# Billy Frontier vs PapiRiver

The clearest difference is price: PapiRiver at Free against Billy Frontier's $0.99. PapiRiver also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.7). Billy Frontier's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months) and review sentiment (65% vs 56%). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

PapiRiver is free to download; Billy Frontier costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

PapiRiver holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 15 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 65% of Billy Frontier's written reviews are positive against 56% of PapiRiver's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Billy Frontier ships an update every 2 months, PapiRiver every 6 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Billy Frontier | PapiRiver |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.7 (14 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/billy-frontier/id288713146/reviews) | **[4.8 (15 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/papiriver/id289052548/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 14 | **15** |
| Positive reviews | **64.7% of reviews** | 55.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 6 months |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 44 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Pangea Software, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/281736538) | [Yohei Iwasaki](https://appshunter.io/developer/285800498) |

## What reviewers say

### Billy Frontier

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/billy-frontier/id288713146)

Embark on a galactic adventure as a space cowboy eliminating alien outlaws. This 3D game blends arcade action with adventure, featuring intense duels, thrilling chases, and target practice. Experience a unique spaghetti western-inspired universe.

**Highlights:** Galactic outlaw hunting, 3D space cowboy adventure, Arcade-style duels, Stampede evasion, Shooting gallery challenges

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great graphics and sound
- 👍 Diverse gameplay modes
- 💡 Unique western-alien theme
- 🤑 Excellent value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🎯 Inaccurate shooting controls
- 🕰️ Short gameplay with limited content
- 🤔 Unintuitive control settings

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes on launch or during play
- Shooting controls not responsive or accurate
- Saved progress lost after crashes
- Control settings reset on each launch

**Requested features**

- More levels and gameplay modes
- Difficulty settings and progression
- Ability to save progress and high scores
- Customization options (e.g. disable blood)


### 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 Billy Frontier free?

Billy Frontier costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is PapiRiver free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Billy Frontier or PapiRiver?

PapiRiver is rated higher. Billy Frontier averages 3.7 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while PapiRiver averages 4.8 from 15 ratings.

### Do Billy Frontier or PapiRiver have ads?

Neither Billy Frontier nor PapiRiver shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Billy Frontier or PapiRiver?

Billy Frontier ships an update every 2 months, and PapiRiver every 6 months. Most recently, Billy Frontier was updated on September 28, 2026 and PapiRiver on September 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.*