Comparison

Synthwave Escape vs Glitch Run

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

Head to head
About

Synthwave Escape

Embark on a retro rhythm puzzle platformer adventure with an 80s synthwave aesthetic. Guide a team of robots with unique physics to escape a neon bunker and defeat an antagonist. Solve challenges through 60 stages with an original soundtrack and a humorous storyline.

Highlights
  • 60 Retro Rhythm Puzzle Platformer Stages
  • 8 All-New Synthwave Tracks
  • 4 Escaping Robots with Super Duper Physics
  • Robot Storyline
  • Dad Jokes
Features
Read full description

Synthwave Escape is a Retro Rhythm Puzzle Platformer game with an 80s inspired Synthwave Soundtrack & Aesthetic. Join Doc Grits' team of robots as they attempt to escape the Neon Bunker and defeat the heinously infamous Red Hawk. Use the Escape Bots' skills together to overcome challenges and make it safely to safety! Features • 60 Retro Rhythm Puzzle Platformer Stages • 8 All-New Synthwave Tracks • 4 Escaping Robots with Super Duper Physics • 1 Most Triumphant Robot Storyline • A Plethora of Dad Jokes Oh, you're still reading! Alright, I'll continue. Here's the situation: this dude Grits is locked away in a Neon Bunker by this other bogus dude named Red Hawk. Grits is forced to make deadly contraptions, but manages to build a robot team to help him escape. They almost make it, but then they get caught. Then they get away. Yada, yada - just play the game already! If you enjoy the game please consider leaving a review. And if you really, really enjoy it, tell a friend. Then next time you see that friend, the two of you can do a jumping high five. Thanks for playing! Your Friend, Nick Culbertson Moby Pixel http://www.mobypixel.com

About

Glitch Run

Navigate challenging obstacle courses by jumping, dashing, and hiding. Collect diamonds and unlock new characters across handcrafted stages and various game modes. Compete with others on leaderboards.

Highlights
  • Simple touch controls (Jump, Dash, Hide)
  • Handcrafted stages
  • Simplistic visuals with glitch effects
  • Level and Arcade modes
  • Unlockable Glitch characters
  • Game Center leaderboards
  • iCloud saving
Features
Read full description

In Glitch Run you must find your way to pass the areas of obstacles and collect the diamonds on your way! FEATURES • JUMP - DASH - HIDE : Simple touch control mechanics! • Lots of handcrafted stages! • Beautiful simplistic visuals with glitch effects! • Level mode and two Arcade modes • Unlock new Glitch characters • Game Center leaderboards • iCloud saving support • Haptic feedback support Lots of different levels with moving platforms, spikes and various routes with puzzling elements will keep you busy on the level based game mode! Arcade modes gives you an extra challenge while competing against other players on the leaderboards!

Screenshots

Synthwave Escape4 screens
Glitch Run4 screens

Verdict

The call

Synthwave Escape and Glitch Run both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 83% of Synthwave Escape's written reviews are positive against 25% of Glitch Run's. Glitch Run's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months). On price, rating, 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

Both are free to download. Synthwave Escape sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Glitch Run sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Synthwave Escape holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 219 and 1.1K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 83% of Synthwave Escape's written reviews are positive against 25% of Glitch Run's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Synthwave Escape ships an update every 6 months, Glitch Run fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 19, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Synthwave Escape versus Glitch Run: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSynthwave EscapeGlitch Run
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (219 ratings) — better4.4 (1.1K ratings)
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews — better25.4% of reviews
Number of ratings2191.1K — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsFortnightly — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.09.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size152 MB143 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperMoby PixelOddrok Oy

Customer experience

Synthwave Escape

All ratings219 ratings
Positive92.7%
Neutral3.7%
Negative3.7%
Written reviews30 reviews
Positive83.3%
Neutral3.3%
Negative13.3%

Glitch Run

All ratings1,075 ratings
Positive84.1%
Neutral7.4%
Negative8.5%
Written reviews67 reviews
Positive25.4%
Neutral10.4%
Negative64.2%

User reviews

Synthwave Escape

From 219 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎶 Amazing music/songs
  • 🎨 Great graphics/visual aesthetic
  • 🧠 Challenging/mind-bending gameplay
  • 🤩 Fun and enjoyable experience
  • ✨ Impressive novelty/innovative

Room to improve

  • ⚠️ Level 18 is too hard
  • 💥 No invincibility frames
  • ⏳ Stressful timer
  • 💰 Needs more coins
  • 🐛 Audio option bug

Glitch Run

From 1.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Easy to control
  • 👍 Fun to play
  • 👍 Visually stunning

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Glitchy controls
  • 🐛 Crashes frequently
  • 🐛 Optimization issues
  • 🔋 High battery consumption

Bugs and requests

Synthwave Escape

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Audio option doesn't work
  • No invincibility stage after getting hit
  • Game won't download

Requested features

5 requests
  • Longer game or sequel
  • More levels
  • New music
  • PC version
  • More cutscenes

Glitch Run

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes on launch
  • Incompatible with older devices
  • Inconsistent behavior (jumping instead of dashing)

Requested features

3 requests
  • Add a story mode
  • Introduce more character skins
  • Improve level transitions (remove black screens)

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Synthwave Escape

One-time4
  • 20 Coins$0.99
  • 50 Coins$1.99
  • Unlimited Coins$4.99
Show 1 more
  • Unlimited Coins Deal$4.99
3 purchases

Glitch Run

One-time3
  • No Ads + Doubler$0.29
  • Diamonds Small$0.29
  • Diamonds Large$0.39

Questions

Is Synthwave Escape free?
Synthwave Escape is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Glitch Run free?
Glitch Run is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Synthwave Escape or Glitch Run?
Synthwave Escape is rated higher. Synthwave Escape averages 4.6 out of 5 from 219 ratings, while Glitch Run averages 4.4 from 1.1K ratings.
Do Synthwave Escape or Glitch Run have ads?
Synthwave Escape shows ads; Glitch Run does not.
Which is updated more often, Synthwave Escape or Glitch Run?
Synthwave Escape ships an update every 6 months, and Glitch Run fortnightly. Most recently, Synthwave Escape was updated on September 19, 2026 and Glitch Run on September 28, 2026.

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