# Back to Basics vs Marble Joy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Back to Basics at none against Marble Joy's 6. Back to Basics also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Marble Joy's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 66 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Marble Joy sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Back to Basics asks for nothing beyond the download.

Back to Basics ships an update every 66 months, Marble Joy every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Back to Basics | Marble Joy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[3.9 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marble-joy/id6756353487/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **7** |
| Positive reviews | — | 85.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 66 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 203 MB | 142 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Hong Kong Police College](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441621509) | [坤 刘](https://appshunter.io/developer/1818588865) |

## What reviewers say

### Back to Basics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/back-to-basics/id1490357761)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Marble Joy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marble-joy/id6756353487)

Experience the thrill of classic pinball machines with realistic physics, stunning visuals, and immersive sound. Enjoy endless gameplay and master precise controls for a truly addictive arcade experience.

**Highlights:** Realistic physics feedback, Immersive audio-visual effects, Unlimited gameplay, Simple one-handed controls, Retro arcade style, Stress relief gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Membership | $0.99 | per month |
| Leisure Play Supply Pack(S) | $0.99 | one-time |
| Leisure Play Supply Pack (Mid) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Leisure Play Supply Pack(L) | $9.99 | one-time |
| Super Supplement Privilege | $14.99 | one-time |
| Leisure Play Supply Pack(XL) | $19.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Back to Basics free?

Back to Basics is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Marble Joy free?

Marble Joy is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Do Back to Basics or Marble Joy have ads?

Marble Joy shows ads; Back to Basics does not.

### Which is updated more often, Back to Basics or Marble Joy?

Back to Basics ships an update every 66 months, and Marble Joy every 2 weeks. Most recently, Back to Basics was updated on October 6, 2026 and Marble Joy on October 15, 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.*