Comparison

Star Hunter vs Nova

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

Head to head
About

Star Hunter

Command your fleet in a post-war galaxy, taking on bounty contracts and exploring ruins for treasure and technology. Build your base, upgrade your ships, and engage in tactical space combat. The choice is yours: roam the void or rise from chaos.

Highlights
  • Interstellar tactical extraction gameplay
  • Fleet command and control
  • Bounty hunting and contract missions
  • Explore ruins for treasure and secrets
  • Base building and upgrades
  • Ship customization and combat
  • Faction interaction
Read full description

NetEase's first interstellar-themed tactical extraction game, combining immersive visuals and accessible gameplay to create an imaginative, futuristic interstellar world. After the First Interstellar War, the Sacrum Chu Imperium collapsed, and the Dawn Accord Organization was founded. Factions such as NOMA Shipping Group, Antonios, and Jupiter Industries rose to power, completely reshaping the galaxy into a turbulent and chaotic place. Countless star hunters have stepped onto the galactic stage. They command their own fleets, signing agreements and taking bounties from different factions as they venture into the far reaches of the endless Milky Way. You, as one of these star hunters, are living in an age of freedom, full of challenges and opportunities. Search for treasure and mysteries among the ruins scattered across star systems, deal with different factions, and complete specific tasks to obtain resources and bounties. Sometimes the galactic factions will even summon hundreds of star hunters at once to seize a massive enemy Space Station. The cosmos is a shadowed forest. As hunters seek their quarry, they may find themselves stalked instead. From every hunt, hunters emerge with treasure in hand and new technologies at their command. Will you lead your fleet to roam the endless void, Or, will you gather strength to rise from the chaos? The choice lies in your own hands, hunter. [Set course for deep space and embark on a treasure hunt] In a remote corner of the Milky Way, you, a star hunter, will control a fleet, take on a wide variety of bounty contracts and missions, and venture into the vastness of space. You will hunt for mysterious items for your employers and explore specific targets, searching for treasure and secrets in uncharted territory. Here, the possibilities are endless. Beyond the stars, what else will you discover? Only you can answer that question. [Shrouded ruins with peril at every turn] The universe is a "dark forest," and the ancient ruins of the Sacrum Chu Imperium are its most shadowed and dangerous thickets. As you steer your ship through warped rifts and veils of mist to reach the drifting ruins, you may find not the glory of civilization, but a suffocating silence and deadly temptation. Whether you continue searching for treasure or make an emergency retreat is entirely up to you. [Claim bounties and upgrade your base] Your adventure begins with little more than a small outpost in the void and a pair of Frigates at your side. By completing contracts and tasks for different factions, you'll earn rich bounties and vital resources. Return to your base to build defenses and production facilities, strengthening your fleet for the unknown dangers ahead and preparing for countless missions to come. [Build your ship and fight among the stars] Spore Fighters, Ceres Destroyers, Constantine the Great Battlecruisers, Solar Whale Carriers... Dozens of ship types and hundreds of fighters and warships, each with unique features, provide a vast range of strategic combinations. Fleets clash with striking realism in space: you can orchestrate ambushes along enemy routes or station your fleet to guard critical passages. Large‑scale, intense battles can transform entire stretches of a star system, spanning hundreds of kilometers, into no‑fly zones. [Form a Squad and hunt together] Across the postwar galaxy, factions stir in every cluster. Hunters can form Squads to take on missions together, and those who grow strong can unite with hundreds more in a vast Community, seizing airspace and territory alongside their allies. [Experience 3D cinematic combat] Experience fully rendered 3D combat with close‑up and multi‑angle views. Battles unfold like a movie, immersing you in a star‑spanning battlefield. Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/Infinite.Lagrange.EU Discord:https://discord.com/invite/infinitelagrange Contact Us:lagrange@service.netease.com

About

Nova

Build and command your own space station and fleet in a chaotic galaxy. Forge alliances, explore new worlds, and engage in strategic space battles to shape the future of the sector. Your decisions will determine the fate of the galaxy.

Highlights
  • Build and customize space stations
  • Assemble modular warship fleets
  • Form intergalactic alliances
  • Explore and investigate the sector
  • Engage in strategic space battles
  • Uncover galactic mysteries
Features
Read full description

-An Imposing Republican Space Station- In the dark and dangerous void, your imposing space station will be your haven and base. Complete Republican Orders and adjust your strategic deployment regularly. A powerful space station will be your first step toward the conquest of the galaxy. -Unstoppable Space Armada- Select wisely among various warship blueprints. Forge your unique fleets with modular designs and assembling systems. Plan out your strategic options carefully and join in unprecedented space battles. Your choice will affect the outcome of every battle you’ll fight in. -Establish Your Intergalactic Alliance- After the “Supernova Event”, the whole Renney Sector is in deep turmoil. In this chaotic state, you need to build a powerful intergalactic Alliance with the people you trust most. The future of the Renney Sector now depends on your cooperation. -Endless Stars Endless Stories- Send out your fleets to explore and investigate the sector. Witness whimsical stories and the impressing intergalactic epic. -And More- A Dyson Sphere is now available for takeover in “Goliath Galaxy”, the truth behind the “Supernova Event” is still lying in the dimming void. The Republic and the Coterminal have gone silent since the universal cataclysm. You and your Alliance will decide the future of the Renney Sector. Will you use your unchallengeable diplomatic mind to reach your strategic goal? Or are you planning to expand your territory with bloodshed? An interstellar journey unlike any other is about to unfold. SUPPORT Email us at support@gamestone3.com

