# Phage Invaders vs Evolution Merge

The clearest difference is rating: Evolution Merge at 4.7 against Phage Invaders's 4.0. Evolution Merge also leads on ratings volume (59K vs 9). Phage Invaders's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ads (none vs shown). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Evolution Merge sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Phage Invaders asks for nothing beyond the download.

Evolution Merge holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Evolution Merge has 59K ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of Phage Invaders's written reviews are positive against 57% of Evolution Merge's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Phage Invaders ships an update every 4 days, Evolution Merge every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Phage Invaders | Evolution Merge |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (9 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phage-invaders/id1460866913/reviews) | **[4.7 (59K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/evolution-merge-eat-and-grow/id1645052152/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9 | **59K** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 57.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 113 MB | 463 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Innovative Genomics Institute](https://appshunter.io/developer/1460866912) | [SayGames LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1551847165) |

## What reviewers say

### Phage Invaders

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/phage-invaders/id1460866913)

Defend the city of Bacterium from viral invaders by controlling a Cas9-inspired hero. Slash invading DNA and viral parts to protect the city. Features progressive levels and an infinite survival mode.

**Highlights:** Control Cas9-inspired hero, Slash invading DNA, Progressive difficulty levels, Survival mode, High score leaderboards

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Evolution Merge

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/evolution-merge-eat-and-grow/id1645052152)

Guide creatures from single-cell organisms to apex predators by eating and evolving. Merge specimens to discover new species and climb the food chain in this engaging evolution simulator.

**Highlights:** Chomp and eat to grow, Evolve through multiple creature stages, Merge specimens to create new species, Unlock unique creatures, Navigate vibrant game worlds, Survival of the fittest gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ticket Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| No ADS | $4.99 | one-time |
| Medium Ticket Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Large Ticket Pack | $24.99 | one-time |
| Extra Large Ticket Pack | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 🚀 Fast-paced evolution mechanics
- 💡 Unique concept of merging animals
- 😊 Relaxing and enjoyable experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Lack of sound effects or background music
- 💰 Excessive amount of ads interrupting gameplay
- 🔄 Repetitive nature of the evolution process
- 🔒 Inappropriate ads for a game targeted at children

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes or freezes when certain ads are displayed
- Inability to merge top-level creatures as suggested by the game
- Progress reset or lost after reaching certain stages

**Requested features**

- More diverse evolution paths beyond just reaching humans
- Option to purchase ad-free version or remove ads
- Ability to play as unlocked creatures after reaching the end
- Smoother progression and less repetitive grind


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Phage Invaders free?

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

### Is Evolution Merge free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Phage Invaders or Evolution Merge?

Evolution Merge is rated higher. Phage Invaders averages 4.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Evolution Merge averages 4.7 from 59K ratings.

### Do Phage Invaders or Evolution Merge have ads?

Evolution Merge shows ads; Phage Invaders does not.

### Which is updated more often, Phage Invaders or Evolution Merge?

Phage Invaders ships an update every 4 days, and Evolution Merge every 6 weeks. Most recently, Phage Invaders was updated on October 24, 2026 and Evolution Merge on October 27, 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.*