Bix Challenge vs Pinball HD Collection
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Bix Challenge
Draw shapes to fill a percentage of the screen and trap moving balls. Unleash special powers when you successfully capture them. Compete to see how far you can advance in this engaging puzzle game.
- Draw shapes to fill screen
- Trap moving balls
- Unleash special powers
- Progress through levels
- Compete with other players
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A new take on Bix Challenge, the line-drawing arcade classic in the spirit of Qix, Xonix and JezzBall. Draw lines to cut the field, fill it with light and trap the bouncing balls. One rule to master: when you close a line, the side with fewer balls fills up. Easy to learn, fiendishly hard to master. WHAT'S INSIDE • 100 levels across 10 galaxies, each with its own twist: ball traps, line limits, dark zones, time trials, giant balls, ice walls and hunters • The Rift: beat level 100 and a hidden climb opens. How high can you go? • Three stars to earn on every level, chests to open, gold balls to collect • Boosters when you need a hand: Slow start and Shield • Glowing visuals made for today's iPhone and iPad • The original soundtrack, now opening up as you fill the field • Your progress is saved in iCloud and follows you to your other devices • Plays offline THE ORIGINAL, STILL HERE Bix Challenge has been played by over a million people since 2008, reaching #2 in France, #3 in Germany and #4 in the UK. The classic version is still in the app, exactly as you remember it: turn on "Classic version" in Settings.
Pinball HD Collection
Experience realistic pinball simulations with a variety of themed tables and engaging minigames. Enjoy stunning 3D graphics, realistic physics, and both landscape and portrait viewing modes. Compete for high scores globally or locally.
- 10 unique pinball tables
- Realistic 3D graphics
- Realistic physics engine
- Landscape and portrait modes
- Local and global high scores
- Stereoscopic 3D option
- Integrated minigames
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This unique table features pinball bumpers and targets, plus a color monitor where you can take on a variety of old-school digital minigame challenges - an endless space scroller, plus car racing, missile defense, a block breaker, and more at incrementing skill levels. --- - Listed by Apple in "Best 10 iPad Apps in 2010" - Apple Design Awards 2010 winner - 1st place in US top paid apps during the first sales day "I really can't see pinball on the iPad getting much better than this." -- David Winograd, TUAW.com "The experience of holding a pinball table in your hand is great, and with three amazing tables included, you'll have hours of entertainment lined up." -- Tim Rattray, SlideToPlay.com "With three tables, reliable physics and controls, and gorgeous graphics, it is a pleasure to recommend." -- Levi Buchanan, IGN.com ABOUT THE GAME Pinball HD Collection - This game will change your idea of Pinball on the iPad. Each table - Wild West, The Deep, Jungle Style, AC/DC, Slayer, Snow, Da Vinci, Missing In Action, Navy Seals and Platoon - are masterpieces. You'll be stunned with the level of realism. This is a REAL Pinball simulator with stunning 3D graphics both with or without 3D glasses. IMPORTANT • Landscape mode - "full table" view • Portrait mode - "flying-table" view • In portrait mode slide up or down your both thumbs to toggle camera view from "flying-table" to "full table". FEATURES • 10 pinball tables with unique graphics, instructions, missions system, locations and characters • Landscape mode shows a full table view. The games can be played in either landscape orientation with the button to the left or right of the screen. • Portrait mode gives you a flying-table view with the camera panning and zooming over the action. This can only be played when holding the iPad with the button on the bottom. If you activate the screen orientation switch, the game only plays in portrait mode. • A wonderful 3D engine that does true justice to the graphic capabilities of the iPad. • Realistic physics. • Built in help for each table. Tap the circled "I" at the bottom right of each table to get a display detailing instructions and descriptions of the features of each table. Make sure to swipe left and right when viewing since the instructions don't fit on one screen. • Local and global high scores. Swiping right brings up a table of local high scores and further tapping brings up high scores from copies sold throughout the world. At the end of each game you are prompted to enter your name and have your score included. • Unique soundtrack