# iCave vs PapiRiver

The clearest difference is update cadence: PapiRiver at every 6 months against iCave's every 64 months. PapiRiver also leads on ratings volume (15 vs 3). iCave's advantage is review sentiment (79% vs 56%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

iCave holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PapiRiver has 15 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of iCave's written reviews are positive against 56% of PapiRiver's.

iCave ships an update every 64 months, PapiRiver every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iCave | PapiRiver |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/icave/id287424560/reviews)** | [4.8 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/papiriver/id289052548/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 3 | **15** |
| Positive reviews | **78.8% of reviews** | 55.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 64 months | **Every 6 months** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 14 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Andy Qua](https://appshunter.io/developer/284092693) | [Yohei Iwasaki](https://appshunter.io/developer/285800498) |

## What reviewers say

### iCave

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/icave/id287424560)

Navigate a progressively shrinking cave, dodging obstacles to survive. Control your flight by touching and holding the screen to ascend, releasing to descend. Test your reflexes across three distinct difficulty levels.

**Highlights:** Endless cave navigation, Touch and hold flight control, Obstacle avoidance, Three difficulty levels, High score tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### PapiRiver

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/papiriver/id289052548)

Navigate Mr. Papi down a winding river by tilting your device. Avoid hitting the riverbanks to prevent being pushed back. The closer you get to the bottom edge, the higher your score.

**Highlights:** Tilt controls, River navigation, Score multiplier, Avoid obstacles, Endless runner style

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 🚀 Simple and easy to pick up
- 💡 Unique river-based mechanics
- 😊 Nostalgic and charming character

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sensitive controls and poor handling
- 🔨 Repetitive and lacking in depth
- 🎨 Outdated and unappealing graphics
- 🔋 Can cause eye strain after prolonged play

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Compatibility issues with newer devices
- Inconsistent performance and responsiveness

**Requested features**

- More game modes and levels
- Ability to save and track high scores
- Customization options for the character and environment
- Integration with social features and leaderboards


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iCave free?

iCave is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PapiRiver free?

PapiRiver is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, iCave or PapiRiver?

iCave is rated higher. iCave averages 5.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while PapiRiver averages 4.8 from 15 ratings.

### Do iCave or PapiRiver have ads?

Neither iCave nor PapiRiver shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iCave or PapiRiver?

iCave ships an update every 64 months, and PapiRiver every 6 months. Most recently, iCave was updated on October 15, 2026 and PapiRiver on October 8, 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.*