Comparison

Elemental Box vs elemenTao

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

Head to head
About

Elemental Box

Engage in a sandbox game focused on realistic physical simulations. Experiment with various shapes and materials to observe their unique interactions and transformations. This app offers a creative space for exploration and discovery through physics.

Highlights
  • Physical simulation
  • Material interaction
  • Shape manipulation
  • Sandbox gameplay
  • Real-time physics
Features
Read full description

Physical simulation game that enjoys real physical operation of each shape and change in each material.

About

elemenTao

Experience a beautiful AR multiplayer game where you use elemental powers to guide a sphere to its destination. Play solo or challenge friends in local AR across stunning landscapes with a meditative soundtrack.

Highlights
  • Augmented Reality (AR) gameplay
  • Multiplayer with friends
  • Elemental powers (Wind, Water, Earth, Fire)
  • Single-player zen experience
  • Meditative soundtrack
  • Diverse landscapes
Features
Read full description

***Featured at Apple's Keynote Press Event - Sept. 2018!*** ***Featured on CNBC, Engadget, TechCrunch, The Verge, Tom's Guide, iJustine, TechRadar, and more!*** Welcome to elemenTao, the beautiful new AR multiplayer experience. Use the powers of Wind, Water, Earth, and Fire to guide your sphere to its glowing destination. You'll traverse rolling hills, arctic summits, deep canyon gorges, wide open seas, and more as you navigate your way to the goals. Invite your friends to play in local AR! You can all enjoy the same breathtaking landscapes and meditative soundtrack as you race to the finish. Use your powers to help your sphere along... or stop those of your friends! A calming single player experience or a challenging duel with friends, elemenTao is a little bit of zen in your pocket! Subscription information: • In elemenTao, monthly subscriptions are offered for access to all daily maps • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period; the cost of the renewal will be equal to the then-current cost in the app • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that service Terms of Use: http://52.4.86.83/terms_of_use.txt Privacy Policy: http://52.4.86.83/privacy_policy.txt

Screenshots

Elemental Box4 screens
elemenTao4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: elemenTao at 4.7 against Elemental Box's 4.2. elemenTao also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 4 months). Elemental Box's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume 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. elemenTao sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Elemental Box asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

elemenTao holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 63 and 27 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of Elemental Box's written reviews are positive against 78% of elemenTao's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Elemental Box ships an update every 4 months, elemenTao every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Elemental Box versus elemenTao: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterElemental BoxelemenTao
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (63 ratings)4.7 (27 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.1% of reviews77.8% of reviews — better
Number of ratings63 — better27
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 5 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size4 MB93 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDAN-BALLArt of the State LLC

Customer experience

Elemental Box

All ratings63 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral7.9%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews43 reviews
Positive72.1%
Neutral14.0%
Negative14.0%

elemenTao

All ratings27 ratings
Positive92.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral11.1%
Negative11.1%

In-app purchases

None

Elemental Box

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

elemenTao

Subscriptions1
  • All Daily Maps$0.991 Month
One-time9
  • Skin Billiards 8$0.99
  • Skin Emoji 12$0.99
  • Skin Emoji 22$0.99
Show 6 more
  • Skin Flag US$0.99
  • Skin Planet Earth$0.99
  • Skin Sports Golf$0.99
  • Skin Sports Football$0.99
  • Skin Sports Baseball$0.99
  • Skin Sports Tennis$0.99

Questions

Is Elemental Box free?
Elemental Box is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is elemenTao free?
elemenTao is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Elemental Box or elemenTao?
elemenTao is rated higher. Elemental Box averages 4.2 out of 5 from 63 ratings, while elemenTao averages 4.7 from 27 ratings.
Do Elemental Box or elemenTao have ads?
Elemental Box shows ads; elemenTao does not.
Which is updated more often, Elemental Box or elemenTao?
Elemental Box ships an update every 4 months, and elemenTao every 5 weeks. Most recently, Elemental Box was updated on September 29, 2026 and elemenTao on September 26, 2026.

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