Comparison

Project Highrise vs Tower Sim

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

Head to head
About

Project Highrise

Build and manage your own skyscraper empire. Design every aspect of your building, from construction to tenant satisfaction, to create a world-famous landmark. Make strategic decisions to ensure success and avoid failure.

Highlights
  • Deep skyscraper simulation
  • Tenant management
  • Campaign mode
  • Sandbox play
  • Hire consultants
  • Variety of tenants
Read full description

"Project Highrise is a pretty amazing game, and it’s only made better in a mobile package. Pick this one up straight away." (12. April, 2018 - 4,5/5 - 148apps.com) Unleash your inner architect as the PC mega-hit arrives on iPad! Playing as both architect and developer, your job is to build world-famous skyscrapers that will be the envy of the entire city. Manage every aspect of your building from construction through to keeping your tenants happy. Success is entirely in your hands. PLAY THE WAY YOU WANT Will you create an exclusive office highrise that attracts business leaders from around the world? Will you construct luxury apartments in the sky, penthouses for the elite and playgrounds for the famous? The choice is yours. FULL CAMPAIGN MODE Enjoy complete freedom to shape your skyscraper how you want it. Several difficulty levels and starting conditions allowing you to build your dream skyscraper towering above the surrounding city. KEEP YOUR TENANTS HAPPY Open restaurants and retail stores, build luxury apartments, install vending machines, offer yoga classes and even build fountains to meet your tenants ever-growing demands. MAKE ALL THE DECISIONS As a savvy developer, you must keep an eye on the bottom line and invest in the future. Succeed, and you will reap the rewards of a prestigious address where everyone will clamour to live and work. Fail, and you will watch tenants leave in disgust, taking their business elsewhere and leaving your reputation in tatters. FEATURES - Deep and complex simulation of a modern skyscraper. - Huge variety of tenants with their own unique characteristics - Open sandbox play with several difficulty levels and starting conditions allowing you to build your dream skyscraper - Campaign mode that tests your skill at building a successful highrise in challenging scenarios. - Test your management mettle by keeping up with your buildings diverse population and their ever-increasing demands. - Hire specialized consultants to increase your building's curb appeal, operational efficiency, and pull with city hall. "There's unlimited potential with Project Highrise, so it gives you a lot of bang for your buck." (April 12, 2018 - 9.0/10 - appadvice.com) "An impressive and captivating simulation that will eat up hour after hour of your spare time." (16. April, 2018 - 4/5 - pockettactics.com) "It’s the type of game that can easily have you starting to play, looking up later and seeing that way more time has passed IRL than you ever suspected, and that’s a nice compliment for any sim." (17. April, 2018- 4/5 - toucharcade.com) NOTE • Parts of this game require an active Internet connection. SUPPORT Problems & Questions: Visit www.kalypsomedia.com or write us an e-mail at supportmobile@kalypsomedia.com Privacy Policy: http://kalypsomediamobile.com/impressum/privacy-policy-mobile-games/

About

Tower Sim

Design and manage a towering skyscraper, from offices to penthouses. Master elevator logistics and keep diverse tenants happy amidst dynamic events and a day/night cycle. Balance your budget to grow your building into a five-star landmark.

Highlights
  • Complex simulation and budget management
  • Elevator logistics and tenant stress prevention
  • Diverse tenant types with unique needs
  • Dynamic day/night cycle
  • Challenging events and emergencies
Features
Read full description

Reach for the Sky in the Ultimate Tower Simulation! Become the architect and manager of a world-class skyscraper. From humble offices to luxury penthouses and bustling shopping malls, every floor is yours to design. But building is only half the battle—can you keep your tenants happy? KEY FEATURES: Complex Simulation: Balance your budget as you grow from a one-star building to a five-star landmark. Vertical Logistics: Master the art of elevator management. Design shafts and program cars to minimize wait times and prevent tenant stress. Diverse Tenants: Build offices, condos, restaurants, and retail shops—each with unique needs and peak hours. Dynamic Day/Night Cycle: Watch your tower come to life as the sun sets and the city lights flicker on. Challenging Events: Handle everything from VIP visits to unexpected emergencies that put your management skills to the test. Do you have what it takes to manage a vertical city? Download now and start building!

Screenshots

Tower Sim4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Tower Sim at Free against Project Highrise's $3.99. Tower Sim also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly) and device support (3 vs 1). Project Highrise's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.0) and ratings volume (1.4K vs 3). On ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Tower Sim is free to download; Project Highrise costs $3.99 up front. Project Highrise sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Tower Sim sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Project Highrise holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Project Highrise has 1.4K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 70% of Project Highrise's written reviews are positive against 50% of Tower Sim's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Project Highrise ships an update monthly, Tower Sim every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Project Highrise versus Tower Sim: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterProject HighriseTower Sim
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.7 (1.4K ratings) — better4.0 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews70.2% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1.4K — better3
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS8.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size360 MB66 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKalypso Media Group GmbHChristian Puell

Customer experience

Project Highrise

All ratings1,373 ratings
Positive95.0%
Neutral2.5%
Negative2.4%
Written reviews151 reviews
Positive70.2%
Neutral17.2%
Negative12.6%

Tower Sim

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Project Highrise

Reported bugs

6 issues
  • 5-year-old bug preventing 'common area' contracts
  • Elevators not placing over each other
  • Luxury apartment options missing
  • Achievements not triggering after updates
  • Common area goals not registering
Show 1 more
  • DLC content not accessible offline

Requested features

7 requests
  • More scenarios and content updates
  • Ability to change rent for all units at once
  • Option to customize unit colors
  • Offline access to DLC content
  • 60fps support
Show 2 more
  • Russian language support
  • Hotel and video game studio features

Tower Sim

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Project Highrise

One-time10
  • North Side$0.99
  • West Loop$0.99
  • South Loop$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Student Life$0.99
  • Tourist Traps$0.99
  • Skyline Living$0.99
  • Media Moguls$0.99
  • Creative Class$0.99
  • Citywide Maps Bundle$1.99
  • Highrise Deco Bundle$1.99
6 purchases

Tower Sim

One-time6
  • Basic Access$0.99
  • 100.000 Budget$0.99
  • 250.000 Budget$1.99
Show 3 more
  • Advance Access$2.99
  • Pro Access$4.99
  • All Access$9.99

Questions

Is Project Highrise free?
Project Highrise costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Tower Sim free?
Tower Sim is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Project Highrise or Tower Sim?
Project Highrise is rated higher. Project Highrise averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.4K ratings, while Tower Sim averages 4.0 from 3 ratings.
Do Project Highrise or Tower Sim have ads?
Neither Project Highrise nor Tower Sim shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Project Highrise or Tower Sim?
Project Highrise ships an update monthly, and Tower Sim every 2 weeks. Most recently, Project Highrise was updated on October 17, 2026 and Tower Sim on October 18, 2026.

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