# Backrooms Descent vs POOLS™

The clearest difference is ads: POOLS™ at none against Backrooms Descent's shown. POOLS™ also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 64%) and update cadence (every 4 weeks vs every 2 months). Backrooms Descent's advantage is ratings volume (6.5K vs 1.8K). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Backrooms Descent sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and POOLS™ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Backrooms Descent against 4.5 for POOLS™. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 6.5K and 1.8K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of Backrooms Descent's written reviews are positive against 80% of POOLS™'s.

Backrooms Descent ships an update every 2 months, POOLS™ every 4 weeks. Both last shipped on November 7, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Backrooms Descent | POOLS™ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (6.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backrooms-descent-horror-game/id1622822489/reviews) | **[4.5 (1.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **6.5K** | 1.8K |
| Positive reviews | 63.7% of reviews | **80.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 284 MB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Pedro Crispim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1622822491) | [Tensori](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767614989) |

## What reviewers say

### Backrooms Descent

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/backrooms-descent-horror-game/id1622822489)

Explore a terrifying dimension of infinite maze-like constructs. Survive monsters and deadly traps as you search for a way out. This stealth-focused horror game challenges you to use your wits and collected items to escape the darkness and return home.

**Highlights:** Explore multiple backrooms levels, Stealth-based gameplay, Survive monsters and traps, Collect useful items, Solve puzzles to escape, Immersive horror atmosphere

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

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Extra Battery Rune | $1.99 | one-time |
| Extra Speed Rune | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tiny of Gold | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tiny of Gems | $1.99 | one-time |
| Welcome Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Fistful of Gold | $4.99 | one-time |
| Fistful of Gem | $4.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $6.99 | one-time |
| Pouch of Gold | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Exhilarating gameplay
- 💡 Progress saves
- 👍 Detailed levels
- 👍 Encompasses popular Backrooms levels
- 👍 Saves on every level

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Ads interrupt gameplay
- 🐛 Ads every 1 minute
- 🐛 Inventory size too small
- 🐛 Flashlight battery drains quickly
- 🐛 No continue/save feature

**Reported bugs**

- Entities can kill player in hub/level fun
- Ads block start button
- Purchased items/upgrades disappear
- Progress resets when app is closed

**Requested features**

- Add more levels and entities
- Implement save/continue feature
- Reduce ads or make them less intrusive
- Improve flashlight battery life
- Expand inventory size


### POOLS™

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

Explore, admire, and listen in this slow, reflective experience. It's an intentionally uneventful journey through uncanny and eerie environments, rewarding patience and quiet attention. Discover a world that subtly changes as you advance, inspired by internet phenomena like liminal spaces and The Backrooms.

**Highlights:** Exploration-focused gameplay, Relaxing and reflective atmosphere, Eerie and uncanny environments, Slow-paced, uneventful experience, World changes as you advance, Six chapters, 10-30 minutes each

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo 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 Backrooms Descent free?

Backrooms Descent 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, Backrooms Descent or POOLS™?

POOLS™ is rated higher. Backrooms Descent averages 4.5 out of 5 from 6.5K ratings, while POOLS™ averages 4.5 from 1.8K ratings.

### Do Backrooms Descent or POOLS™ have ads?

Backrooms Descent shows ads; POOLS™ does not.

### Which is updated more often, Backrooms Descent or POOLS™?

Backrooms Descent ships an update every 2 months, and POOLS™ every 4 weeks. Most recently, Backrooms Descent was updated on November 7, 2026 and POOLS™ on November 7, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*