Comparison

Back to Square vs Shape Rhythm

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Back to Square

Experience a rhythm-based action thriller with challenging levels and unique missions synchronized to thrilling soundtracks. Master simple controls to jump and dash through a multiverse, unlocking costumes and enjoying frustration-free, exciting gameplay.

Highlights
  • Rhythm-based gameplay
  • Challenging levels
  • Simple jump and dash controls
  • Unlockable costumes
  • Multiverse portal
  • No forced advertisements
Features
Read full description

It is an action packed musical thriller with tons of challenging levels and quirky missions. The levels are meticulously designed to be in synch with soundtracks. Difficulty is optimized to maximize the fun and sense of achievement. Features 1 Simple controls to Jump and Dash 2 12 levels with thrilling soundtracks 3 Frustratingly Exciting Gameplay 4 Lots of Missions to Accomplish 5 Tons of Costumes to Unlock 6 Multiverse portal to raid other worlds 7 No forced advertisements

About

Shape Rhythm

Experience a unique co-op musical bullet hell game. Dance through chaotic scenarios, avoiding dynamic shapes while grooving to catchy beats. Play solo or team up with friends for an exhilarating rhythm and mayhem fusion.

Highlights
  • Cooperative musical bullet hell
  • Rhythm game fusion
  • Intense and accessible gameplay
  • Cooperative story mode
  • Challenge runs
  • Mesmerizing soundtrack and visuals
  • Online and split-screen co-op
Features
Read full description

Immerse yourself in the pulsating world of Shape Rhythm, a revolutionary co-op musical experience where chaos meets collaboration. Dance through bullet hell scenarios, avoiding dynamic Shapes while grooving to kick-ass Beats in a symphony of rhythm and mayhem. Whether braving the challenge alone or uniting with friends, Shape Rhythm introduces a unique spin to the SHMUP genre, merging the intensity of bullet hell with the magic of cooperative gameplay. Shape Rhythm is not just a game; it's a symphony of shapes, beats, and collaboration that delivers an exhilarating and accessible musical bullet hell experience. Game Features: Chaotic Co-op Musical Bullet Hell: Navigate a mesmerizing world where Shapes and Beats collide in a chaotic dance. Rhythm Game Fusion: Experience the fusion of a bullet hell shoot-'em-up with the exhilaration of a rhythm game. Intense and Accessible Gameplay: Escape alive, feel the growing desire for survival, and immerse yourself in the catchy soundtrack that accompanies the action. In-App Features: Cooperative Story Mode and Challenge Runs: Take on Challenge Runs for an extra layer of difficulty and compete for high scores with friends or players worldwide. Mesmerizing Soundtrack and Visuals: Delight in clear and pleasant visuals, finding the perfect balance between challenge and accessibility. Dynamic Difficulty with Nice Tunes: Revel in nice tunes as you progress through levels, creating an immersive and enjoyable gaming experience. Player Modes: Single-player; Online PvP; Shared/Split Screen PvP; Online Co-op; Shared/Split Screen Co-op. Dance to the rhythm, avoid the shapes, and immerse yourself in the harmonious chaos of Shape Rhythm.

Screenshots

Back to Square4 screens
Shape Rhythm4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Back to Square at 4.7 against Shape Rhythm's 4.2. Back to Square also leads on ads (none vs shown) and review sentiment (71% vs 48%). Shape Rhythm's advantage is ratings volume (195 vs 30). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Back to Square sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Shape Rhythm sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Back to Square holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Shape Rhythm has 195 ratings behind it against 30, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Back to Square's written reviews are positive against 48% of Shape Rhythm's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Back to Square ships an update every 3 months, Shape Rhythm every 7 months. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Back to Square versus Shape Rhythm: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBack to SquareShape Rhythm
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (30 ratings) — better4.2 (195 ratings)
Positive reviews71.4% of reviews — better48.4% of reviews
Number of ratings30195 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 7 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size62 MB206 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperRolling Anchor Games Inc.Lam Dao Thi Thanh

Customer experience

Back to Square

All ratings30 ratings
Positive90.0%
Neutral10.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%

Shape Rhythm

All ratings195 ratings
Positive79.5%
Neutral4.6%
Negative15.9%
Written reviews91 reviews
Positive48.4%
Neutral13.2%
Negative38.5%

Bugs and requests

Back to Square

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Shape Rhythm

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Keeps crashing
  • Game crashes occasionally
  • Game freezes after ad
  • Ad turns off all sounds
  • Game bugs and doesn't let you play
Show 3 more
  • Attacks are unpredictable
  • Game lags or crashes
  • No audio

Requested features

10 requests
  • Add more songs
  • Add story mode and bosses
  • Extend 'together forever'
  • Make it a bit easier
  • Show which is the boss and which is normal
Show 5 more
  • Add more levels and updates
  • Improve indications for obstacles
  • Make ads less frequent or optional
  • Add more stages
  • Make it less difficult

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Back to Square

One-time7
  • 100 Gems$0.99
  • Unlimited Access$3.99
  • Priority Status$4.99
Show 4 more
  • 600 Gems$4.99
  • 1400 Gems$9.99
  • 3200 Gems$19.99
  • 9000 Gems$49.99
1 purchases

Shape Rhythm

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$1.99

Questions

Is Back to Square free?
Back to Square is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shape Rhythm free?
Shape Rhythm is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Back to Square or Shape Rhythm?
Back to Square is rated higher. Back to Square averages 4.7 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while Shape Rhythm averages 4.2 from 195 ratings.
Do Back to Square or Shape Rhythm have ads?
Shape Rhythm shows ads; Back to Square does not.
Which is updated more often, Back to Square or Shape Rhythm?
Back to Square ships an update every 3 months, and Shape Rhythm every 7 months. Most recently, Back to Square was updated on September 22, 2026 and Shape Rhythm on September 30, 2026.

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