# Pixel Starships 2 vs Arcbound

The clearest difference is rating: Arcbound at 5.0 against Pixel Starships 2's 4.4. Arcbound also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). Pixel Starships 2's advantage is ratings volume (977 vs 3). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pixel Starships 2 sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Arcbound sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Arcbound holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pixel Starships 2 has 977 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Pixel Starships 2 ships an update every 2 weeks, Arcbound every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pixel Starships 2 | Arcbound |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (977 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-starships-2/id1621274842/reviews) | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcbound/id6759814990/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **977** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | 30.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 2.2 GB | 336 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Savy Soda Pty Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/295726257) | [Dean Lennard](https://appshunter.io/developer/1880870293) |

## What reviewers say

### Pixel Starships 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-starships-2/id1621274842)

Command your own starship in this sci-fi strategy game. Build, customize, and manage your vessel and crew, then engage in epic real-time battles and explore a vast galaxy. Join alliances and enjoy regular updates in a stunning pixel art universe.

**Highlights:** Build and customize starships, Train and manage crew members, Engage in real-time space battles, Explore a procedurally generated galaxy, Form and join player alliances, Regular content updates, Stunning pixel art graphics

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP Club Membership | $9.99 | per month |
| Sale Pack One | $1.99 | one-time |
| Sale Pack Two | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sale Pack Three | $9.99 | one-time |
| Sale Pack Four | $19.99 | one-time |
| Sale Pack Five | $49.99 | one-time |
| Sale Pack Six | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Pixel art style
- 🚀 Exciting gameplay
- 💡 Potential for growth

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Numerous bugs and glitches
- 🤔 Pixel character design not matching the rest of the game
- 📖 Unclear instructions and tutorials

**Reported bugs**

- Soft locks and crashes
- Disappearing UI elements
- Targeting issues in combat tutorial
- Inability to complete quests and bind accounts

**Requested features**

- Improved character design to match the game's visuals
- More detailed and comprehensive tutorials
- Bug fixes and stability improvements


### Arcbound

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/arcbound/id6759814990)

Design and manage a colony ship as it journeys through deep space. Guide your crew through resource management, social dynamics, and dangerous missions. Build a self-sustaining civilization within a single, evolving starship.

**Highlights:** Grid-based ship construction, Simulated resource networks, Crew needs and relationships, Consequence-driven missions, Research new technologies, Societal stability management, Emergent storytelling

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arcbound - Early Access | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pixel Starships 2 free?

Pixel Starships 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Arcbound free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pixel Starships 2 or Arcbound?

Arcbound is rated higher. Pixel Starships 2 averages 4.4 out of 5 from 977 ratings, while Arcbound averages 5.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do Pixel Starships 2 or Arcbound have ads?

Pixel Starships 2 shows ads; Arcbound does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pixel Starships 2 or Arcbound?

Pixel Starships 2 ships an update every 2 weeks, and Arcbound every 2 days. Most recently, Pixel Starships 2 was updated on November 7, 2026 and Arcbound on November 9, 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.*