R2 vs Side By Side
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
R2
Control your interactive R2-D2 droid from your smartphone or tablet. Steer the droid, view its camera feed, and activate unique features like its projector and pop-up lightsaber. The droid can also operate autonomously and respond to voice commands.
- Dual mode control (command/AI)
- Video/still camera with face detection
- Holographic message projector
- Pop-up lightsaber
- Extending arms and manipulator probes
- Voice command response
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Your R2-D2 is finally ready to interact with you! With the ‘Build R2-D2’ App you can control your interactive droid directly from your smartphone or tablet. Steer him at will, see what he sees, and activate all his special features! Features include: DUAL MODE You can switch R2-D2 to operate under command or in autonomous ‘AI’ mode, when he will behave like the wilful astromech in the movies and respond to voice commands. VIDEO/STILL CAMERA The video/still camera in R2-D2’s head allows him to take snapshots and short video clips, which can be stored on your mobile device. His programming also includes the ability to detect human faces. PROJECTOR Just like in the Star Wars movies, R2-D2 is able to display holographic messages using a projector which can beam images of Princess Leia and Luke Skywalker onto any nearby flat surface. POP-UP LIGHTSABER As in ‘Return of the Jedi’ R2-D2 has a ‘hidden extra’ – Luke Skywalker’s lighsaber, which will pop up on demand from the pneumatic ejection tube in his head. EXTENDING ARMS As in the movies, R2-D2 can extend his spacecraff linkage and control arms on comman.The flaps on his body conceal hidden droid manipulator arms and probes, which you can extend at will. ------------- Mail: customercare@deagostini.co.uk
Side By Side
This puzzle game challenges players to change the color of squares, affecting adjacent ones. With hundreds of levels and a minimalist design, it offers a relaxing yet strategic brain-training experience for all ages.
- Intuitive color-changing gameplay
- 100+ unique puzzles
- Achievements and rewards
- Strategic move planning
- Minimalist visual design
- Soothing soundtrack
- Frequent updates
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Intuitive Gameplay: Simple yet addictive gameplay - tap any square, and watch as its color transforms. But here's the twist: adjacent squares change too! Can you master the art of synchronisation? 100 Puzzles: Dive into an ever-expanding collection of levels, each with a unique design and level of complexity. From relaxing casual puzzles to brain-bending mind teasers, there's something for everyone. Achievements and Rewards: Complete puzzles to earn stars to progress further into the game. Challenge yourself to achieve mastery of your puzzle-solving skills. Strategic Thinking: Plan your moves carefully as you strategies to solve each puzzle. Discover the most efficient way to turn all the squares positive in the fewest moves. Frequent Updates: We are committed to delivering a consistently fresh and engaging experience. Stay tuned for regular updates, new puzzles, and exciting surprises! Simplicity in Visuals: Immerse yourself in contrasting colours and minimalist graphics. The beautiful design enhances the overall gaming experience. Soothing Soundtrack: Relax and enjoy the game's calming soundtrack while you brainstorm your way through challenging puzzles. Optimised for All Devices: "Side by Side" is designed to perform smoothly on your device, ensuring a seamless gaming experience. Endless Fun: With hundreds of puzzles and ongoing updates, "Side by Side" guarantees endless fun and satisfaction for players of all ages. Join the Brain-Training Adventure! Get ready to embark on a mesmerising journey where strategy meets colour in "Side by Side." Whether you're a casual gamer or a puzzle enthusiast, this game offers endless hours of brain-teasing fun. Can you conquer every puzzle and become a master of synchronisation? Download "Side by Side" today and discover the addictive world of turning negatives into positives!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Side By Side at 100% against R2's 23%. Side By Side also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 4 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
R2 ships an update every 4 months, Side By Side every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | R2 | Side By Side |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.4 (376 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 22.6% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 376 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 12.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 37 MB | 60 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | De Agostini Publishing S.p.A. | Orthors LTD |
Customer experience
R2
Side By Side
Bugs and requests
R2
Reported bugs
17 issues- App crashes immediately upon opening
- Unable to connect to R2-D2 via Bluetooth or WiFi
- Local WiFi connection mode not working
- Direct WiFi mode intermittently functional
- iOS 14, 16, 17, 18, 18.1 compatibility issues
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- App force closes when accessing camera or photo library
- Settings menu appears empty or incomplete
- Language selection not persisting (defaults to English)
- Character encoding issues with accents and special characters
- Camera display lag and latency
- Head rotation juddering instead of smooth motion
- Voice control not responding
- Patrol mode not functioning properly
- Photo feature crashes app
- Configuration options cut off on screen
- 5GHz WiFi not supported
- App doesn't recognize R2-D2 on network despite connection
Requested features
14 requests- Update app for iOS 16, 17, 18, and 18.1 compatibility
- Diagnostic feature to check R2-D2 problems
- Volume control option
- Programming/automation functionality
- Controller support (PS2/gamepad)
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- Remote access outside local network
- Smoother head and body movement controls
- Recording and projection feature
- Desktop application for Mac and Windows
- Improved voice recognition
- Better patrol mode with obstacle detection
- Comprehensive user manual in app
- Support for Little Bits Droid Inventor Kit
- Additional language support (German, Spanish, Russian, Italian, Polish, French, Japanese)
Side By Side
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
R2
No in-app purchases
Side By Side
No in-app purchases









