Comparison

MicroWars vs Mates

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

Head to head
About

MicroWars

Engage in strategic microscopic battles where you command cells to conquer opponents. Collect resources, upgrade your units, and devise invasion plans to capture enemy bases and expand your territory. Outwit your rivals by building defenses and launching timely offensives.

Highlights
  • Microscopic battleground gameplay
  • Command and conquer cells
  • Resource collection and upgrades
  • Strategic invasion planning
  • Defensive and offensive tactics
  • Board-based conquest
Features
Read full description

Experience the thrill of a microscopic battleground with Microwars! In this action-packed mobile strategy game, players take on the role of a microscopic organism and send cells to conquer their opponent’s cells on a board. The objective is to take control of all the cells on the board and defeat the opponent. Collect resources, upgrade your cells, and strategize your attacks to gain an advantage. Microwars is a puzzle strategy game, where you need to find the best tactic to capture the enemy base. Here, brains over brawn is the rule! Create new invasion plans and put them into action in each level. Bit by bit, conquer the whole universe as your nodes expand and capture the enemies. Your expansion can only match the greatness of your strategic skills. But beware! keep an eye on your enemy’s strategy as they will try to overtake you while you are conducting your own offensives. You will have to build your defense and prepare your attacks in the same time, in order not to get defeated. Will you manage to elaborate the best strategy to take over the world? Prove it now by downloading Microwars!

About

Mates

Draw paths to connect matching creatures and score points. Avoid collisions between different colors to keep the game going. This vibrant puzzle game offers simple controls and challenging gameplay for quick sessions or extended play.

Highlights
  • Draw paths to connect matching creatures
  • Avoid collisions between different colors
  • Simple, intuitive drag-and-draw controls
  • Challenging time and space management
  • Vibrant, minimalist visuals
  • Suitable for all ages
Features
Read full description

In the colorful world of Mates, every creature is looking for its match. Your job? Draw the paths that bring them together. It’s a test of fast fingers and quick wits—if different colors collide, the spark is gone and you'll lose a heart. Simple to learn, but fun to master! How to Play: Form connections: Draw paths between matching creatures to have them meet and score points. Avoid collisions: Don't let two different colored creatures collide! Draw paths to keep different colored creatures apart. Master the Flow: As the screen fills up, you'll need to plan your paths carefully while remaining nimble in order to manage the chaos. Key Features: Simple, Intuitive Controls: Just drag your finger to draw—perfect for gamers of all ages. Challenging time and space management: Put your spatial skills and reflexes to the test as the pace picks up and new creatures join the fray. Vibrant Visuals: Meet a cast of colorful characters in a clean, minimalist world that’s easy on the eyes. Whether you have two minutes in line or an hour on the couch, Mates is the perfect companion to keep your brain sharp and your fingers moving. Download Mates today!

Screenshots

MicroWars4 screens
Mates4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mates at 100% against MicroWars's 34%. Mates also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (5.0 vs 4.6). MicroWars's advantage is ratings volume (10K vs 16). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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. MicroWars sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Mates asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mates holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: MicroWars has 10K ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of MicroWars's written reviews are positive against 100% of Mates's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

MicroWars ships an update every 2 months, Mates every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
MicroWars versus Mates: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMicroWarsMates
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (10K ratings)5.0 (16 ratings) — better
Positive reviews34.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings10K — better16
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size94 MB12 MB
Age rating12+4+
DeveloperBenoit FreslonJordan Naftolin

Customer experience

MicroWars

All ratings10,387 ratings
Positive88.9%
Neutral5.1%
Negative6.0%
Written reviews156 reviews
Positive34.0%
Neutral16.0%
Negative50.0%

Mates

All ratings3 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

MicroWars

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Game resets progress on restart
  • Impossible level 40 and 130
  • Ads play over gameplay

Requested features

5 requests
  • More challenging AI opponents
  • Ability to reinforce controlled cells
  • Disable timer option
  • More unique levels and characters
  • Improved memory mini-game

Mates

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

MicroWars

One-time1
  • No ads$3.99
None

Mates

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is MicroWars free?
MicroWars is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Mates free?
Mates is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, MicroWars or Mates?
Mates is rated higher. MicroWars averages 4.6 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while Mates averages 5.0 from 16 ratings.
Do MicroWars or Mates have ads?
Both MicroWars and Mates show ads.
Which is updated more often, MicroWars or Mates?
MicroWars ships an update every 2 months, and Mates every 9 days. Most recently, MicroWars was updated on October 29, 2026 and Mates on October 24, 2026.

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