# Nova vs Dark Manifold

Nova and Dark Manifold are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters — price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them — neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.

Both are free to download. Nova sells 16 one-off in-app purchases and Dark Manifold sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Nova ships an update every 3 weeks, Dark Manifold every 5 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Nova | Dark Manifold |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-space-armada/id1571450882/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **4K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 58.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 2.0 GB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [STONE3 PTE. LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1571450884) | [Christoforos Gkimpas](https://appshunter.io/developer/1887324404) |

## What reviewers say

### Nova

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-space-armada/id1571450882)

Build and command your own space station and fleet in a chaotic galaxy. Forge alliances, explore new worlds, and engage in strategic space battles to shape the future of the sector. Your decisions will determine the fate of the galaxy.

**Highlights:** Build and customize space stations, Assemble modular warship fleets, Form intergalactic alliances, Explore and investigate the sector, Engage in strategic space battles, Uncover galactic mysteries

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

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tiny Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Special Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Daily Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Bonus Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Limited Pack III | $5.99 | one-time |
| Medium Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Value Pack | $14.99 | one-time |
| Large Pack | $19.99 | one-time |
| Prime Pack | $19.99 | one-time |
| Value Pack | $29.99 | one-time |
| Development Pack 1 | $39.99 | one-time |
| Huge Pack | $49.99 | one-time |
| Development Pack 2 | $54.99 | one-time |
| Limited Pack II | $69.99 | one-time |
| Limited Pack | $79.99 | one-time |
| Epic Pack | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun, addictive gameplay
- 👍 Decent progression without paying
- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and atmosphere
- 💡 Interesting ship building and customization
- 🌟 Engaging strategy elements

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
- 🕰️ Slow progression and grindy gameplay
- 💰 Aggressive monetization and pay-to-win mechanics
- 🧠 Steep learning curve, lacking tutorials
- 🤖 Weak and repetitive combat system

**Reported bugs**

- Account loss and data reset issues
- Inability to load game or access certain features
- Bugs in alliance and multiplayer functionality
- Glitches in ship assembly and upgrade process

**Requested features**

- More in-depth storyline and narrative
- Improved tutorial and onboarding experience
- Ability to control ships directly in combat
- Better balance between free-to-play and paid progression
- More diverse and challenging PvE content


### Dark Manifold

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dark-manifold/id6761016985)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dark Manifold Premium Subscription | $9.99 | per month |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Nova free?

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

### Is Dark Manifold free?

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

### Do Nova or Dark Manifold have ads?

Neither Nova nor Dark Manifold shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Nova or Dark Manifold?

Nova ships an update every 3 weeks, and Dark Manifold every 5 weeks. Most recently, Nova was updated on November 3, 2026 and Dark Manifold on October 5, 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.*