cmnd/ctrl vs Pixel Squadron
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
cmnd/ctrl
Engage in an endless pixel art space shooter experience with a retro soundtrack. Choose from over ten unique ships, each with distinct firing capabilities, and explore multiple game modes. Power-ups and leaderboards add to the classic arcade challenge.
- Unlock 10+ unique ships
- Varying fire rates and bullet speeds
- Several power-ups
- 2 game modes (Main & Extreme)
- Leaderboards
- Retro soundtrack and sound effects
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Fire through a pixel art universe to a retro soundtrack and sound effects that are inspired by the old-school arcade game era. Players can cycle through multiple game modes and choose between ten unique ships with varying fire rates and bullet speeds, meaning no one game will ever be the same! Features include: ◉ Unlock 10+ unique ships - with varying fire rate and bullet speeds ◉ Several power ups ◉ 2 game modes – Main, & Extreme - more to come! ◉ Leaderboards ◉ Music by Nihilore
Pixel Squadron
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Five neon jets cut through twenty stages of pixel-art bullet hell. Eagle rains spread shot. Viper unloads rapid bursts. Titan drops heavy cannon rounds. Phantom slices with a continuous laser beam. Omega locks on with homing missiles. Pick a jet, learn its rhythm, weave through the wall. TEN BOSSES, FIVE WORLDS Atmosphere. Ocean Storm. Deep Space. Mechanical Fortress. Chaos Void. Each world hides a mid-boss and a final boss — ten multi-phase fights, each pattern built to read your thumb's habits and punish them. WHAT IT FEELS LIKE Thumb sweat. Screen-filling neon. The split-second between two laser walls. The bomb you save for the third phase. The drone that finally lines up your blind spot. DEPTH WHEN YOU WANT IT • 20 stages across 5 worlds, plus Endless mode that scales by your survival time • 13 enemy types in three tiers — normal, enhanced, elite • Bomb gauge charges with kills — release to clear the screen • Permanent upgrades: damage, fire rate, speed, bomb charge, coin bonus, option drones • Every upgrade earned in-game. Watch an ad to revive or double your coin drop — never forced. No timer, no paywall. If Sky Force taught you what an arcade shooter feels like, you're in the right room. Questions or feedback: support@hsiangyu.dev
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pixel Squadron at none against cmnd/ctrl's 1. cmnd/ctrl's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). On price, 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
Both are free to download. cmnd/ctrl sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pixel Squadron asks for nothing beyond the download.
cmnd/ctrl ships an update fortnightly, Pixel Squadron monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | cmnd/ctrl | Pixel Squadron |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (44 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 75.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 44 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 46 MB | 38 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Astro Hound Studios | HSIANG-YU HUANG |
In-app purchases
cmnd/ctrl
- Remove Ads$0.99
Pixel Squadron
No in-app purchases









