# Upstream Struggle vs Arcade Hole

Upstream Struggle and Arcade Hole both sit at 4.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 87% of Upstream Struggle's written reviews are positive against 33% of Arcade Hole's. Upstream Struggle also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Arcade Hole sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Upstream Struggle asks for nothing beyond the download.

Upstream Struggle holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9.7K and 20K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of Upstream Struggle's written reviews are positive against 33% of Arcade Hole's.

Upstream Struggle ships an update every 4 days, Arcade Hole weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Upstream Struggle | Arcade Hole |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (9.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/upstream-struggle/id1529926059/reviews)** | [4.7 (20K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcade-hole/id1626791314/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 9.7K | **20K** |
| Positive reviews | **86.9% of reviews** | 32.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 37 MB | 230 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Jack LaLonde](https://appshunter.io/developer/1499291451) | [Rollic Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1452111779) |

## 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


### Arcade Hole

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcade-hole/id1626791314)

Control a black hole that consumes everything in sight, turning it into money. Upgrade your hole to grow larger and faster, clearing entire cities. This satisfying idle game offers fun mechanics for all ages.

**Highlights:** Consume everything in sight, Turn consumed items into money, Upgrade hole size and speed, Satisfying idle mechanics, Clear entire cities

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Pack - Offer 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Pack - Offer 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Small Pack - Offer 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Medium Pack - Offer 2 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Large Pack - Offer 1 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Small Pack - Offer 3 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Medium Pack - Offer 3 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Large Pack - Offer 2 | $6.99 | one-time |
| Large Pack - Offer 2 | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Satisfying gameplay
- 👍 Fun and addictive
- 💎 Good time killer
- 🎨 Cool skins

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔁 Repetitive levels
- 🔍 Lack of new content
- 💸 Excessive ads
- 🐛 Crashes and performance issues
- 🔁 Progress resets on app close

**Reported bugs**

- Upgrades not working as intended
- Items falling out of reach
- Game freezing and crashing
- Ads causing issues with gameplay

**Requested features**

- More levels and map variations
- Ability to save progress across devices
- Option to use gems/cash for upgrades instead of ads
- Customizable skins and abilities
- Endless/bonus levels


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Upstream Struggle free?

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

### Is Arcade Hole free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Upstream Struggle or Arcade Hole?

Upstream Struggle is rated higher. Upstream Struggle averages 4.9 out of 5 from 9.7K ratings, while Arcade Hole averages 4.7 from 20K ratings.

### Do Upstream Struggle or Arcade Hole have ads?

Both Upstream Struggle and Arcade Hole show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Upstream Struggle or Arcade Hole?

Upstream Struggle ships an update every 4 days, and Arcade Hole weekly. Most recently, Upstream Struggle was updated on October 20, 2026 and Arcade Hole on October 25, 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.*