# Synthwave Escape vs Glitch Run

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.

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Synthwave Escape | Glitch Run |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (219 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthwave-escape/id1435802053/reviews)** | [4.4 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glitch-run/id1450159291/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 219 | **1.1K** |
| Positive reviews | **83.3% of reviews** | 25.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 152 MB | 143 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Moby Pixel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1435802052) | [Oddrok Oy](https://appshunter.io/developer/966814193) |

## What reviewers say

### Synthwave Escape

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/synthwave-escape/id1435802053)

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:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 20 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| 50 Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Coins Deal | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Audio option doesn't work
- No invincibility stage after getting hit
- Game won't download

**Requested features**

- Longer game or sequel
- More levels
- New music
- PC version
- More cutscenes


### Glitch Run

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/glitch-run/id1450159291)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads + Doubler | $0.29 | one-time |
| Diamonds Small | $0.29 | one-time |
| Diamonds Large | $0.39 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch
- Incompatible with older devices
- Inconsistent behavior (jumping instead of dashing)

**Requested features**

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


## Frequently asked 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.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*