Comparison

Nightmares Shooter vs When Lights Align

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

Head to head
About

Nightmares Shooter

Defend your home from waves of evil stuffed animals using a variety of weapons. Strategize with teammates to defeat increasingly formidable creatures and unlock new gear. This fast-paced survival shooter offers intense gameplay and challenging levels.

Highlights
  • Cooperative survival gameplay
  • Arsenal of unlockable weapons
  • Unique and spooky enemies
  • High-score system
  • Smooth graphics
  • In-game shop for upgrades
Features
Read full description

When the lights go out, the toys in the house come alive and turn on you. You play a sleepy kid in pajamas with a night-light that shoots, and the one teddy bear who stayed on your side. Get through the night, one room at a time, from the bedroom to the attic and beyond. HOW IT PLAYS • Move with one thumb and point the other at a toy to shoot. • The glow around you is your health. Each hit makes it smaller and the room gets darker, so pick up batteries to get your light back. • After each wave, choose one of three powers, like faster shots, shots that go through toys, or a teddy that fights beside you. • At the end of each room, a giant toy boss is waiting. • Defeated toys aren't hurt. The bad dream leaves them and they flop over, back to normal. MORE TO DO • A story that plays out night by night as you clear the house. • An endless mode to see how long you can last, with Game Center leaderboards. • New challenges every day that pay out stars. • Spend stars on pajamas, hats and outfits for your teddy, and earn new blasters as the story goes on. • Game Center achievements. PLAY YOUR WAY • Plays on iPhone and iPad, with touch controls or a game controller. • Comes with an iMessage sticker pack of the characters. • Your progress is saved on your device. ADS AND PURCHASES The game is free and shows ads between nights. A one-time purchase turns those ads off. You can also choose to watch an ad to keep playing after you lose, or to double the stars from a night. Packs of stars are for sale, and everything in the game can also be earned by playing.

About

When Lights Align

Features
Read full description

When Lights Align is a narrative-driven atmospheric adventure where you play as a lone firefly drifting through a mysterious, ever-changing natural world. Each space unfolds with its own quiet presence, inviting exploration and a sense of discovery. Use your glow to light your way, communicate, and survive. The environment responds in subtle ways, telling a silent story through light, color, and ambience. Lose yourself in a calm, immersive experience where every movement carries you deeper into the unknown.

Screenshots

Nightmares Shooter4 screens
When Lights Align4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: When Lights Align at none against Nightmares Shooter's 4. When Lights Align also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (daily vs every 29 months). On price and device support 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. Nightmares Shooter sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. When Lights Align asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nightmares Shooter ships an update every 29 months, When Lights Align daily. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Nightmares Shooter versus When Lights Align: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNightmares ShooterWhen Lights Align
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (10 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings10 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 29 monthsDaily — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS18.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size51 MB146 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperChris DeWeeseJessica Immanuel

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Nightmares Shooter

One-time4
  • Small Star Pack$0.99
  • Remove Ads$2.99
  • Medium Star Pack$2.99
Show 1 more
  • Large Star Pack$4.99
None

When Lights Align

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Nightmares Shooter free?
Nightmares Shooter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is When Lights Align free?
When Lights Align is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Nightmares Shooter or When Lights Align have ads?
Nightmares Shooter shows ads; When Lights Align does not.
Which is updated more often, Nightmares Shooter or When Lights Align?
Nightmares Shooter ships an update every 29 months, and When Lights Align daily. Most recently, Nightmares Shooter was updated on October 26, 2026 and When Lights Align on October 15, 2026.

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