# DESERTOPIA vs Reef Hero

The clearest difference is rating: DESERTOPIA at 4.5 against Reef Hero's 3.0. DESERTOPIA also leads on ratings volume (287 vs 2). Reef Hero's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 15) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DESERTOPIA sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Reef Hero asks for nothing beyond the download.

DESERTOPIA holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: DESERTOPIA has 287 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

## The numbers

| Metric | DESERTOPIA | Reef Hero |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (287 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desertopia/id1265572046/reviews)** | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reef-hero/id1518158933/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **287** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 45.3% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | — |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 218 MB | 67 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Gamtropy Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1265572045) | [Heiko Sacher](https://appshunter.io/developer/1460424964) |

## What reviewers say

### DESERTOPIA

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/desertopia/id1265572046)

Transform a barren desert island into a thriving habitat at your own pace. Care for the island, restore wildlife, and make choices that influence its development. Enjoy a therapeutic idle simulator with beautiful art and evolving music.

**Highlights:** Storybook-style art, 100+ animals and 25+ terrain types, Weather and water evaporation mechanics, Multi-layered, evolving music, Interactive events influencing island development, Collect trash to clean the environment

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (15)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-Free Pass (30 Days) | $19.99 | per month |
| Gem Pack I | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ad Ticket Pack 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack II | $4.99 | one-time |
| NewbiePack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Coral reef | $4.99 | one-time |
| Ad Ticket Pack 2 | $4.99 | one-time |
| DNAPack001 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack III | $9.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Ancient Island | $9.99 | one-time |
| Cat Pack 1 | $9.99 | one-time |
| (Limited) New Year Pass | $9.99 | one-time |
| (Limited) New Year Pack 3 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack IV | $19.99 | one-time |
| (Limited) New Year Pack 4 | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🌳 Beautiful art style and relaxing atmosphere
- 🌱 Environmentally-conscious themes
- 👍 No ads or in-app purchases required to progress

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🕰️ Slow progression and long wait times
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes preventing gameplay
- 🤔 Unclear game mechanics and lack of instructions

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to exit tutorial or instructions screen
- Disappearing wetlands and other lost progress
- Compatibility issues on certain devices

**Requested features**

- More in-depth tutorial and gameplay explanations
- Ability to reset or restart progress
- Faster ways to earn resources and unlock new areas


### Reef Hero

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reef-hero/id1518158933)

Protect a vibrant coral reef and its marine life from environmental threats like pollution and rising temperatures. Engage in gameplay to remove dangers, collect CO2, and maintain water quality to prevent the reef from dying. This 3D game highlights real-world challenges faced by coral ecosystems.

**Highlights:** Protect coral reefs and marine life, Combat pollution and rising temperatures, Remove threats like anchors and plastic waste, Collect CO2 to regulate water temperature, Experience dynamic reef health changes, 3D underwater environment

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DESERTOPIA free?

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

### Is Reef Hero free?

Reef Hero is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, DESERTOPIA or Reef Hero?

DESERTOPIA is rated higher. DESERTOPIA averages 4.5 out of 5 from 287 ratings, while Reef Hero averages 3.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do DESERTOPIA or Reef Hero have ads?

DESERTOPIA shows ads; Reef Hero does not.

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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.*