# DrillKing vs Nova

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Nova at 100% against DrillKing's 40%. Nova also leads on rating (5.0 vs 2.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). DrillKing's advantage is iOS requirement (7.0 vs 16.4). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. DrillKing sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Nova asks for nothing beyond the download.

Nova holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of DrillKing's written reviews are positive against 100% of Nova's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DrillKing | Nova |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drillking-new-frontier/id1326735926/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-space-strategy-game/id6780326157/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **4** |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 145 MB | 51 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [JINOH Cho](https://appshunter.io/developer/893107640) | [Kevin Gilpin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1804481222) |

## What reviewers say

### DrillKing

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/drillking-new-frontier/id1326735926)

Explore alien planets, mine valuable minerals, and construct your own colony. Upgrade your drill and facilities to unlock new technologies and help your home world. Strategic planning is key to success in this interstellar resource-gathering adventure.

**Highlights:** Explore 5 distinctive planets, Mine minerals and resources, Build and upgrade colony infrastructure, Develop new technologies, Complete quests for rewards, Trade for minerals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| DrillKing 100 Stars | $0.99 | one-time |
| DrillKing 350 Stars | $2.99 | one-time |
| DrillKing 1500 Stars | $9.99 | one-time |


### Nova

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-space-strategy-game/id6780326157)

Command a star fleet in a real-time galactic conquest game. Engage in strategic battles, forge binding diplomatic contracts, and manage your empire efficiently. Play at your own pace, from quick sprints to long campaigns, with background notifications keeping you informed.

**Highlights:** Real-time galactic conquest, Binding diplomatic contracts, Fog of war for strategic depth, Customizable game pace and duration, Background notifications, Map editor for custom galaxies

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DrillKing free?

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

### Is Nova free?

Nova is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, DrillKing or Nova?

Nova is rated higher. DrillKing averages 2.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Nova averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do DrillKing or Nova have ads?

Neither DrillKing nor Nova shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, DrillKing or Nova?

DrillKing ships an update weekly, and Nova weekly. Most recently, DrillKing was updated on November 2, 2026 and Nova on October 31, 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.*