with atmospheric music, sound effects and voices. • Camera tilt brings dimensionality to the games offering a simulated 3D effect where the image changes depending upon how you tilt the iPad. Camera tilt only works in landscape mode. • Stereoscopic imaging option (requires anaglyph eyeglasses). You can choose between red-cyan, green-magenta or yellow-blue lenses. HOW TO PLAY Tapping on a game's fly-over screen shows/hides main menu. Tap on Play button to start game on current table. Controls in game: • Tap ANYWHERE on the left side of screen to control the left flipper and ANYWHERE on the right side to control the right flipper. • Shake your iPad to realistically nudge the pinball table, but not too much or you'll tilt. • Tap on the "electronic caption" at the top of the screen to pause or resume your game. Follow us on: • Twitter - http://twitter.com/Gameprom • Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/Gameprom • YouTube channel - http://www.youtube.com/GamepromCompany • News blog - http://gameprom.com/blog/ • Company site - http://gameprom.com Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Pinball HD Collection at 4.2 against Bix Challenge's 3.3. Pinball HD Collection also leads on ratings volume (3.6K vs 23) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). Bix Challenge's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases and monetization model 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
Both are free to download. Bix Challenge sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Pinball HD Collection sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Pinball HD Collection holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pinball HD Collection has 3.6K ratings behind it against 23, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Bix Challenge's written reviews are positive against 68% of Pinball HD Collection's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Bix Challenge ships an update every 2 weeks, Pinball HD Collection every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Bix Challenge | Pinball HD Collection |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.3 (23 ratings) | 4.2 (3.6K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 74.8% of reviews — better | 68.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 23 | 3.6K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 783 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Padadaz | BrainVault Games, LLC |
Customer experience
Bix Challenge
Pinball HD Collection
User reviews
Bix Challenge
From 23 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Good time waster
- 🤩 Addictive and fun
- 😊 Wonderful game
- 🎮 Retro game feel
Room to improve
- 🐛 Glitchy controls
- 🤬 Too many ads
- 😞 Crashes and bugs
- 🤯 Difficult to progress
Pinball HD Collection
From 3.6K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great pinball action
- 👍 Realistic and atmospheric
- 💎 Variety of tables
- 🕹️ Smooth gameplay
- 🎨 Excellent graphics
Room to improve
- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy tables
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 📢 Intrusive ads
- 🔒 Inability to restore purchases
- 🤖 Abandoned by developers
Bugs and requests
Bix Challenge
Reported bugs
3 issues- Crashes after completing levels
- Unresponsive controls
- Inability to exit ads
Requested features
4 requests- More levels and content
- Save progress and resume
- Landscape mode
- Sound effects
Pinball HD Collection
Reported bugs
4 issues- Frequent crashes and freezes
- Unresponsive flippers
- Scoring and progression issues
- Inability to download purchased tables
Requested features
4 requests- More free tables
- Ability to adjust difficulty/ball speed
- Apple TV and controller support
- Improved table guides and instructions
In-app purchases
Bix Challenge
- Handful of Golden Balls$0.99
- Disable Ads$2.99
- Pile of Golden Balls$4.99
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Bag of Golden Balls$9.99
- Chest of Golden Balls$19.99
Pinball HD Collection
- Halloween Pinball$1.99
- The Deep Pinball$1.99
- Jungle Style Pinball$1.99
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- Da Vinci Pinball$1.99
- Platoon Pinball$1.99
- Navy Seals Pinball$1.99
- Missing In Action Pinball$1.99
- Snow Pinball$1.99
- Arcade Pinball$1.99
- Slayer Pinball$2.99
- AC/DC Pinball$2.99
Questions
Is Bix Challenge free?
Is Pinball HD Collection free?
Which has better reviews, Bix Challenge or Pinball HD Collection?
Do Bix Challenge or Pinball HD Collection have ads?
Which is updated more often, Bix Challenge or Pinball HD Collection?
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