# Shark Attack vs Upstream Struggle

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Upstream Struggle at none against Shark Attack's 15. Upstream Struggle also leads on review sentiment (87% vs 54%) and update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly). On price, ratings volume, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shark Attack sells 12 one-off in-app purchases. Upstream Struggle asks for nothing beyond the download.

Upstream Struggle holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10K and 9.7K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 54% of Shark Attack's written reviews are positive against 87% of Upstream Struggle's.

Shark Attack ships an update monthly, Upstream Struggle every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shark Attack | Upstream Struggle |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (10K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shark-attack-simulator-games/id1489941954/reviews) | **[4.9 (9.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upstream-struggle/id1529926059/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **10K** | 9.7K |
| Positive reviews | 54.3% of reviews | **86.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 219 MB | 37 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Free Pixel Games Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1222670065) | [Jack LaLonde](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499291451) |

## What reviewers say

### Shark Attack

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shark-attack-simulator-games/id1489941954)

Experience the thrill of being a powerful shark in a 3D underwater world. Hunt beach-goers, other sea creatures, and evolve your shark to dominate the food chain. Explore diverse environments and choose from various shark species.

**Highlights:** Play as a hungry killer shark, Hunt beach-goers and sea creatures, Evolve and strengthen your shark, Compete for top of the food chain, Choose from many shark species, Hunt on beaches or underwater

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

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pile of Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sack Of Coins | $1.99 | one-time |
| Bag of Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Block Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Doryaspis Chest | $4.99 | one-time |
| Pocketful of Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Saw Shark Chest | $4.99 | one-time |
| Anglerfish Chest | $9.99 | one-time |
| Stack of Coins | $9.99 | one-time |
| Angel Shark Chest | $9.99 | one-time |
| Hemicyclaspis Chest | $19.99 | one-time |
| Case of Coins | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun gameplay
- 🦈 Shark-themed game
- 😊 Satisfying experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤬 Too many ads
- 🕰️ Short gameplay duration
- 💰 Misleading coin rewards

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent coin rewards
- Gameplay freezes and crashes

**Requested features**

- Longer gameplay duration
- More varied gameplay modes
- Improved ad system


### Upstream Struggle

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upstream-struggle/id1529926059)

Embark on an endless salmon run, swimming upstream to reach home. Dodge a variety of enemies for as long as possible to unlock new fish species and improve your score.

**Highlights:** Endless salmon run gameplay, Dodge enemies, Unlock new fish, High score challenges

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and fun concept
- 🚀 No forced ads
- 💡 Potential for improvements

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔁 Repetitive gameplay
- 🎨 Basic graphics and animations

**Reported bugs**

- Getting stuck in the waterfall at the start
- Crashes and freezes, especially at higher levels
- Issues with the bird/flying obstacle

**Requested features**

- Add more variety to levels and obstacles
- Improve controls and jumping mechanics
- Implement a leaderboard or competitive mode
- Introduce new fish skins and customization options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shark Attack free?

Shark Attack is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Upstream Struggle free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Shark Attack or Upstream Struggle?

Upstream Struggle is rated higher. Shark Attack averages 4.5 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while Upstream Struggle averages 4.9 from 9.7K ratings.

### Do Shark Attack or Upstream Struggle have ads?

Both Shark Attack and Upstream Struggle show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shark Attack or Upstream Struggle?

Shark Attack ships an update monthly, and Upstream Struggle every 4 days. Most recently, Shark Attack was updated on October 19, 2026 and Upstream Struggle on October 11, 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.*