# Upstream Struggle vs Hit & Run

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Upstream Struggle at none against Hit & Run's 2. Upstream Struggle also leads on review sentiment (87% vs 56%) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). Hit & Run's advantage is ratings volume (76K vs 9.7K). On price, rating, ads and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hit & Run sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Upstream Struggle asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Upstream Struggle against 4.8 for Hit & Run. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hit & Run has 76K ratings behind it against 9.7K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 87% of Upstream Struggle's written reviews are positive against 56% of Hit & Run's.

Upstream Struggle ships an update every 4 days, Hit & Run every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Upstream Struggle | Hit & Run |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (9.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upstream-struggle/id1529926059/reviews)** | [4.8 (76K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hit-and-run-level-rush/id1620473280/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 9.7K | **76K** |
| Positive reviews | **86.9% of reviews** | 56.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 37 MB | 572 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Jack LaLonde](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499291451) | [Supercent, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571435385) |

## What reviewers say

### 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


### Hit & Run

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hit-and-run-level-rush/id1620473280)

Embark on an action-packed runner adventure as a stickman warrior. Level up your character by defeating enemies and smashing obstacles with simple swipes. Navigate traps, utilize portals, and challenge epic bosses to save the town.

**Highlights:** Level up by defeating enemies, Swipe to smash obstacles, Avoid traps and tricks, Utilize mysterious portals, Fight epic bosses, Action RPG elements

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| noads_2.99 | $2.99 | per month |
| No Ads | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Good game
- 🤩 Fun and enjoyable
- 🎨 Cool graphics and skins
- 💪 Satisfying gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💸 Too many ads
- 🤯 Excessive ads even after paying to remove them
- 🐢 Laggy performance
- 🤔 Repetitive and easy gameplay

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes and freezes
- Enemies clipping through levels
- Rewards not properly credited

**Requested features**

- More challenging levels and bosses
- Ability to customize character colors
- Expand the village area with new content


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Upstream Struggle free?

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

### Is Hit & Run free?

Hit & Run is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Upstream Struggle or Hit & Run?

Upstream Struggle is rated higher. Upstream Struggle averages 4.9 out of 5 from 9.7K ratings, while Hit & Run averages 4.8 from 76K ratings.

### Do Upstream Struggle or Hit & Run have ads?

Both Upstream Struggle and Hit & Run show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Upstream Struggle or Hit & Run?

Upstream Struggle ships an update every 4 days, and Hit & Run every 2 months. Most recently, Upstream Struggle was updated on October 28, 2026 and Hit & Run on November 1, 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.*