CrushStations vs CalcTrain
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
CrushStations
This game trains working memory, a key executive function, by challenging players to remember creature colors and types to rescue them from an octopus. It's designed to improve cognitive skills linked to academic success.
- Working memory training
- Executive function development
- Creature memory challenges
- Educational game design
- Research-backed gameplay
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CrushStations is a game designed to train working memory, a subskill of executive functions. Working memory involves holding information in mind and mentally working with it (Diamond, 2013). Players need to remember the color and type of creatures to free them and keep them out of reach of the hungry octopus. How does this support learning? Executive functions refer to a set of top-down, goal-oriented cognitive processes that enable people to control, monitor and plan behaviors and emotions. Miyake and Friedman’s model supports a unity-and-diversity view of EF in that it incorporates the three distinct but related components of EF: inhibitory control, task-switching and updating (Miyake et al., 2000). What is the research evidence? Our research suggests that CrushStations is an effective way to train working memory. The study supporting this claim will be published soon. Research has found that EF is related to performance in literacy and math along with long-term gains in school performance and academic readiness (Blair & Razza, 2007; Brock, Rimm-Kaufman, Nathanson, & Grimm, 2009; St Clair-Thompson & Gathercole, 2006; Welsh, Nix, Blair, Bierman, & Nelson, 2010) and that disparities in EF among preschool children from low-income versus high-income homes may contribute to the achievement gap (Blair & Razza, 2007; Noble, McCandliss, & Farah, 2007). This game is part of the Smart Suite, created by New York University’s CREATE lab in collaboration with the University of California, Santa Barbara, and The Graduate Center, CUNY. The research reported here was supported by the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education, through Grant R305A150417 to the University of California, Santa Barbara. The opinions expressed are those of the authors and do not represent views of the Institute or the U.S. Department of Education.
CalcTrain
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CalcTrain - Master Math with Fun Calculations! CalcTrain is the ultimate math calculation training app! Whether you're a student looking to boost your skills or an adult aiming to stay mentally agile, CalcTrain is your ticket to a world of mathematical mastery. CalcTrain currently supports a small variety of options but will become the perfect training app in the future. Key Features: - addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, square root, random(all random calculations mode), custom - easy, medium, hard, hardcore - time based mode - compare your stats with your friends - all free (for now)
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: CrushStations at none against CalcTrain's 1. CrushStations also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). CalcTrain's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 13 months). On price, ads and 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
Both are free to download. CalcTrain sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. CrushStations asks for nothing beyond the download.
CrushStations ships an update every 13 months, CalcTrain fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CrushStations | CalcTrain |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (11 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 11 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 294 MB | 3 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | New York University | Berkay Bentetik |
In-app purchases
CrushStations
No in-app purchases
CalcTrain
- Purchase AllStats$0.99









