# JAPAN MAP STACK vs Marble Race Ultimate

The clearest difference is rating: JAPAN MAP STACK at 5.0 against Marble Race Ultimate's 3.3. JAPAN MAP STACK also leads on review sentiment (88% vs 46%) and in-app purchases (none vs 7). Marble Race Ultimate's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (164 vs 6). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Marble Race Ultimate sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. JAPAN MAP STACK asks for nothing beyond the download.

JAPAN MAP STACK holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Marble Race Ultimate has 164 ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of JAPAN MAP STACK's written reviews are positive against 46% of Marble Race Ultimate's.

JAPAN MAP STACK ships an update every 3 weeks, Marble Race Ultimate every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | JAPAN MAP STACK | Marble Race Ultimate |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japan-map-stack/id1360634666/reviews)** | [3.3 (164 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marble-race-ultimate/id1581164284/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 6 | **164** |
| Positive reviews | **87.5% of reviews** | 46.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 93 MB | 114 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [YUUTA TAKI](https://appshunter.io/developer/1360634665) | [Serhii Nuzhdov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1558465954) |

## What reviewers say

### JAPAN MAP STACK

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/japan-map-stack/id1360634666)

A physics puzzle game where players stack colorful map pieces as high as possible. It features simple one-finger controls and is free to play.

**Highlights:** Physics-based stacking gameplay, Colorful map pieces, Simple one-finger controls, Free to play

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Marble Race Ultimate

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marble-race-ultimate/id1581164284)

Experience thrilling marble races with various game modes like elimination, team battles, and football simulations. Control your marble with intuitive swipe controls and strategize to overcome obstacles and opponents.

**Highlights:** Multiple game modes (Elimination, Teams, Battle, League, Duel, Beat the Keeper, Football, World Cup), Country, state, or color selection, Obstacle courses, 8-direction swipe controls, Mana-based movement system

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 7 emeralds | $0.99 | one-time |
| 21 emeralds | $2.99 | one-time |
| 82 emeralds | $4.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $4.99 | one-time |
| 210 emeralds | $9.99 | one-time |
| 600 emeralds | $19.99 | one-time |
| 1200 emeralds | $29.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Fun and engaging marble racing gameplay
- 🌍 Diverse marble selection (countries, states, colors)
- 📱 Works offline without internet required
- 🎨 Colorful and visually appealing graphics
- 🎯 Multiple game modes (World Cup, Football, Euro, etc.)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Excessive paywall and monetization
- 🐢 Marbles move too slowly during races
- 🎬 Too many ads interrupting gameplay
- 💎 Insufficient gem/emerald rewards for progression
- 🔒 Locked content behind expensive paywalls

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes after 5 minutes of play
- Saved custom tracks cannot be accessed or played
- Marbles get stuck on tracks requiring restart
- Pause button disappears after losing race
- Gravity physics not working correctly

**Requested features**

- Bring back zombie mode (previously removed)
- Increase custom track limit beyond 12
- Add ability to control marble speed/playback speed
- Implement marble tracking/highlighting feature
- Add leaderboard system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is JAPAN MAP STACK free?

JAPAN MAP STACK is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Marble Race Ultimate free?

Marble Race Ultimate is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, JAPAN MAP STACK or Marble Race Ultimate?

JAPAN MAP STACK is rated higher. JAPAN MAP STACK averages 5.0 out of 5 from 6 ratings, while Marble Race Ultimate averages 3.3 from 164 ratings.

### Do JAPAN MAP STACK or Marble Race Ultimate have ads?

JAPAN MAP STACK shows ads; Marble Race Ultimate does not.

### Which is updated more often, JAPAN MAP STACK or Marble Race Ultimate?

JAPAN MAP STACK ships an update every 3 weeks, and Marble Race Ultimate every 2 months. Most recently, JAPAN MAP STACK was updated on September 29, 2026 and Marble Race Ultimate on September 28, 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.*