# Explodey vs Pico Tanks

The clearest difference is rating: Pico Tanks at 4.6 against Explodey's 3.9. Pico Tanks also leads on ratings volume (9.1K vs 9). Explodey's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Explodey sells 12 one-off in-app purchases and Pico Tanks sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pico Tanks holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pico Tanks has 9.1K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Explodey's written reviews are positive against 58% of Pico Tanks's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Explodey ships an update every 3 days, Pico Tanks monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Explodey | Pico Tanks |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explodey-sci-fi-side-scroller/id1227373183/reviews) | **[4.6 (9.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pico-tanks/id1261614771/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **9.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 57.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1.1 GB | 1.3 GB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 11.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [YitYat Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/294709521) | [Panda Arcade Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1261614770) |

## What reviewers say

### Explodey

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explodey-sci-fi-side-scroller/id1227373183)

Pilot a fighter through exotic planets, battling enemies and solving puzzles to save the galaxy. Customize your ship with a variety of weapons and face challenging bosses. Engage in multiplayer battles with friends and unlock cosmetic hats.

**Highlights:** AAA side-scroller gameplay, Battle across 5 exotic planets, Customize fighter with diverse weaponry, Conquer ground and air units, Solve challenging puzzles, LAN multiplayer battles, Unlock cosmetic hats

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VR Goggles | $0.99 | one-time |
| Mohawk | $0.99 | one-time |
| Pirate Hat | $0.99 | one-time |
| Plain Hat | $0.99 | one-time |
| Top Hat | $0.99 | one-time |
| Wizarding Hat | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hair Bow | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hard Hat | $0.99 | one-time |
| Elf Hat | $0.99 | one-time |
| Viking Hat | $0.99 | one-time |
| Cheese | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All Worlds | $2.99 | one-time |


### Pico Tanks

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pico-tanks/id1261614771)

Engage in fast-paced 3v3 tank battles with a focus on team strategy. Design and customize your own unique tanks with a vast array of weapons, abilities, and cosmetic options. Compete in various game modes and climb the leaderboards.

**Highlights:** 3v3 multiplayer battles, Team strategy focus, Tank customization, Multiple game modes, Weapon and ability selection, Cosmetic personalization

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| Division 2 Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| 280 Gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer (600 Gems) | $4.99 | one-time |
| 600 Gems | $9.99 | one-time |
| Special Offer (1300 Gems) | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1300 Gems | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Quick matches
- 👍 Customizable tanks
- 🎨 Great visuals and design
- 🤝 Engaging multiplayer
- 🎮 Addictive gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Matchmaking issues
- ⚖️ Unbalanced weapons and upgrades
- 💰 Grindy progression for F2P players
- 🔌 Connectivity and crashing problems
- 🤖 Unhelpful bot teammates

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and disconnects
- Matchmaking bugs
- Incorrect/missing information in UI

**Requested features**

- Offline/AI mode
- More game modes
- Ability to choose game modes
- Clan/social features
- Better progression system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Explodey free?

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

### Is Pico Tanks free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Explodey or Pico Tanks?

Pico Tanks is rated higher. Explodey averages 3.9 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Pico Tanks averages 4.6 from 9.1K ratings.

### Do Explodey or Pico Tanks have ads?

Pico Tanks shows ads; Explodey does not.

### Which is updated more often, Explodey or Pico Tanks?

Explodey ships an update every 3 days, and Pico Tanks monthly. Most recently, Explodey was updated on September 16, 2026 and Pico Tanks on October 14, 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.*