Comparison

Mars vs Mars Commander

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

Head to head
About

Mars

Engage in a scientific simulation of establishing a Mars colony. Manage a small group of settlers, research technologies, and build a thriving settlement from a single module. Compete with other human-controlled colonies for success on the Red Planet.

Highlights
  • Scientific Mars settlement simulation
  • Research and development of technologies
  • Exploration of the Red Planet
  • Building and managing specialized structures
  • Managing settler types and life cycles
  • 3D view of settlement and Mars surface
  • Offline playability
Features
Read full description

Settle on MARS in a mixture of game and scientific simulation. Take control over a tiny group of 10 settlers and choose a landing site on the barren Mars. Develop your venture from one single landing module into a thriving settlement with hundreds of specialized buildings and even more inhabitants. Research & development of new technologies as well as exploration of the Red Planet are key for establishing a permanent presence in this hostile environment. And you are not alone. Other settlements, each one controlled by a real human somewhere on Earth, are starting to grow everywhere and a competition for being the most successful Mars colony has already begun. Features: - Scientific orientated building & simulation of a Mars settlement - Background story in 6 phases with according phase goals - Mars simulation in 30x real time (even running when app is not active) - Choosing one of 7 Earth organizations providing (dis-)advantages - Research & development of 152 individual technologies - Construction, maintenance & repair of 51 individual building - 35 individual building enhancements (no level 1,2,3...) - Sending Mars exploration teams and analyzing found soil samples - Production & dispatching of 23 different resource/module types - Assignment of 5 settler types to all activities in the settlement - Settler life cycle including children and elders - 3D view of own settlement in authentic Mars topography - Panning & zooming of the Mars surface in high resolution 3D - 100% usable without Internet connection - Optional online: ranking list & other settlements on Mars surface - Unlocking of advanced app functionalities step by step - Tutorial explaining all app functionalities - Contains some Ads but only after 15 Minutes of game and very decent - Contains In-App-Purchases but NO PAY TO WIN! - This is a peaceful app! NO FIGHTING, NO KILLING, NO WAR!

About

Mars Commander

Features
Read full description

Establish humanity's first colony on Mars and face the ultimate challenge of survival on the hostile Red Planet! As the commander of this ambitious mission, you'll need to master resource management, strategic expansion, and cutting-edge technology to transform a barren outpost into a thriving Martian civilization. GATHER CRITICAL RESOURCES Mine essential metals from the Martian soil Generate life-sustaining oxygen for your colonists Harvest water from subsurface ice deposits Deploy solar panels to power your growing colony Produce food in advanced hydroponic greenhouses Conduct scientific research to unlock new technologies EXPAND ACROSS THE RED PLANET Begin at your landing site and expand to new sectors Discover unique regions with special resource bonuses Explore the Acidalia Planitia's ancient water channels Mine rich deposits at the Olympus Mons foothills Establish protected habitats in Valles Marineris Harvest valuable ice at the Northern Ice Cap AUTOMATE AND OPTIMIZE Deploy mining rovers to automate resource collection Launch drones for atmospheric research and processing Upgrade your automation systems for increased efficiency Strategically manage energy consumption Balance resource production with colony needs RESEARCH ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES Progress through multiple technology tiers Unlock advanced buildings and capabilities Discover fusion power for unlimited energy Research terraforming to transform Mars itself Master interplanetary travel for future expansion OVERCOME MARTIAN CHALLENGES Survive dust storms and meteor showers Manage scarce resources carefully Make strategic decisions that impact your colony's future Achieve prestigious milestones and accomplishments FEATURES Intuitive tap-based resource collection Satisfying progression system Beautiful Martian visuals and atmosphere Engaging automation and expansion gameplay No ads or in-app purchases - just pure gameplay Play offline - perfect for on-the-go gaming Take command of humanity's most ambitious project and turn the red dust of Mars into a thriving new home for civilization. Will your colony survive and prosper, or become another failed mission? The future of Mars is in your hands!

Screenshots

Mars4 screens
Mars Commander4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Mars at Free against Mars Commander's $3.99. Mars also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.6). Mars Commander's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On device support 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

Mars is free to download; Mars Commander costs $3.99 up front. Mars sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Mars Commander asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Mars versus Mars Commander: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMarsMars Commander
PriceFree — better$3.99
Rating4.1 (26 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews65.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings26 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months—
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.6
Further details — not scored
Size2.6 GB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStefan NyulRyan Morrison

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Mars

One-time3
  • Logistics contract$0.99
  • MAA Gold Membership$1.99
  • Sponsors contract$2.99
None

Mars Commander

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Mars free?
Mars is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mars Commander free?
Mars Commander costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do Mars or Mars Commander have ads?
Mars shows ads; Mars Commander does not.

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