Comparison

ExoArmor vs Norman Lives

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

Head to head
About

ExoArmor

Engage in intense, self-contained battles defending cities from invasion. This arcade-style game offers fluid graphics and multiple difficulty modes, including a unique shield mode. It's designed for quick play sessions with a focus on reflexes and strategy.

Highlights
  • Defend 30 cities
  • Short, intense battles
  • Easy-to-learn gameplay
  • 4 difficulty modes
  • Shield mode
  • Fluid graphics
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Defend 30 cities in self-contained battles that pit your reflexes against an increasingly formidable invasion. Easy-to-learn gameplay. Short but intense battles. Optional challenges. 4 difficulty modes: - Normal, Easy & Easier progressively ease the original single-hit challenge - Shield mode absorbs all detonations – just do your best! Fluid graphics inspired by classic arcade space shooters. Supports all devices running at least iOS 11.0. You will prevail.

About

Norman Lives

Embark on a permadeath survival RPG in a procedurally generated post-apocalyptic world. Battle diverse enemies, collect unique weapons, and level up abilities. Team up with friends for cooperative multiplayer or compete globally on leaderboards.

Highlights
  • Permadeath roguelike gameplay
  • Procedurally generated endless world
  • 4-player cooperative multiplayer
  • 16 unique weapons
  • 20+ enemy types and 4 bosses
  • Unlockable abilities and customization
Features
Read full description

Norman Lives is a 3D survival RPG set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland. Every death is permanent. Every choice matters. How long can you survive? EXPLORE A LIVING 3D WORLD Venture into an endless, procedurally generated wasteland spanning 8 biomes — from Dense Forest and Suburban Ruins to a scorching Desert, the Seaside, frozen Winter and volcanic hellscapes. Watch day turn to night as you discover fortified survivor villages, hostile rebel camps and abandoned buildings full of loot. The further you go, the more dangerous it gets. DEFEND VILLAGES FROM RAIDS Survivor villages are under constant threat. Enter one and raiders launch a 10-wave assault — from scrap bandits to war machines to hive queens. Fight alongside the villagers and their turrets, survive every wave, and earn the legendary Flame Ring power. CHOOSE YOUR FACTION Rescue trapped survivors and escort them to safety. Ally with survivor camps for shield upgrades and XP boosts — or join the rebels and face the villages' ice and desert warriors. Your choice decides who attacks and who defends. FIGHT TO SURVIVE Battle more than 30 enemy types, including mutant wolves, giant scorpions, mechs, sand worms and blizzard wraiths. Face 8 epic bosses, each with its own multi-phase attacks — from the Sentinel Core's energy barriers to the Sand Pharaoh and the Magma Titan. ARM YOURSELF Wield 33 melee and ranged weapons — from a lead pipe to a plasma sword, from a pistol to the Annihilator — across 5 rarity tiers and 6 damage types. Gather materials and blueprints to craft new weapons, and merge duplicates in the Weapon Lab to forge stronger gear. BUILD YOUR SURVIVOR Level up to unlock dodge rolls, auto-targeting, rapid fire and more. Spend coins in the skill tree on permanent upgrades — starting HP, armor, shields, elemental resistances and growth bonuses that carry across runs. Rescue 8 unique survivors for permanent bonuses like extra loot, less damage taken and passive healing. COMPLETE 42 MISSIONS Follow a story campaign with objectives ranging from boss hunts to biome exploration to weapon mastery. Earn rewards and unlock journal entries that reveal the world's lore. PLAY WITH FRIENDS Team up with 2-4 players in real-time co-op. Browse lobbies, host private games and survive together in the same world. Spectate your teammates after death. FEATURES - Full 3D graphics with a rotatable camera and day-night cycle - Permadeath roguelike, with a Casual Mode to save and continue - Endless procedurally generated world with 8 biomes - Survivor villages, rebel camps and 10-wave raid defense - Faction system — survivors or rebels - 33 weapons, 5 rarity tiers, 6 damage types - Weapon crafting and the Weapon Lab - 30+ enemy types and 8 multi-phase bosses - 42 story missions - 8 rescuable survivors with permanent bonuses - Persistent skill tree - Real-time co-op multiplayer (2-4 players) - 11 character skins - Game Center leaderboards and achievements - Controller support (MFi, Xbox, PlayStation) - No ads, no pay-to-win

Screenshots

ExoArmor4 screens
Norman Lives4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Norman Lives at Free against ExoArmor's $4.99. Norman Lives also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 28 months). ExoArmor's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and chart position (#191 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Norman Lives is free to download; ExoArmor costs $4.99 up front. Norman Lives sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. ExoArmor asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for ExoArmor against 5.0 for Norman Lives. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ExoArmor has 11 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ExoArmor ships an update every 28 months, Norman Lives every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
ExoArmor versus Norman Lives: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterExoArmorNorman Lives
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.9 (11 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings11 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 28 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#191 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS11.0 — better26.6
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB24 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperCrucial Fusion, Inc.Joel Brecker

Customer experience

ExoArmor

All ratings10 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Norman Lives

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

ExoArmor

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Norman Lives

One-time10
  • 1-Hour XP Boost$0.99
  • Dark Commander Skin$1.89
  • 3-Hour XP Boost$1.89
Show 7 more
  • Plumber Hero Skin$1.89
  • Swamp Sage Skin$1.89
  • Steel Titan Skin$1.89
  • Pocket Tamer Skin$1.89
  • 1,500 Coins$2.59
  • Survival Kit$4.00
  • 12,000 Coins$7.95

Questions

Is ExoArmor free?
ExoArmor costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Norman Lives free?
Norman Lives is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ExoArmor or Norman Lives?
Norman Lives is rated higher. ExoArmor averages 4.9 out of 5 from 11 ratings, while Norman Lives averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do ExoArmor or Norman Lives have ads?
Neither ExoArmor nor Norman Lives shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ExoArmor or Norman Lives?
ExoArmor ships an update every 28 months, and Norman Lives every 2 days. Most recently, ExoArmor was updated on November 3, 2026 and Norman Lives on November 5, 2026.

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