# Hell and Back vs SpaceShard

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SpaceShard at 100% against Hell and Back's 25%. SpaceShard also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hell and Back sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. SpaceShard asks for nothing beyond the download.

SpaceShard holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Hell and Back's written reviews are positive against 100% of SpaceShard's.

Hell and Back ships an update every 7 months, SpaceShard every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hell and Back | SpaceShard |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hell-and-back/id1474841566/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spaceshard/id6751738288/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 5 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 45 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17.6** | 18.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Brandon Stecklein](https://appshunter.io/developer/498894252) | [Paul Hall](https://appshunter.io/developer/1836545613) |

## What reviewers say

### Hell and Back

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hell-and-back/id1474841566)

Embark on a sci-fi roguelike RPG adventure to close a portal to hell on Mars. Fight, loot, and upgrade your gear in turn-based combat, recruiting mercenaries and making critical decisions to survive.

**Highlights:** Procedural and handcrafted levels, Weapon and armor upgrades, Mercenary recruitment, Challenging quests and bosses, Deep RPG progression, Turn-based combat

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 100 Ape Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hell and Back Full Upgrade | $1.99 | one-time |


### SpaceShard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spaceshard/id6751738288)

Navigate procedurally generated mazes, collecting shards to increase your score and unlock upgrades. Compete in time-based multiplayer matches and customize your spacesuit. Climb leaderboards and unlock achievements.

**Highlights:** Endless procedural mazes, Time-based multiplayer matches, Achievements and milestones, Spacesuit customization, Global leaderboards

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hell and Back free?

Hell and Back is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is SpaceShard free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hell and Back or SpaceShard?

SpaceShard is rated higher. Hell and Back averages 4.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while SpaceShard averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Hell and Back or SpaceShard have ads?

Hell and Back shows ads; SpaceShard does not.

### Which is updated more often, Hell and Back or SpaceShard?

Hell and Back ships an update every 7 months, and SpaceShard every 5 months. Most recently, Hell and Back was updated on October 1, 2026 and SpaceShard on September 24, 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.*