# Meridian 157 vs Recursion

The clearest difference is rating: Meridian 157 at 4.9 against Recursion's 4.2. Meridian 157 also leads on review sentiment (96% vs 65%) and ratings volume (3.2K vs 68). Recursion's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Meridian 157 costs $3.99 and Recursion $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Meridian 157 holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Meridian 157 has 3.2K ratings behind it against 68, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 96% of Meridian 157's written reviews are positive against 65% of Recursion's.

Meridian 157 ships an update every 5 months, Recursion every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Meridian 157 | Recursion |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| Rating | **[4.9 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meridian-157-chapter-3/id1576148500/reviews)** | [4.2 (68 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/recursion-puzzle-escape/id1658817293/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.2K** | 68 |
| Positive reviews | **96.5% of reviews** | 64.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#108** | — |
| Size | 750 MB | 550 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [NovaSoft Interactive Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1470338631) | [Glitch Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/499866302) |

## What reviewers say

### Meridian 157

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/meridian-157-chapter-3/id1576148500)

**Currently charting:** #108 Top Paid · Puzzle, #151 Top Paid · Adventure (US App Store)

Embark on the thrilling conclusion of an island mystery. Explore ancient caverns and advanced labs to uncover a sinister project and prevent a global disaster. Solve challenging puzzles and unravel unsettling secrets in this epic adventure.

**Highlights:** Final and longest chapter, Unique and challenging puzzles, Immersive graphics, Custom ambient soundtrack, Two-tier hint system, Available in 9 languages, Color blind mode

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Immersive, engaging, and on par with or better than Riven
- 👍 Excellent graphics, story, and puzzles
- 👍 Challenging but fair puzzles
- 👍 Helpful hint system
- 👍 Atmospheric and creepy environment

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs or glitches, especially on iOS devices
- 🤔 Some puzzles were too obscure or illogical
- 🤔 Repetitive backtracking through large environments

**Reported bugs**

- Stacked boxes puzzle in Chapter 3 unplayable on iOS devices
- Occasional freezing or crashes reported

**Requested features**

- Option to turn off the Bunsen burner in the chemistry lab
- More varied puzzles and less repetition
- Ability to change difficulty settings mid-game


### Recursion

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/recursion-puzzle-escape/id1658817293)

Embark on a mind-bending puzzle adventure where you're trapped in a repeating time loop. Use your wits and a special device to solve mysteries, find clues, and shut down a machine before the loop resets. This compact mystery game offers challenging puzzles and a unique narrative.

**Highlights:** Time-loop mechanic, First-person point and click adventure, Mystery and puzzle solving, Clue finding, Hint system, Immersive soundtrack and sound effects

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Unique and innovative gameplay mechanics
- 😂 Lots of fun and laughter
- 👍 Great twist on game types
- 🧠 Mind-bending puzzles
- 🌟 High-quality games from developer

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔁 Repetitive tasks and puzzles
- ⏳ Too much dying and restarting
- 😩 Tedious and frustrating experience
- ⏱️ Time loop/timer causes anxiety
- ⏳ Game feels too short

**Reported bugs**

- Lift doors in chapter 3 wouldn't open
- Wireless controller doesn't appear
- Game crashes on start-up
- Stuck in the elevator (potential bug)

**Requested features**

- Add a setting to remove the time loop
- Option to disable the timer
- Longer game duration
- Richer story content
- More variety in game environments (less industrial)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Meridian 157 free?

Meridian 157 costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Recursion free?

Recursion costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Meridian 157 or Recursion?

Meridian 157 is rated higher. Meridian 157 averages 4.9 out of 5 from 3.2K ratings, while Recursion averages 4.2 from 68 ratings.

### Do Meridian 157 or Recursion have ads?

Neither Meridian 157 nor Recursion shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Meridian 157 or Recursion?

Meridian 157 ships an update every 5 months, and Recursion every 2 weeks. Most recently, Meridian 157 was updated on November 3, 2026 and Recursion on November 3, 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.*