# Ninja Tobu vs Ascender

The clearest difference is rating: Ascender at 4.9 against Ninja Tobu's 4.1. Ascender also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 14) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Ninja Tobu sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. Ascender asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ascender holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 260 and 156 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 65% of Ninja Tobu's written reviews are positive against 98% of Ascender's.

Ninja Tobu ships an update every 3 weeks, Ascender weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Ninja Tobu | Ascender |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (260 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ninja-tobu/id1163654683/reviews) | **[4.9 (156 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascender/id1642885179/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **260** | 156 |
| Positive reviews | 64.8% of reviews | **98.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 204 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [CerebralFix](https://appshunter.io/developer/324302027) | [Peter Moyle](https://appshunter.io/developer/1642885181) |

## What reviewers say

### Ninja Tobu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ninja-tobu/id1163654683)

Engage in a fast-paced action game where you jump, dodge, and attack through endless ninja battles. Master powerful moves and defeat enemies in challenging levels with stunning graphics. Become the ultimate ninja warrior.

**Highlights:** Tap to jump, Swipe to attack, Endless levels, Stunning graphics, Addictive gameplay, Ancient Japan setting

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 300 Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Animal Spirit Set | $1.99 | one-time |
| Reaper Set | $1.99 | one-time |
| Shinobi Training (Discipline) | $1.99 | one-time |
| Cyborg Set | $2.99 | one-time |
| Warlock Set | $2.99 | one-time |
| Magus Set | $2.99 | one-time |
| Festive Set | $2.99 | one-time |
| 750 Coins | $3.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Survivalist | $3.99 | one-time |
| 2000 Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| Dragon God Set | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 👍 Addictive and fun
- 🎨 Excellent art style
- 🕹️ Challenging but rewarding

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🕹️ Overly difficult challenges
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🕰️ Long loading times

**Reported bugs**

- Level 66 not loading
- Character getting stuck in walls
- Daily rewards not working
- Progress loss after updates

**Requested features**

- More characters and customization options
- Additional game modes and levels
- Ability to save and restore progress
- Leaderboard and social features


### Ascender

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascender/id1642885179)

Embark on an 8-bit arcade adventure, ascending from an abyss. Navigate treacherous terrain, defeat enemies, and manage your engine's heat. Experience thrilling gameplay with retro graphics and sound, aiming for the highest score.

**Highlights:** Retro arcade graphics and sound, 1000m of level design, Easy mobile controls, Quick start checkpoints, 3 Game modes, Game Center leaderboards

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 No ads or in-app purchases
- 🎨 Retro aesthetic and pixel art style
- ⚙️ Simple yet engaging gameplay mechanics
- 🎯 Challenging but fair difficulty balance
- 🏆 Multiple game modes (Classic, Survival, Time Trial)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📏 Control buttons positioned too close together and far left
- ⏱️ Limited content - single level with three play modes
- 🎮 Controls occasionally unresponsive or don't register
- 😞 Game is too short for some players
- 🔧 Input detection issues causing unexpected deaths

**Reported bugs**

- Controls don't register sometimes causing flight or fire errors
- Input detection issues leading to unexpected deaths

**Requested features**

- Sequel or Part 2 with more levels
- Progress saving functionality
- Additional levels and content
- Adjustable button sizes
- Discord server for community


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Ninja Tobu free?

Ninja Tobu is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Ascender free?

Ascender is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Ninja Tobu or Ascender?

Ascender is rated higher. Ninja Tobu averages 4.1 out of 5 from 260 ratings, while Ascender averages 4.9 from 156 ratings.

### Do Ninja Tobu or Ascender have ads?

Ninja Tobu shows ads; Ascender does not.

### Which is updated more often, Ninja Tobu or Ascender?

Ninja Tobu ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ascender weekly. Most recently, Ninja Tobu was updated on October 21, 2026 and Ascender on October 15, 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.*