# MeltLand vs Ascender

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Ascender at 98% against MeltLand's 59%. Ascender also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MeltLand sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Ascender asks for nothing beyond the download.

Ascender holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 243 and 155 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of MeltLand's written reviews are positive against 98% of Ascender's.

MeltLand ships an update fortnightly, Ascender weekly. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | MeltLand | Ascender |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (243 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meltland/id1361506315/reviews) | **[4.9 (155 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascender/id1642885179/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **243** | 155 |
| Positive reviews | 58.8% of reviews | **98.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 85 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Masataka Hakozaki](https://appshunter.io/developer/323346554) | [Peter Moyle](https://appshunter.io/developer/1642885181) |

## What reviewers say

### MeltLand

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meltland/id1361506315)

Guide a water droplet through a mysterious, melted world by manipulating the terrain. This challenging rolling ball game tests your patience and precision as you aim for the goal while avoiding falls. Collect gems to earn lives and progress through unique levels.

**Highlights:** Manipulate terrain by pushing up ground, Guide a droplet to the goal, Avoid falling from the field, Collect gems for lives, Tap to create ripples

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GEM x500 | $0.99 | one-time |
| ADS REMOVAL | $1.99 | one-time |
| GEM x2000 | $1.99 | one-time |
| GEM DOUBLER | $1.99 | one-time |
| UNLIMITED LIVES | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Beautiful graphics and visuals
- 🎶 Pleasant and relaxing music/sound
- 👍 Simple and intuitive controls
- 💡 Innovative gameplay concept
- 😌 Relaxing and calming atmosphere

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🥵 Extremely difficult/challenging
- 😠 Frustrating and causes anger
- 😩 Repetitive gameplay
- 📉 Limited levels/content
- 💸 Monetization issues (ads, lives)

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on startup/won't open
- Automatic heart recharge not working
- Ads not loading for skipping levels
- Game crashes after purchase (no ads, unlimited lives)
- Game not opening on specific iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add checkpoints/mid-level saves
- Lower the difficulty or add difficulty options
- Add more levels or game modes
- Allow customization of water droplet color/appearance
- Implement a dark mode


### Ascender

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascender/id1642885179)

Embark on an 8-bit arcade adventure, ascending from an abyss. Navigate treacherous terrain, defeat enemies, and manage your engine's heat. Experience thrilling gameplay with retro graphics and sound, aiming for the highest score.

**Highlights:** Retro arcade graphics and sound, 1000m of level design, Easy mobile controls, Quick start checkpoints, 3 Game modes, Game Center leaderboards

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 No ads or in-app purchases
- 🎨 Retro aesthetic and pixel art style
- ⚙️ Simple yet engaging gameplay mechanics
- 🎯 Challenging but fair difficulty balance
- 🏆 Multiple game modes (Classic, Survival, Time Trial)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📏 Control buttons positioned too close together and far left
- ⏱️ Limited content - single level with three play modes
- 🎮 Controls occasionally unresponsive or don't register
- 😞 Game is too short for some players
- 🔧 Input detection issues causing unexpected deaths

**Reported bugs**

- Controls don't register sometimes causing flight or fire errors
- Input detection issues leading to unexpected deaths

**Requested features**

- Sequel or Part 2 with more levels
- Progress saving functionality
- Additional levels and content
- Adjustable button sizes
- Discord server for community


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MeltLand free?

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

### Is Ascender free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MeltLand or Ascender?

Ascender is rated higher. MeltLand averages 4.5 out of 5 from 243 ratings, while Ascender averages 4.9 from 155 ratings.

### Do MeltLand or Ascender have ads?

MeltLand shows ads; Ascender does not.

### Which is updated more often, MeltLand or Ascender?

MeltLand ships an update fortnightly, and Ascender weekly. Most recently, MeltLand was updated on October 24, 2026 and Ascender on October 24, 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.*