Comparison

Mur vs HollowLight

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

Head to head
About

Mur

This interactive app enhances a physical children's book using augmented reality. Scan book images to unlock a musical, 360-degree virtual world that follows the story's themes. Designed for young children, it offers a unique blend of physical and digital play.

Highlights
  • Augmented reality integration
  • Interactive 360º world
  • Original musical score
  • Scannable book images
  • Storyline progression
  • Focus on music and themes
Features
Read full description

*Requires the physical book "Mur"* *Winner of the Bologna Ragazzi VR/AR award 2017* *Mur - a step in book*, is a beautiful, interactive and musical app built to augment the *physical children’s book, “A bear called Mur” by Kaisa Happonen and Anne Vasko*. Mur is a little story with a big message about being perfect just the way we are. The app is targeted kids aged 4 - 8 and is for both iPhones and iPads. The Mur app uses *augmented reality* to bridge the physical with the *virtual reality* of the app universe. The images in the book can be scanned, opening a dream-like intro sequence where the real-world slowly fades and makes Mur’s world appear. The book becomes *a set of keys* to unlock interactive experiences in a *360º world*, which can be navigated via the smartdevice as a sort of magical window. The Mur app follows the storyline of the book, but without words it focuses on *music* which is built up in four acts, each with a different theme. The music is especially arranged, composed and performed for the app. *Developed by Step In Books, Denmark* Step In Books is an award-winning company developing innovative experiences on mobile devices. Step In Books *work* with authors and artists *to bring stories to life* on tablets and smartphones. Mur is created by the team behind *Wuwu & Co.* Illustrations are made by Anne Vasko.

About

HollowLight

Guide a small spirit to push back encroaching darkness in procedurally generated dungeons. Collect gear and upgrades to customize your playstyle and defend your forest home. The challenge grows even when you're offline.

Highlights
  • Procedurally generated dungeons
  • Dynamic traps and enemies
  • Gear and upgrade collection
  • Playstyle customization
  • Offline play
  • Character progression
Features
Read full description

The Darkness is Coming. Your Light, the Only Thing it Fears. As The Tide of Darkness and Destruction Spreads, the Nurnen Forest Fades, its Ancient Light Waning. You—One Tiny, Radiant Orblit— are CHOSEN to Carry the Torch and Push Back the Gloom! > Become Brody, a Spirit of The Forest! An Unlikely Hero, and Master of Last-Second Dodges, With a Destiny Far Larger than His Size. > Conquer Ever‑Shifting Dungeons! Explore Procedural Labyrinths Filled with Dynamic Traps, Secrets, and Abominations Born of Shadow. No Two Runs Feel the Same. > Claim New Gear and Rise With Every Run! Discover Weapons, Armour, Sidekicks, Upgrades, and Precious Supplies to Shape YOUR own Playstyle. > Defend the Nurnen Forest! Fight to Protect what Remains of your Home and its Villagers, Man & Beast, Hopelessly Clinging to the Light. > The Darkness Never Sleeps! Even Offline, the World Shifts and the Threat Grows. Return to find New Dangers—and New Opportunities. *Developers Note* - Created Solo with a Lot of Love (and coffee). Thank you for Keeping Indie Dev Burning Bright!

Screenshots

Mur4 screens
HollowLight4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: HollowLight at 100% against Mur's 13%. Mur's advantage is price (Free vs $1.99) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On update cadence, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Mur is free to download; HollowLight costs $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
Mur versus HollowLight: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMurHollowLight
PriceFree — better$1.99
Positive reviews12.5% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size424 MB284 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperPIBOCO ApSAdam Hutchinson

Customer experience

Mur

Written reviews8 reviews
Positive12.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative75.0%

HollowLight

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Mur

No in-app purchases

None

HollowLight

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mur free?
Mur is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HollowLight free?
HollowLight costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Mur or HollowLight have ads?
Neither Mur nor HollowLight shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Mur or HollowLight?
Mur ships an update every 3 months, and HollowLight every 3 months. Most recently, Mur was updated on November 2, 2026 and HollowLight on November 13, 2026.

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