DESERTOPIA vs Animal Express
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
DESERTOPIA
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.
- 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
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///// Achievements ///// ・2018 Tokyo Game Show | Official Selection ・2018 Kyoto BitSummit Vol.6 | Official Selection ・2018 Kyoto BitSummit Vol.6 | Indie Megabooth Selection ・2017 IMGA Global | Nominee ・2017 IMGA SEA | Nominee ・App Store Earth Day 2018, 2019, 2020 | Featured “A simple game with a deep meaning.” — INSIDE “Experience the role humans play in the ecosystem, and understand that we cannot take whatever we want from Mother Nature without repercussion. Learn how to cherish valuable resources.” — App Store Feature ///// Introduction ///// Desertopia is a relaxing and therapeutic idle simulator where you can spend just 5–10 minutes a day transforming a barren desert island into a vibrant, thriving habitat — all at your own pace. Your goal is to care for the island and help restore its wildlife. Occasionally, you’ll need to pick up floating trash to keep the environment clean. You’ll also make decisions about events triggered by human activity. Will you allow a tour group to visit the island? Should you build a resort? Every choice you make will directly influence how the island develops. ///// Features ///// ・Storybook-style art: Simply watching the animals roam the island can feel therapeutic on its own. ・100+ animals: Desertopia features over 100 unique creatures and 25+ terrain types. More than 15 legendary species may appear under special conditions — some only during festivals and holidays! ・Weather and water evaporation: Water evaporation is a unique gameplay mechanic. You’ll need to summon rain regularly to maintain livable conditions for your wildlife. If neglected, the island will gradually revert to a barren desert. ・Multi-layered music: Enjoy rich, evolving background music that shifts depending on the area and the animals inhabiting it. ・Events: Cruise ships bring visitors and special events to the island, each with both benefits and drawbacks. How your island evolves is entirely up to you. //////////////////// This game contains in-game offers to purchase digital goods or premium items with real-world currency (or with virtual coins and other in-game currencies purchasable using real-world money), where players do not know in advance which specific items they will receive (e.g., loot boxes, item packs, or mystery rewards). Terms of Use: https://gamtropy.com/term-of-use-en/ Privacy Policy: https://gamtropy.com/privacy-policy-en/ © 2017 Gamtropy Co., Ltd. All rights reserved.
Animal Express
Manage a charming railway empire filled with animal passengers. Sell tickets, attract diverse animals, and expand your train network through scenic landscapes. Enjoy relaxing idle tycoon gameplay and engaging simulation elements.
- Idle tycoon gameplay
- Animal passenger management
- Railway empire expansion
- Train and station upgrades
- Scenic ride simulation
- Passenger entertainment
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Choo Choo! All aboard the Animal Express! Embark on a charming adventure where animals, trains, and your management skills intertwine to create an unforgettable railway experience. Join us now and let the journey begin! Hop on for fun-filled animal games, captivating train simulations, and an idle tycoon experience that will leave you craving for more. Get ready to build your very own railway empire and become the ultimate tycoon in this relaxing and engaging game. Download Animal Express today and start your adventure for free! Board the Animal Express Immerse yourself in the bustling world of train stations and animal adventures. Sell tickets, guide passengers, and ensure a joyful journey for all the animals. Attract new Passengers Expand your collection and attract a diverse range of passengers to the Animal Express! Explore various habitats, venture into uncharted territories, and discover rare and exotic animals to add to your ever-growing passenger list. Enjoy the Scenic Ride Sit back, relax, and witness breathtaking landscapes unfold as your train chugs through picturesque settings. Marvel at lush forests, rolling hills, and glistening rivers. The animals on board will be captivated by the stunning views that greet them throughout the journey. Entertain and Engage Keep your animal passengers entertained during the ride of a lifetime. Host exciting games, provide engaging activities, and offer cozy resting areas for those in need of relaxation. Happy animals make for memorable and enjoyable trips! Expand