AR Runner vs The Jackbox
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AR Runner
This augmented reality sports game challenges you to run through virtual checkpoints, set records, and compete globally. Play indoors or outdoors with various game modes and customizable field sizes. It offers an active and inventive way to engage with AR.
- Augmented reality checkpoint running
- Global leaderboards
- Four distinct game modes
- Customizable field sizes and shapes
- 60 handcrafted challenges
- Photo mode for score sharing
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Run through checkpoints and set new records! Compete against other players worldwide! Play indoors or outside! AR Runner is a one-of-a-kind competitive augmented reality game. "Gets you moving, no matter where you are" - The Washington Post "It’s short, fast, active fun, and an inventive use of ARKit" - Macworld "Beat a world record without ever leaving your hometown" - CNET "A blast with friends" - Wareable –– 4 GAME MODES • Normal: Activate the spots in a certain order • 30 Sec Rush: Activate the most number of spots in 30 seconds • Enemies: Activate the most number of spots while avoiding enemies • Wall Punch: Activate the most number of circles by moving your device through them –– 4 FIELD SIZES, 6 FIELD SHAPES • Choose between different field sizes and shapes to match your environment and skills –– CHALLENGES • Put your skills to the test by completing 60 handcrafted challenges –– OTHER FEATURES • 36 LEADERBOARDS: See how you rank against other players • PHOTO MODE: Take a photo of your score using the in-game camera • Sync your progress using iCloud • Minimalist design • Universal app for iPhone and iPad • Immersive digital environments • No ads
The Jackbox
Solve intricate mechanical puzzles and riddles within mysterious boxes before they explode. Uncover a spooky circus story and its secrets through over 60 unique challenges. Enjoy stunning graphics, an authentic soundtrack, and choose between single-player or cooperative multiplayer modes.
- Solve mechanical puzzles and riddles
- Over 60 unique puzzle boxes
- Stunning circus atmosphere graphics
- Engaging mind-blowing story
- Normal and AR modes
- Single-player and multiplayer options
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The Jackbox is a tricky puzzle game where your mission is to solve mysterious puzzle boxes before they pop. Binxy The Clown is hiding something in the mysterious boxes. Your goal is to open them by solving mechanical puzzles and peculiar riddles. To unlock the secret of this strange circus and its staff you'll need to solve more than 60 of these boxes! In the circus, fun is guaranteed for everyone... STUNNING GRAPHICS Experience the atmosphere you have never seen before. MIND-BLOWING STORY Open the puzzle boxes to reveal a secret story. AMAZING PUZZLES Thinking outside of the box just got a new meaning! EASY TO BEGIN ...but very hard to stop! AUTHENTIC SOUNDTRACK The gameplay is accompanied by an original soundtrack that perfectly depicts a spooky circus ambiance. CHOOSE YOUR MODE Enjoy the game either in Normal or AR mode. SINGLE PLAYER OR MULTIPLAYER The game features a great single-player mode and for the first time a multiplayer AR mode in which cooperation between you and your friends is necessary to open the puzzle boxes. FREE TO PLAY Download The Jackbox now and start your adventure with 30 free levels.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: AR Runner at 83% against The Jackbox's 36%. AR Runner also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 24 months). The Jackbox's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and ratings volume (751 vs 210). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model 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. AR Runner sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and The Jackbox sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
The Jackbox holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 210 and 751 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 83% of AR Runner's written reviews are positive against 36% of The Jackbox's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
AR Runner ships an update every 5 days, The Jackbox every 24 months. The most recent releases landed on October 9, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AR Runner | The Jackbox |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (210 ratings) | 4.6 (751 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 82.8% of reviews — better | 35.9% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 210 | 751 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days — better | Every 24 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.0 | 11.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 66 MB | 422 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Semidome Inc. | MOBIPLAY OU |
Customer experience
AR Runner
The Jackbox
User reviews
AR Runner
From 210 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🎮 Innovative AR fitness game concept
- 💪 Effective workout and exercise motivation
- 😄 Fun and entertaining gameplay
- 🆓 No ads in free version
- ⭐ Great replay value and leaderboards
Room to improve
- 🐛 Ground detection failures
- 🐛 Targets drift and float out of view
- 🐛 App crashes occasionally
- 🐛 Camera permission issues
- 📉 Broken on newer phones despite past functionality
The Jackbox
From 751 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Enjoyable puzzles
- 👍 Smooth gameplay
- 🎨 Nice graphics
- 🤡 Creepy/spooky theme
Room to improve
- 🔍 Lack of instructions
- 🔌 Overheating issues
- 🔦 Disruptive lighting/shaking effects
- 🕰️ Timed puzzles can be frustrating
- 🔁 Repetitive puzzles
Bugs and requests
AR Runner
Reported bugs
9 issues- Ground detection fails to initialize
- Targets drift higher and become unreachable
- App crashes on iPhone 13 Pro and newer devices
- Camera permission not requested properly
- Camera access issues on some devices
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- Spelling errors in UI ("Appuyez pour commancer")
- Inconsistent performance on larger play fields
- Blocks and targets occasionally invisible
- Compatibility issues with iOS 11 on some devices
Requested features
12 requests- VR/VR headset compatibility (Google Cardboard support)
- Cross-device multiplayer (connect multiple phones)
- Custom track creation
- Additional game modes and levels
- Video sharing for scores (not just screenshots)
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- Apple Watch integration
- Adjustable UI elements (disable timer option)
- Tag/chase game mode
- Virtual obstacles and challenges
- Changeable enemy block colors
- Football field-sized play areas
- Racing mode for multiple players
The Jackbox
Reported bugs
3 issues- Inability to progress past certain levels
- Ads not working properly
- Frequent crashes
Requested features
5 requests- Option to disable lighting/shaking effects
- Ability to collect all puzzle pieces
- More challenging puzzles
- Landscape mode support
- Cross-save functionality
In-app purchases
AR Runner
- Premium$1.99
The Jackbox
- All Jigsaw Puzzle Pieces$1.99
- Blue Box Pack$1.99
- Yellow Box Pack$1.99
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- White Box Pack$1.99
- Purple Box Pack$1.99
- Remove Ads$1.99
- Green Box Pack$1.99
- Premium Pack$5.99









