# Playdead's INSIDE vs Alien

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Playdead's INSIDE at 30K against Alien's 1.3K. Playdead's INSIDE also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.5). Alien's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Playdead's INSIDE sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Alien sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Playdead's INSIDE against 4.5 for Alien. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Playdead's INSIDE has 30K ratings behind it against 1.3K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 77% of Playdead's INSIDE's written reviews are positive against 80% of Alien's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Playdead's INSIDE | Alien |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (30K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playdeads-inside/id1201642309/reviews) | **[4.5 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alien-isolation/id1573029040/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **30K** | 1.3K |
| Positive reviews | 77.0% of reviews | **79.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | **#72** | #183 |
| Size | 705 MB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.5 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Playdead](https://appshunter.io/developer/481629893) | [Feral Interactive Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/402470125) |

## What reviewers say

### Playdead's INSIDE

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/playdeads-inside/id1201642309)

**Currently charting:** #72 Top Free · Adventure (US App Store)

Embark on a dark, narrative-driven adventure in this critically acclaimed indie platformer. Solve challenging puzzles and experience intense action within a moody, unsettling atmosphere. This award-winning game is known for its stunning art style and ambient soundtrack.

**Highlights:** Narrative-driven adventure, Challenging puzzles, Intense action, Moody art style, Ambient soundtrack, Unsettling atmosphere

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| INSIDE full game | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Stunning graphics and atmosphere
- 🧠 Clever and challenging puzzles
- 🎨 Unique art style
- 🎢 Thrilling and suspenseful gameplay
- 🔍 Intriguing and mysterious story

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Game is too short
- 🤔 Ending is confusing or unsatisfying
- 💰 Game is overpriced
- 🤖 Some controls can be finicky
- 📱 Compatibility issues on older devices

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes or freezes
- Progress not saving properly

**Requested features**

- Longer gameplay or additional levels
- More explanation or closure for the story
- Controller support
- Lower price point


### Alien

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/alien-isolation/id1573029040)

**Currently charting:** #183 Top Free · Adventure (US App Store)

Embark on a terrifying quest for survival aboard a space station. Unprepared and underequipped, you must use your wits and courage to escape an unknown menace. Experience a faithful mobile replication of the classic survival horror game, complete with AAA visuals and an arresting narrative.

**Highlights:** Survival horror gameplay, Stealth and evasion mechanics, Resource scavenging and crafting, Touchscreen controls with customization, Gamepad and mouse/keyboard support, Faithful mobile replication of AAA visuals, Includes all DLC content

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Game Unlock | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent port with great performance
- 👍 Impressive graphics and visuals
- 🎮 Smooth controls and controller support
- 🎬 Captures the Alien franchise atmosphere well
- 🕹️ Immersive gameplay experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 Device overheating and battery drain issues
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🕹️ Touchscreen controls not ideal for certain gameplay elements
- 🕰️ Long loading times and unskippable intro

**Reported bugs**

- Certain puzzles/objectives not triggering correctly
- Sound issues like audio cutting out
- Compatibility problems with older devices

**Requested features**

- Add more graphics/performance options
- Improve auto-save and checkpoint system
- Implement Magic Keyboard support
- Include Chinese language support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Playdead's INSIDE free?

Playdead's INSIDE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Alien free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Playdead's INSIDE or Alien?

Alien is rated higher. Playdead's INSIDE averages 4.4 out of 5 from 30K ratings, while Alien averages 4.5 from 1.3K ratings.

### Do Playdead's INSIDE or Alien have ads?

Neither Playdead's INSIDE nor Alien shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Playdead's INSIDE or Alien?

Playdead's INSIDE ships an update every 2 months, and Alien every 2 months. Most recently, Playdead's INSIDE was updated on September 25, 2026 and Alien on September 22, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Playdead's INSIDE or Alien?

Playdead's INSIDE currently peaks at #72 in the App Store charts, and Alien at #183. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*