# Water Physics Simulation vs Hard Time III

The clearest difference is update cadence: Hard Time III at every 5 weeks against Water Physics Simulation's every 2 months. Water Physics Simulation's advantage is ratings volume (4.6K vs 1.2K) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Water Physics Simulation sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Hard Time III sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Water Physics Simulation against 4.3 for Hard Time III. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.6K and 1.2K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 76% of Water Physics Simulation's written reviews are positive against 72% of Hard Time III's.

Water Physics Simulation ships an update every 2 months, Hard Time III every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 18, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Water Physics Simulation | Hard Time III |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (4.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/water-physics-simulation/id1562726050/reviews) | **[4.3 (1.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hard-time-iii/id6502045884/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4.6K** | 1.2K |
| Positive reviews | **75.7% of reviews** | 72.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 5 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 60 MB | 424 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Lukas Oertel](https://appshunter.io/developer/1562391231) | [MDickie Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/498978165) |

## What reviewers say

### Water Physics Simulation

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/water-physics-simulation/id1562726050)

Explore three distinct physics simulations: build and navigate ships, experiment with bomb explosions and water behavior in a sandbox, or observe the interactions of various elements. This free app offers creative building and destructive fun.

**Highlights:** Water and liquid simulations, Ship building and raft survival, Bomb explosions and destruction sandbox, Real-time sandbox with powder/dust particles, Build and control custom boats, Create and destroy structures

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| No Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Increase waterlimit by 10000 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Increase waterlimit by 20000 | $5.99 | one-time |
| Pro Package | $8.99 | one-time |
| Increase water by 50000 | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Amazing game
- 🚀 Great water physics
- 🚀 Realistic destruction
- 👍 Satisfying gameplay
- 👍 Relaxing experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy at times
- 💰 Paywall for premium features
- 🔍 Confusing UI/controls
- 📺 Too many ads

**Reported bugs**

- Ships not sinking properly
- Spawned objects floating upwards
- Connectivity issues causing crashes

**Requested features**

- Add more disaster tools (e.g., lava, fire, earthquakes)
- Increase water capacity for free users
- Implement realistic ship sinking mechanics
- Add more customization options (e.g., background, color schemes)
- Improve camera controls and zooming


### Hard Time III

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hard-time-iii/id6502045884)

Experience a challenging prison simulation with real-time survival, intricate relationships, and a deep combat system. Explore an expanded world, craft weapons, and even switch roles to enforce the law. Customize your experience with an editor and enjoy enhanced visuals.

**Highlights:** Real-time prison survival, Advanced dialogue system, Wrestling-inspired combat, Dual-wielding interactive props, Creative crafting system, Police role-playing, Inbuilt character editor

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlocked | $3.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Good game
- 👍 Brings back childhood memories
- 🚀 Constantly updated
- 👍 Enjoyable experience
- 🚀 Great mobile game

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy
- 🐛 Camera issues
- 🐛 Glitches
- 🐛 Aggressive NPCs
- 🐛 Frequent arrests

**Reported bugs**

- Teleporting through walls
- Limbs spawning back on
- NPCs attacking for no reason
- Freezing when talking to NPCs
- Camera getting stuck in walls

**Requested features**

- Add controller support
- Improve camera controls
- Add more customization options
- Implement a sandbox mode
- Add more gang/faction features


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Water Physics Simulation free?

Water Physics Simulation is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hard Time III free?

Hard Time III is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Water Physics Simulation or Hard Time III?

Hard Time III is rated higher. Water Physics Simulation averages 4.2 out of 5 from 4.6K ratings, while Hard Time III averages 4.3 from 1.2K ratings.

### Do Water Physics Simulation or Hard Time III have ads?

Both Water Physics Simulation and Hard Time III show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Water Physics Simulation or Hard Time III?

Water Physics Simulation ships an update every 2 months, and Hard Time III every 5 weeks. Most recently, Water Physics Simulation was updated on October 18, 2026 and Hard Time III on October 18, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*