# Stranger Things 3 The Game vs POOLS™

The clearest difference is rating: POOLS™ at 4.5 against Stranger Things 3 The Game's 3.7. POOLS™ also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 39%) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Stranger Things 3 The Game sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $19.99 per month and POOLS™ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

POOLS™ holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 711 and 1.6K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 39% of Stranger Things 3 The Game's written reviews are positive against 79% of POOLS™'s.

Stranger Things 3 The Game ships an update every 3 months, POOLS™ every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stranger Things 3 The Game | POOLS™ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.7 (711 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stranger-things-3-the-game/id1574824199/reviews) | **[4.5 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 711 | **1.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 39.3% of reviews | **79.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 590 MB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Netflix, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/363590054) | [Tensori](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767614989) |

## What reviewers say

### Stranger Things 3 The Game

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stranger-things-3-the-game/id1574824199)

Embark on an adventure through a pixelated Hawkins, playing as 12 characters from the hit series. Team up with a friend or go solo to battle threats from The Upside Down. Experience familiar events and uncover new quests in this retro-styled action-adventure game.

**Highlights:** 12 playable characters, Local co-op multiplayer, Explore Hawkins, Battle Upside Down threats, Retro art style, Modern gameplay mechanics

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Netflix Standard Plan | $19.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Great game
- 🕹️ Captures the feel of Stranger Things
- 👍 Fun gameplay
- 🎨 Retro graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 🔒 Requires Netflix subscription
- 💥 Difficult boss fights
- 🤔 Confusing puzzles

**Reported bugs**

- Invisible buttons and switches
- Inability to progress due to missing items
- Soft-locks and crashes
- Enemies and characters getting stuck

**Requested features**

- Add support for seasons 1, 2, and 4
- Improve controls for mobile
- Add co-op multiplayer
- Provide an option to skip difficult sections


### POOLS™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878)

This app offers a slow, reflective, and immersive experience focused on exploration and atmosphere. It evokes feelings of unease and curiosity through its unique environments, inspired by liminal spaces and internet phenomena. Discover changing worlds and subtle narratives without traditional gameplay mechanics.

**Highlights:** Slow, reflective exploration, Atmospheric and immersive environments, Inspired by liminal spaces, Unfolding narrative through exploration, Six distinct chapters, Unique sound design

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| POOLS: Full Game | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Immersive experience
- 🔒 No ads
- 👍 Incredible attention to detail
- 👍 Realistic graphics and sound
- 👍 Eerie and creepy atmosphere

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Boring after a while
- 🐛 Lack of variety in environments

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to move on iPad Pro
- Glitches reported

**Requested features**

- Expand to different Backrooms-inspired themes
- Add a multiplayer mode
- Introduce more interactive elements (e.g., monsters, items to discover)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stranger Things 3 The Game free?

Stranger Things 3 The Game is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is POOLS™ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Stranger Things 3 The Game or POOLS™?

POOLS™ is rated higher. Stranger Things 3 The Game averages 3.7 out of 5 from 711 ratings, while POOLS™ averages 4.5 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Stranger Things 3 The Game or POOLS™ have ads?

Neither Stranger Things 3 The Game nor POOLS™ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Stranger Things 3 The Game or POOLS™?

Stranger Things 3 The Game ships an update every 3 months, and POOLS™ every 2 months. Most recently, Stranger Things 3 The Game was updated on October 21, 2026 and POOLS™ on October 19, 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.*