or IAP
- 🎨 Minimalist and elegant visual design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎲 Excessive reliance on RNG and randomization
- 🤖 Weak and predictable AI behavior
- 📊 Unbalanced map generation causing unfair matches
- ⏱️ Very short campaign (under 1 hour)
- 😴 Repetitive gameplay becomes boring quickly

**Reported bugs**

- Stuck on initial 'Swipe Up' screen on newer iPhones
- iMessage version doesn't register certain swipe directions
- Apple Watch swipe input not detected
- App crashes or fails to install on some devices
- Swipe controls unresponsive on iPhone 15

**Requested features**

- Level/map editor for custom gameplay
- Online multiplayer functionality
- Additional campaign levels and content
- Difficulty settings (Easy/Normal/Hard)
- Dark mode option


### Close Cities

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/close-cities/id6475958084)

Build beautiful cities on diverse worlds by solving unique puzzles. This relaxing game guides you through 160 levels with a simple tap or drag interface, requiring no architectural knowledge. Conquer each world's challenges and travel through time with its calming soundtrack.

**Highlights:** Build cities on empty maps, Solve 160 unique puzzle levels, Intuitive tap and drag controls, No architectural knowledge needed, Travel through different worlds, Relaxing music and pace

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hints - Small Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hints - Medium Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads + Hints | $2.99 | one-time |
| Hints - Big Pack | $5.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Tiny Armies free?

Tiny Armies costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Close Cities free?

Close Cities is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Tiny Armies or Close Cities?

Close Cities is rated higher. Tiny Armies averages 4.3 out of 5 from 310 ratings, while Close Cities averages 4.8 from 356 ratings.

### Do Tiny Armies or Close Cities have ads?

Close Cities shows ads; Tiny Armies does not.

### Which is updated more often, Tiny Armies or Close Cities?

Tiny Armies ships an update monthly, and Close Cities every 3 weeks. Most recently, Tiny Armies was updated on October 11, 2026 and Close Cities on October 7, 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.*