Comparison

Orbital vs RetroQix

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Orbital

Score points by destroying orbs in this addictive puzzle game. With simple one-thumb controls and beautiful visual effects, it's perfect for short play sessions. Compete with friends and aim for the top of the leaderboards.

Highlights
  • One-thumb gameplay
  • Score points by destroying orbs
  • Beautiful visual effects
  • Single & Two player modes
  • 3 game modes (Gravity, Pure, Supernova)
  • Online leaderboards
  • Facebook integration
Features
Read full description

Get the Game of the Year** now! ORBITAL is a 1-thumb experience with a simple goal: score points by destroying orbs. A simple puzzle game for all with beautiful visual effects, it can be played in short sessions and is highly addictive. HOW FAR CAN YOU GO? ----------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------- Awards and Prizes: **Game of the Year denki.co.uk *Winner DiscoveryBeats Apps Contest *Silver Award pocketGamer.co.uk ----------------------------------------- VIDEO TRAILER 1) www.tinyurl.com/orbitaliphone ----------------------------------------- AWARDS TOP RATED - jayisgames.com SILVER AWARD - pocketgamer.co.uk ----------------------------------------- WHAT THE CRITICS SAY «ORBITAL is a game of skill, it's a game of strategy, it's a game of reflexes, and it's a game you will keep front and center of your iPhone for weeks on end.» - John Bardinelli (jayisgames.com) «A picnic to understand, but a marathon to get beyond the first few minutes, Orbital's simple style is perfect for those looking for fill the odd spare moment.» 8/10 - Keith Andrew (pocketgamer.co.uk) «Orbital is the most visually appealing brick breaker type game that I have ever laid eyes on and had the chance to play.» 5/5 - Mike (iphoneincanada.ca) «While there are already a few iPhone games that share the same gameplay mechanics as Orbital, none of them look anywhere near as cool.» - Eli Hodapp (toucharcade.com) «BitForge has managed to combine the addictive gameplay of Peggle and the beauty of Geometry Wars, two digital forms of crack, into one easy to use package.» - Chad George (thatvideogameblog.com) «Orbital takes simple gameplay and dresses it up with a unique “gravity” feature and enhanced graphics. The game can be very frustrating at times, but that won’t keep you from coming back for another try.» 4/5 - Will Raskin (148apps.com) «Orbital has got fantastic graphics and unfussy features. Come to think of it, there are really no negative points about the game. Good going, Bitforge!» 5/5 - Yoyo (iphonefootprint.com) ----------------------------------------- GAMEPLAY You must shoot orbs into a grid with your cannon. The orb you fired will expand until it touches a wall or another orb. Each orb contains the number ‘3’, which decreases by one every time it is hit. After 3 hits they explode and you earn a point. The game could be endless… There is just one condition: a shot orb must not touch the death line above the cannon! If it does, the game is over. A simple concept to rack your brains and nerves. ----------------------------------------- FEATURES - Single & Two player mode - 3 game modes: Gravity, Pure & Supernova - Beautiful particle effects - All-time & 24 Hours online Leader board - Facebook connection: Compare with your friends on Facebook ----------------------------------------- ORBITAL is based on Gimme Friction Baby by Wouter Visser.

About

RetroQix

Reclaim the neon grid by drawing lines to capture territory and trap bouncing enemies. Utilize power-ups like slow motion and shields to survive increasingly challenging levels. Compete for high scores with smooth, retro-inspired gameplay.

Highlights
  • Reclaim grid territory
  • Trap bouncing enemies
  • Unlock power-ups
  • Smooth 120Hz gameplay
  • Retro neon aesthetic
  • Procedurally generated levels
  • Local leaderboards
Features
Read full description

RETROQIX: Territory Conquest Rediscover the golden age of arcades with a modern, high-speed twist! RETROQIX challenges you to reclaim the grid from chaotic bouncing enemies. Swipe to draw lines, cut off territory, and fill the screen with vibrant neon light. But be careful—if an enemy hits your trail while you're drawing, it's Game Over! CONQUER THE GRID  Your goal is simple: capture at least 80% of the game area. Use strategy and speed to trap enemies in small pockets or slice huge chunks of the field at once for massive bonus points. POWER-UP YOUR PLAY Unlock game-changing abilities to turn the tide: Slow Motion: Matrix-style bullet time to dodge impossible attacks. Freeze: Stop enemies cold in their tracks. Shield: momentary invincibility to make risky cuts. Blaster: Fight back! Shoot down enemies to clear the path. Extra Life: Now guaranteed on milestone levels to keep your run alive! FEATURES Butter-Smooth Gameplay: Optimized for 120Hz ProMotion displays. Experience zero-lag precision even on the latest iPhones. Retro aesthetic: Stunning neon visuals, scanline CRT effects, and a synthwave atmosphere. Endless Challenge: Procedurally generated levels that get harder as you progress. High Score Chase: Local leaderboards to track your best runs. Haptic Feedback: Feel every cut and collision. Are you fast enough to conquer the RetroQix grid? Download now and start slicing!

Screenshots

Orbital4 screens
RetroQix4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: RetroQix at Free against Orbital's $4.99. RetroQix also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). Orbital's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ratings volume (42 vs 2). On ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

RetroQix is free to download; Orbital costs $4.99 up front. RetroQix sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Orbital asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

RetroQix holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Orbital has 42 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 87% of Orbital's written reviews are positive against 100% of RetroQix's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Orbital ships an update every 2 months, RetroQix every 3 days. Both last shipped on October 31, 2026.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Orbital versus RetroQix: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOrbitalRetroQix
Price$4.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (42 ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews86.6% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings42 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBitforgeJuan Manuel Bravo

Customer experience

Orbital

All ratings42 ratings
Positive88.1%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.9%
Written reviews254 reviews
Positive86.6%
Neutral3.9%
Negative9.4%

RetroQix

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Orbital

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes on iOS 13+
  • Leaderboards not working
  • Inconsistent physics on newer devices

Requested features

7 requests
  • Undo feature
  • New game modes
  • Power-ups
  • Online multiplayer
  • PC/Mac version
Show 2 more
  • Original music option
  • Customizable controls

RetroQix

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Orbital

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

RetroQix

One-time3
  • Continue Pack (3x)$0.99
  • Premium Power-Ups$1.99
  • Premium Pack$3.99

Questions

Is Orbital free?
Orbital costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is RetroQix free?
RetroQix is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Orbital or RetroQix?
RetroQix is rated higher. Orbital averages 4.5 out of 5 from 42 ratings, while RetroQix averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Orbital or RetroQix have ads?
Neither Orbital nor RetroQix shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Orbital or RetroQix?
Orbital ships an update every 2 months, and RetroQix every 3 days. Most recently, Orbital was updated on October 31, 2026 and RetroQix on October 31, 2026.

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