Smash Match vs Populus Run
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Smash Match
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Smash the cubes! Tap left or right to smash the cubes when colors match. Destroy bonus cubes and diamonds to get extra points! Collect diamonds to unlock new themes and characters!
Populus Run
Control a crowd of people in this unique running game. Dodge obstacles, battle quirky bosses, and discover hidden characters. Enjoy the full experience with a one-time purchase.
- Control a crowd of people
- Dodge giant fast food
- Slide down pipes
- Battle rapper bosses
- Hardcore mode
- Collect secret characters
- Original soundtrack
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Play the opening levels for free with no ads. Unlock the full game forever with a single in-app purchase. Populus Run is the unconventional running game where you control a crowd of people. • Dodge giant fast food • Slide down pipes like at a waterpark • Battle rapper bosses, including Macaron, Donut, and Burger • Test yourself in Hardcore mode • Collect all the secret characters who are hidden in the levels • Show your respect for the upbeat original soundtrack with its choral singing Populus Run was originally released exclusively on Apple Arcade. Now it's available on the App Store. If you've played the game before, your progress and achievements will be carried over.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Smash Match at every 6 days against Populus Run's every 4 weeks. Smash Match also leads on iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Smash Match sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Populus Run sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Smash Match ships an update every 6 days, Populus Run every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Smash Match | Populus Run |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.7 (1.5K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 69.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 1.5K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 6 days — better | Every 4 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV — better |
| Requires iOS | 7.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 151 MB | 523 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Holoboo | FIFTYTWO |
Bugs and requests
Smash Match
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
Populus Run
Reported bugs
3 issues- Freezing on login screen
- Graphical glitches on certain devices
- Saved data not restoring properly
Requested features
4 requests- Make the full game free to play
- Add more levels and worlds
- Improve level selection UI
- Allow customization of controls
In-app purchases
Smash Match
- Remove Ads$0.99
- Smash Match Coins 1000$0.99
- Smash Match Coins 3000$1.99
Populus Run
- Full Game$3.99
