# Nova Island vs Crunchyroll

Nova Island and Crunchyroll both sit at 4.3 stars, but that hides the real split: 60% of Nova Island's written reviews are positive against 33% of Crunchyroll's. Nova Island also leads on ratings volume (236 vs 8) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Crunchyroll's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 16.0). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Nova Island sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and Crunchyroll sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $13.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Nova Island against 4.4 for Crunchyroll. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Nova Island has 236 ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 60% of Nova Island's written reviews are positive against 33% of Crunchyroll's.

Nova Island ships an update every 3 weeks, Crunchyroll every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nova Island | Crunchyroll |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (236 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-island/id1526357111/reviews) | **[4.4 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crunchyroll-wolfstride/id6457516405/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **236** | 8 |
| Positive reviews | **60.4% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 262 MB | 2.4 GB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Thirteen Games, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1526357113) | [Crunchyroll, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/329913457) |

## What reviewers say

### Nova Island

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-island/id1526357111)

Engage in strategic card battles with cute anime-inspired characters. Collect friends, powers, and skins while competing in PvP matches or embarking on an adventure. Build decks and master unique playstyles.

**Highlights:** Collectible card battles, Strategic deck building, PvP and PvE modes, Character collection, Cosmetic customization, Daily challenges, Draft mode

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Artillery Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| 75 Island Credits | $1.99 | one-time |
| Circuit Boiz Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Daily Login Bonus | $3.99 | one-time |
| 575 Island Credits | $4.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Party Bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| 225 Island Credits | $4.99 | one-time |
| 1175 Island Credits | $9.99 | one-time |
| 2400 Island Credits | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Unique gameplay mechanics
- 🎨 Appealing art style and animations
- 💰 Completely free-to-play, no pay-to-win
- 🕹️ Engaging strategic depth
- 🌟 Underrated and deserves more attention

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎲 Excessive reliance on RNG
- 🔁 Repetitive and swingy gameplay
- 🕰️ Slow progression and grindy unlock system
- ⚖️ Unbalanced card/character power levels
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and connectivity issues

**Reported bugs**

- Soft-locking tutorial
- Inconsistent performance on some devices

**Requested features**

- Offline mode or paid full version
- Ability to play with friends
- More character/card customization options
- Improved tutorial and onboarding experience


### Crunchyroll

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crunchyroll-wolfstride/id6457516405)

A turn-based strategy RPG where you pilot giant mechas in an elite tournament. Explore a city, manage your mecha, and uncover a story of past choices and fate.

**Highlights:** Turn-based mecha battles, Explore Rain City, Mecha customization and repair, Intuitive touch and controller support, Multiple supported languages, Story-driven RPG elements

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Mega Fan  Monthly | $13.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nova Island free?

Nova Island is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Crunchyroll free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Nova Island or Crunchyroll?

Crunchyroll is rated higher. Nova Island averages 4.3 out of 5 from 236 ratings, while Crunchyroll averages 4.4 from 8 ratings.

### Do Nova Island or Crunchyroll have ads?

Neither Nova Island nor Crunchyroll shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Nova Island or Crunchyroll?

Nova Island ships an update every 3 weeks, and Crunchyroll every 2 months. Most recently, Nova Island was updated on November 3, 2026 and Crunchyroll on November 3, 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.*