Screenshots

Star Hunter4 screens
Nova4 screens

Verdict

The call

Star Hunter and Nova both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 58% of Nova's written reviews are positive against 39% of Star Hunter's. Star Hunter's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads 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. Star Hunter sells 22 one-off in-app purchases and Nova sells 16 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Star Hunter against 4.7 for Nova. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7.4K and 4K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 39% of Star Hunter's written reviews are positive against 58% of Nova's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Star Hunter ships an update weekly, Nova every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Star Hunter versus Nova: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStar HunterNova
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (7.4K ratings)4.7 (4K ratings) — better
Positive reviews38.7% of reviews58.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings7.4K — better4K
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size2.6 GB2.0 GB
Age rating17+9+
DeveloperNETEASE INTERACTIVE ENTERTAINMENT PTE. LTDSTONE3 PTE. LTD.

Customer experience

Star Hunter

All ratings7,407 ratings
Positive89.1%
Neutral4.5%
Negative6.5%
Written reviews620 reviews
Positive38.7%
Neutral9.5%
Negative51.8%

Nova

All ratings3,970 ratings
Positive93.6%
Neutral2.7%
Negative3.8%
Written reviews742 reviews
Positive58.2%
Neutral7.5%
Negative34.2%

User reviews

Star Hunter

From 7.4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Smooth gameplay
  • 🔍 Detailed graphics
  • 📚 Engaging gameplay mechanics
  • 🤝 Good community and union features
  • 💰 Balanced free-to-play model

Room to improve

  • 🕰️ Slow progression and long wait times
  • 🤖 Unbalanced AI and overpowered opponents
  • 🎲 Frustrating RNG for ship blueprints
  • 🧭 Poor navigation and pathing issues
  • 🏢 Overcrowded servers and lack of space

Nova

From 4K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fun, addictive gameplay
  • 👍 Decent progression without paying
  • 🎨 Beautiful graphics and atmosphere
  • 💡 Interesting ship building and customization
  • 🌟 Engaging strategy elements

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
  • 🕰️ Slow progression and grindy gameplay
  • 💰 Aggressive monetization and pay-to-win mechanics
  • 🧠 Steep learning curve, lacking tutorials
  • 🤖 Weak and repetitive combat system

Bugs and requests

Star Hunter

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Frequent crashes and login issues
  • Bugs with base relocation and fleet management
  • Inconsistent server performance and downtime

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add manual ship control and targeting
  • Improve blueprint drop rates and progression
  • Introduce more PvE content and campaigns
  • Implement better server balancing and player protection
  • Allow renaming and customization of ships

Nova

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Account loss and data reset issues
  • Inability to load game or access certain features
  • Bugs in alliance and multiplayer functionality
  • Glitches in ship assembly and upgrade process

Requested features

5 requests
  • More in-depth storyline and narrative
  • Improved tutorial and onboarding experience
  • Ability to control ships directly in combat
  • Better balance between free-to-play and paid progression
  • More diverse and challenging PvE content

In-app purchases

22 purchases

Star Hunter

One-time22
  • 60 Chu-Coins$0.99
  • Gift of the Jupiter Ind.$0.99
  • 1 Galaxy Market Standard Coin$1.69
Show 19 more
  • Beginner Voyage Pack I$1.99
  • 3 Standard Workshop Coins$2.99
  • Beginner Voyage Pack II$2.99
  • 10 Tech Points for frigates$4.99
  • 300 Chu-Coins$4.99
  • Festival Surprise Pack$4.99
  • Incremental Repair Device$4.99
  • Strategic Set Pack$4.99
  • NOMA Shipping Tech Support$4.99
  • 10 Tech Points for destroyers$8.99
  • Dawn Standard Tech Support$8.99
  • 680 Chu-Coins$9.99
  • StrategicPartnershipAgreement$14.99
  • A-Level Technical Blueprint$14.99
  • 10 Galaxy Market Standard Coin$16.99
  • 1280 Chu-Coins$19.99
  • 3280 Chu-Coins$49.99
  • 30 Galaxy Market Standard Coin$50.99
  • 6480 Chu-Coins$99.99
16 purchases

Nova

One-time16
  • Tiny Pack$0.99
  • Special Pack$1.99
  • Daily Pack$2.99
Show 13 more
  • Bonus Pack$4.99
  • Limited Pack III$5.99
  • Medium Pack$9.99
  • Value Pack$14.99
  • Large Pack$19.99
  • Prime Pack$19.99
  • Value Pack$29.99
  • Development Pack 1$39.99
  • Huge Pack$49.99
  • Development Pack 2$54.99
  • Limited Pack II$69.99
  • Limited Pack$79.99
  • Epic Pack$99.99

Questions

Is Star Hunter free?
Star Hunter is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nova free?
Nova is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Star Hunter or Nova?
Nova is rated higher. Star Hunter averages 4.5 out of 5 from 7.4K ratings, while Nova averages 4.7 from 4K ratings.
Do Star Hunter or Nova have ads?
Neither Star Hunter nor Nova shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Star Hunter or Nova?
Star Hunter ships an update weekly, and Nova every 3 weeks. Most recently, Star Hunter was updated on November 1, 2026 and Nova on November 1, 2026.

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