Comparison

Barbearian vs Ugly

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

Head to head
About

Barbearian

Embark on a thrilling hack'n'slash adventure in a vibrant, hand-drawn world. Battle through over 100 levels, collect loot, and build an army to uncover the secrets of a strange new realm and find your way home.

Highlights
  • 100+ action-packed levels
  • Loot collection and weapon upgrades
  • Rescue prisoners and build an army
  • Colossal boss monster battles
  • Configurable controls with controller support
  • Cloud save support
Features
Read full description

Barbearian is a fast-paced hack'n'slash with massive battles in a colorful, hand-drawn world. Hijacked to a to strange world. Forced to fight for your life. Discover the secrets of the Arbitrators and find your way back home! Features: - 100+ levels full of action and adventure - Collect loot, purchase upgrades and experiment with numerous weapons - Rescue prisoners and build your own army - Encounter colossal boss monsters and take them down - Plenty of challenge, not for the easily discouraged! - Fully configurable controls with MFi controller support - Cloud save support Press: - "If you're a fan of real-time combat games Barbearian is easy to recommend" "5.0/5.0" -- Pocket Tactics - "When people ask where the good premium games are, Barbearian is one I will point to, with gusto." "5.0/5.0" -- Touch Arcade - Metacritic: 89, 5th best iOS game of 2018 No IAP, ads or hidden costs.

About

Ugly

A dark fairytale puzzle-platformer where you use an innovative mirror mechanic to solve challenges and explore a tormented nobleman's psyche. Unravel a text-less narrative through mind-bending puzzles and epic boss battles in a visually stunning world.

Highlights
  • Innovative mirror mechanic for puzzle-solving
  • Deep, text-less narrative
  • Visually stunning art style
  • Mind-bending puzzle rooms
  • Epic boss battles
  • Controller support
Features
Read full description

Embark on an unforgettable voyage through a tormented nobleman's psyche in "Ugly," a dark fairytale turned mobile puzzle-platformer. Navigate a world awash in tragedy, armed with an innovative mirror mechanic that allows you to face puzzles—and yourself—like never before. Dive deep into the enigmatic world of "Ugly" and get ready to confront truths as unsettling as they are enlightening. Are you brave enough to face what's hidden in the mirror? Key Features: - Innovative Mirror Mechanic: Generate a shadowy reflection to swap places with, unlocking new angles for puzzle-solving and exploration. - Deep Narrative: Unravel a profound, text-less story that delves into the corners of a broken mind. Each puzzle room you conquer brings clarity to your clouded past. - Visually Stunning: Immerse yourself in an intricately crafted world, where every detail, from the moody lighting to the ethereal art style, serves the narrative. - Mind-Bending Puzzles: Conquer intricately designed puzzle rooms, each offering a fresh challenge and a fragment of your past. - Epic Boss Battles: Engage with towering bosses that test not just your reflexes, but also your resolve. - Discover Hidden Secrets: Unlock alternate endings and hidden rooms for an enriched gameplay experience. - Exceptional Soundscapes: Atmospheric music that perfectly complements each twist and turn in your unsettling journey. - Controller Support: Experience the game seamlessly with MFI Bluetooth controller support. The game’s title isn't a reflection of its beautifully dark world, but of the unsettling truths you'll uncover. Are you ready to face the "Ugly" in you?

Screenshots

Barbearian4 screens
Ugly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Ugly at $4.99 against Barbearian's $8.99. Ugly also leads on rating (4.4 vs 4.2) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). Barbearian's advantage is ratings volume (163 vs 40). On review sentiment, 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

Barbearian costs $8.99 and Ugly $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Ugly holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 163 and 40 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Barbearian's written reviews are positive against 73% of Ugly's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Barbearian ships an update monthly, Ugly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Barbearian versus Ugly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBarbearianUgly
Price$8.99$4.99 — better
Rating4.2 (163 ratings)4.4 (40 ratings) — better
Positive reviews66.9% of reviews72.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings163 — better40
Update frequencyMonthlyFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS12.411.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size163 MB607 MB
Age rating12+17+
DeveloperKimmo Factor OyPlug In Digital

Customer experience

Barbearian

All ratings163 ratings
Positive75.5%
Neutral6.1%
Negative18.4%
Written reviews133 reviews
Positive66.9%
Neutral11.3%
Negative21.8%

Ugly

All ratings40 ratings
Positive85.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive72.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative27.3%

Bugs and requests

Barbearian

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Game crashes frequently during gameplay
  • Movement joystick unresponsive on iPhone X and newer models
  • Character moves in wrong direction or doesn't move at all
  • Game freezes mid-stage causing progress loss
  • Master class button doesn't appear on subsequent playthroughs
Show 5 more
  • Notch compatibility issues on iPhone X (corners cut off)
  • Controller settings reset after customization
  • Game slows down during large-scale battles
  • Gamepad controls occasionally malfunction
  • Progress loss after crashes

Requested features

15 requests
  • Cloud save/iCloud sync between iOS devices and Apple TV
  • Pause button during gameplay
  • Adjustable joystick size and position
  • Multiplayer or co-op mode
  • Additional levels and sequel content
Show 10 more
  • More weapon variety and character customization
  • Improved minion AI and effectiveness
  • More diverse soundtrack
  • Difficulty settings visible in all versions
  • Better character and gameplay tutorials
  • DLC or expansion content
  • Endgame content for post-completion play
  • Revive potions for in-game use
  • Italian language support
  • Russian language support

Ugly

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Barbearian

No in-app purchases

None

Ugly

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Barbearian free?
Barbearian costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Ugly free?
Ugly costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Barbearian or Ugly?
Ugly is rated higher. Barbearian averages 4.2 out of 5 from 163 ratings, while Ugly averages 4.4 from 40 ratings.
Do Barbearian or Ugly have ads?
Neither Barbearian nor Ugly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Barbearian or Ugly?
Barbearian ships an update monthly, and Ugly fortnightly. Most recently, Barbearian was updated on October 20, 2026 and Ugly on October 16, 2026.

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