Star Duster vs XGalaga
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Star Duster
Experience a retro-inspired arcade challenge that harks back to the 80s. Control your character through unique gameplay mechanics, including physical head movements via push-ups, and enjoy an immersive soundscape. Compete for high scores across two distinct game modes.
- Two distinct game modes
- High score lists
- Head control via push-ups (iOS)
- Retro 80s aesthetic
- Immersive soundscape
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***** "A rare Apple Watch game that's actually worth playing" - iMore ***** "A game you’ll return to" - GQ Magazine ***** "Travel back to the 80s" - AppAdvice Star Duster for iPhone and Apple Watch takes handheld games (and you) back to their origins: - Two game modes with different challenges, gameplay and high score lists! - Let's get physical! Get exercise and a new type of challenge by controlling Star Duster with your head through push ups (iOS) - A Beep-boop-ity soundscape that will get stuck on your brain! Star Duster is a prequel to the mobile arcade mayhem that is Star Jolt. Can it explain why the space junk is lined up so neatly?
XGalaga
Experience classic arcade space-shooter action with fast gameplay and responsive controls. Test your reflexes against intense enemy waves in a clean retro style, optimized for all Apple devices. Enjoy instant pick-up-and-play fun with quick sessions.
- Classic arcade space shooter gameplay
- Options for sound, auto-fire, lives, and controller
- Record high scores and view scoreboard
- Optimized for Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac
- Smooth 60 FPS performance
- Quick sessions for short bursts of play
- Retro visuals
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XGalaga brings classic arcade space-shooter action to Apple devices with fast gameplay, responsive controls, and a clean retro style. Inspired by timeless arcade shooters, XGalaga delivers intense waves of enemies, smooth performance, and instant pick-up-and-play fun. Jump straight into the action and test your reflexes as you dodge incoming fire and clear the screen. Features • Classic arcade space shooter gameplay. • Options Menu , Change Sound , Auto Fire , Lives , Controller or Bonuses. • Record high scores , Scoreboard. • Optimised for Apple Watch, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Mac • Smooth performance and responsive controls 60 FPS. • Quick sessions — perfect for short bursts of play. • Clean retro visuals inspired by old-school arcade games. • No accounts, no logins — just launch and play. Whether you’re playing on your wrist, your phone, or the big screen, XGalaga delivers pure arcade fun with a modern Apple-platform polish.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Star Duster at 5.0 against XGalaga's 1.0. Star Duster also leads on chart position (#184 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 16.0). XGalaga's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 3 weeks) and device support (5 vs 3). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Star Duster costs $2.99 and XGalaga $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Star Duster holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 1 respectively.
Star Duster ships an update every 3 weeks, XGalaga every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Star Duster | XGalaga |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | $1.99 — better |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | 1.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | — | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 5 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #184 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Beardybird AB | Michael Wickens |
Customer experience
Star Duster
XGalaga
In-app purchases
Star Duster
No in-app purchases
XGalaga
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Star Duster free?
Is XGalaga free?
Which has better reviews, Star Duster or XGalaga?
Do Star Duster or XGalaga have ads?
Which is updated more often, Star Duster or XGalaga?
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