Comparison

Shuttle Defense vs Dart Defense

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

Head to head
About

Shuttle Defense

Defend your shuttle through challenging space environments with various weapons. Navigate asteroid fields and battle enemy crafts across 40 levels. Enjoy fast graphics, haptic feedback, and a captivating soundtrack.

Highlights
  • 40 levels across 3 stages
  • Multiple weapon types
  • Keyboard controls
  • Haptic feedback
  • Speech guidance
  • Cross-device play
Features
Read full description

40 Levels in 3 stages and bosses. Play it on iPhone, iPad, iPhone touch, Apple TV - and on your Mac (sold separately! If you have a keyboard attached: Fully controllable with keys! Shuttle Defense is a full featured space game. Use your weapons against the perils of space. Navigate through meteors and asteroid fields and fight against tough enemy space crafts. Features: • No ads! • Fast graphics • Haptic feedback on iPhone • Very easy to learn - difficult to master! • Fantastic music and sounds • Many different weapons • Speech - to guide you through the game (can be turned off) • Suitable for all ages • Play on Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Mac and iPod touch • Made with Xcode, Swift, Spritekit and supports Catalyst CREDITS I like to thank others for their great work and contributions: • Background images by NASA http://hubblesite.org • http://www.brianadvent.com • https://www.raywenderlich.com • https://kenney.nl • https://www.dl-sounds.com

About

Dart Defense

Tap to launch darts and pop a barrage of balloons. Utilize power-ups and special effects to clear levels. Compete in a challenging mode with 50 levels and aim for high scores.

Highlights
  • Tap to fire darts
  • Pop special balloons for power-ups
  • Challenge Mode with 50 levels
  • High score tracking
  • Fun power-ups and special effects
Features
Read full description

Fast, fun, and exciting! Tap the screen to fire darts at the incoming balloons. Pop special balloons to power up and knock out balloons with cool special effects! But aim carefully... you don't want to run out of darts because those balloons come falling in like a birthday party! Challenge Mode: Put your skills to the test by completing different goals while popping balloons to advance through each level. Each level gets faster and tougher, so you need to bring your A Game! Can you complete all 50 challenges? See how long you can go! Challenge your friends to beat your high score! Game features: -Free to play! -Simple tap control -Fun power ups and special effects -Challenge Mode with 50 levels! -High score, accuracy, and balloon pop tallies

Screenshots

Shuttle Defense4 screens
Dart Defense3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Dart Defense at Free against Shuttle Defense's $2.99. Dart Defense also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.4) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). Shuttle Defense's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence 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

Dart Defense is free to download; Shuttle Defense costs $2.99 up front. Dart Defense sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Shuttle Defense asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Dart Defense holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 4 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shuttle Defense ships an update every 2 months, Dart Defense every 4 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Shuttle Defense versus Dart Defense: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShuttle DefenseDart Defense
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (5 ratings)5.0 (4 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings5 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple TViPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS16.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size465 MB17 MB
Age rating+44+
DeveloperMarkus MalikAaron Hall

Customer experience

Shuttle Defense

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Dart Defense

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Shuttle Defense

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Dart Defense

One-time1
  • Disable Ads$0.99

Questions

Is Shuttle Defense free?
Shuttle Defense costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Dart Defense free?
Dart Defense is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Shuttle Defense or Dart Defense?
Dart Defense is rated higher. Shuttle Defense averages 4.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Dart Defense averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Shuttle Defense or Dart Defense have ads?
Dart Defense shows ads; Shuttle Defense does not.
Which is updated more often, Shuttle Defense or Dart Defense?
Shuttle Defense ships an update every 2 months, and Dart Defense every 4 months. Most recently, Shuttle Defense was updated on November 3, 2026 and Dart Defense on November 3, 2026.

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