Your Railway Empire Start with a modest train and gradually build an expansive railway empire. Unlock new trains, and establish connections to new & distant destinations. Become the ultimate tycoon and conquer the world of railroad management! Key Features of Animal Express: Relaxing Idle Tycoon Gameplay- Manage your trains and stations effortlessly, even when you're not actively playing. Progress through the bustling activity of the Animal Express even during your downtime. Perfect for Animal and Train Enthusiasts- If you have a soft spot for animals and trains, this game is tailor-made for you! Experience the joy of managing both aspects in one captivating adventure. Engaging Simulation and Tycoon Elements- Showcase your strategic skills as you handle ticket sales, train upgrades, and passenger satisfaction. Expand your railway empire and rise as a successful tycoon!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Animal Express at 4.9 against DESERTOPIA's 4.5. Animal Express also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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. DESERTOPIA sells 15 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month and Animal Express sells 23 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Animal Express holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 287 and 791 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 45% of DESERTOPIA's written reviews are positive against 42% of Animal Express's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
DESERTOPIA ships an update every 2 months, Animal Express every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | DESERTOPIA | Animal Express |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (287 ratings) | 4.9 (791 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 45.3% of reviews — better | 42.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 287 | 791 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 218 MB | 208 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Gamtropy Co., Ltd. | Finifugu Games Limited |
Customer experience
DESERTOPIA
Animal Express
User reviews
DESERTOPIA
From 287 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🌳 Beautiful art style and relaxing atmosphere
- 🌱 Environmentally-conscious themes
- 👍 No ads or in-app purchases required to progress
Room to improve
- 🕰️ Slow progression and long wait times
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes preventing gameplay
- 🤔 Unclear game mechanics and lack of instructions
Animal Express
From 791 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🐱 Cute and adorable game
- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and design
- 🕹️ Fun and satisfying gameplay
- 💎 Refundable gem upgrades
Room to improve
- 💸 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 🤑 Predatory monetization model
- 🔁 Repetitive and lacking variety
- 🤯 Confusing offline earnings
Bugs and requests
DESERTOPIA
Reported bugs
3 issues- Inability to exit tutorial or instructions screen
- Disappearing wetlands and other lost progress
- Compatibility issues on certain devices
Requested features
3 requests- More in-depth tutorial and gameplay explanations
- Ability to reset or restart progress
- Faster ways to earn resources and unlock new areas
Animal Express
Reported bugs
2 issues- Ad system issues (ads playing on repeat)
- Unused restaurant car upgrades
Requested features
4 requests- Ability to revisit previous train routes
- More animal species and passenger variety
- Day/night cycle and weather effects
- Manager automation or idle features
In-app purchases
DESERTOPIA
- Ad-Free Pass (30 Days)$19.991 Month
- Gem Pack I$0.99
- Ad Ticket Pack 1$1.99
- Gem Pack II$4.99
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- NewbiePack$4.99
- Coral reef$4.99
- Ad Ticket Pack 2$4.99
- DNAPack001$4.99
- Gem Pack III$9.99
- Unlock Ancient Island$9.99
- Cat Pack 1$9.99
- (Limited) New Year Pass$9.99
- (Limited) New Year Pack 3$9.99
- Gem Pack IV$19.99
- (Limited) New Year Pack 4$29.99
Animal Express
- A Few Gems$0.99
- Sakura Area Pass$0.99
- Piggy Bank Half Full$1.99
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- Farm Area Pass$1.99
- A Handful of Gems$1.99
- Starter Pack$1.99
- A Few Ad Tickets$1.99
- Superior Pass$1.99
- City Exploration Pass$3.99
- Full Piggy Bank$3.99
- A Lot of Gems$3.99
- City Area Pass$3.99
- Gems Subscription$4.99
- Premium Starter Pack$4.99
- A Lot of Ad Tickets$4.99
- Water Area Pass$7.99
- Lifetime 2x Revenue$7.99
- Ad Ticket Member$9.99
- Ads Ticket Pack$9.99
- Premium Pass$9.99
- A Ton of Ad Tickets$14.99
- A Mountain of Gems$59.99
- Dream Team Pack$99.99








