# Swarm Simulator vs Idle Idle GameDev

The clearest difference is update cadence: Swarm Simulator at every 9 days against Idle Idle GameDev's every 3 weeks. Swarm Simulator also leads on ratings volume (2.7K vs 817) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Swarm Simulator sells 11 one-off in-app purchases and Idle Idle GameDev sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Swarm Simulator against 4.8 for Idle Idle GameDev. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.7K and 817 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 78% of Swarm Simulator's written reviews are positive against 77% of Idle Idle GameDev's.

Swarm Simulator ships an update every 9 days, Idle Idle GameDev every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Swarm Simulator | Idle Idle GameDev |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (2.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swarm-simulator-evolution/id1320056680/reviews) | **[4.8 (817 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-idle-gamedev/id1512956685/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.7K** | 817 |
| Positive reviews | **78.3% of reviews** | 76.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 158 MB | 59 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Iron Horse Games LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1281721366) | [Lutz Schoenfelder](https://appshunter.io/developer/1504039346) |

## What reviewers say

### Swarm Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swarm-simulator-evolution/id1320056680)

Evolve your insect colony from simple larvae to powerful hive minds in this 3D incremental idle clicker game. Conquer territory, sacrifice units for growth, and ascend to unlock new mutations and expand your swarm across the universe.

**Highlights:** Incremental idle clicker gameplay, Endless progression and unit evolution, Idle mode for offline growth, Ascend system with new mutations, All-new 3D graphics and units, Elixir buffs and Golden Bug bonuses

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pouch of Crystals | $4.99 | one-time |
| Elixir Mega Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Swarm Supporter Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bag of Crystals | $9.99 | one-time |
| Crystalline King Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Arcane Amplifier Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Super Shards Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Challenge Crusher Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Barrel of Crystals | $19.99 | one-time |
| Elixir Ultra Pack | $24.99 | one-time |
| Storehouse of Crystals | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 🚀 Smooth and responsive
- 💡 Unique incremental mechanics
- 🔒 Minimal ads, not intrusive

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches in recent updates
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch
- Stuck on loading screen
- Incorrect display of resources and upgrades
- Issues with cloud save functionality

**Requested features**

- More content and updates
- Offline mode
- Customization options
- Improved progression and endgame


### Idle Idle GameDev

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idle-idle-gamedev/id1512956685)

Create your own idle games without the effort. This app lets you develop various idle games while you yourself go idle. Unlock jobs, stats, skills, and items to progress.

**Highlights:** Create idle games, Unlockable jobs, Stats and skills system, Item and research unlocks, Game reset for special skills, Challenges and achievements

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 250 Bonus Points | $4.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $9.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| 512 Bonus Points | $9.99 | one-time |
| Dev Pack | $49.99 | one-time |
| 2560 Bonus Points | $49.99 | one-time |
| 5200 Bonus Points | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun gameplay
- 🚀 Engaging progression
- 💡 Unique concept
- 🎮 Great for casual play

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🕹️ Unresponsive controls
- 📊 Imbalanced economy
- 🔋 Performance issues

**Reported bugs**

- Skill points not updating correctly
- Game quality fluctuations
- Player count cap issue
- Data loss on app crashes

**Requested features**

- In-game tutorial
- More content updates
- Improved save/export system
- Better UI/UX


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Swarm Simulator free?

Swarm Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Idle Idle GameDev free?

Idle Idle GameDev is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Swarm Simulator or Idle Idle GameDev?

Idle Idle GameDev is rated higher. Swarm Simulator averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.7K ratings, while Idle Idle GameDev averages 4.8 from 817 ratings.

### Do Swarm Simulator or Idle Idle GameDev have ads?

Both Swarm Simulator and Idle Idle GameDev show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Swarm Simulator or Idle Idle GameDev?

Swarm Simulator ships an update every 9 days, and Idle Idle GameDev every 3 weeks. Most recently, Swarm Simulator was updated on October 20, 2026 and Idle Idle GameDev on October 15, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*