Stranded Critters vs Cactus Defense
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side ā with what reviewers say about each.
Stranded Critters
Read full descriptionHide full description
50 Levels of puzzles with no advertisements. A scoundrel has left the critters stranded and you have to help get them to safety by removing the blocks and guiding them to the platform below. By using logic and removing the blocks in the correct order, and using perfect timing, you can save all the critters. Double tap to remove each block and hopefully solve the puzzle. Please leave a review if you enjoy this game or would like to see something in a future version.
Cactus Defense
Defend your main cactus by strategically planting and upgrading prickly towers to stop waves of diverse bugs. This colorful tower defense game offers unique tower abilities and challenging levels across multiple worlds. Unlock the full experience with a single purchase.
- Plant and upgrade cactus towers
- Four unique tower types
- Diverse bug enemy types
- 43 hand-tuned levels
- Four distinct worlds
- Call waves early option
Read full descriptionHide full description
Spikes vs. the swarm! Plant prickly cactus towers, upgrade them on the fly, and stop a cute-but-hungry swarm before it reaches your main cactus. No ads. No energy timers. Try it free, then unlock the full game with one single purchase. Cactus Defense is a colorful tower defense strategy game about one very determined desert garden. Ants march in, snails soak up hits, bees fly right over the ground crowd. Your job: put the right spikes in the right spot. PLANT, UPGRADE, SURVIVE ⢠Place cactus towers on the grid and find the perfect spot for every spike ⢠Upgrade along branches: burning, slowing, chain lightning and area stun ⢠Feeling brave? Tap the timer to call the next wave early 4 PRICKLY TOWERS ⢠Shooter: fast, focused single-target spikes ⢠Splash: bursts that hit whole crowds of insects ⢠Anti-Air: plucks flying bugs out of the sky ⢠Stunner: stops the swarm in its tracks A SWARM OF BUGS ⢠Marching ants, slow tanky snails and speedy worms ⢠Flying bees that ignore the ground ⢠Grasshoppers that heal as they hop ⢠Dune scorpions, moon fireflies, snow ladybugs and tough rhino beetles 4 WORLDS, 43 HAND-TUNED LEVELS The first levels are free. One in-app purchase unlocks the full game forever: no subscriptions, no pay-to-win. Ready to get prickly? Download Cactus Defense and show those bugs who owns the garden!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Stranded Critters at none against Cactus Defense's 2. Stranded Critters also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Cactus Defense sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Stranded Critters asks for nothing beyond the download.
Stranded Critters ships an update every 5 months, Cactus Defense every 4 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.
| Parameter | Stranded Critters | Cactus Defense |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | ā | 100.0% of reviews |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 4 months ā better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No ā better | Yes |
| Monetization | ā | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod ā better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 ā better | 15.0 |
| Further details ā not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 250 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | Justin Hunt | Alper Ilkay Karatas |
In-app purchases
Stranded Critters
No in-app purchases
Cactus Defense
- Cactus Defense Full Game$2.99
- Cactus Defense Full Game$3.99
Questions
Is Stranded Critters free?
Is Cactus Defense free?
Do Stranded Critters or Cactus Defense have ads?
Which is updated more often, Stranded Critters or Cactus Defense?
Other comparisons















