Comparison

Canabalt vs subpar pool

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

Head to head
About

Canabalt

Escape a collapsing city by running and jumping with a single button. This classic infinite runner offers new game modes, multiple characters, and a thrilling race for survival.

Highlights
  • One-button controls
  • Infinite runner gameplay
  • New game modes
  • Multiple characters
  • High score chasing
  • Two-player option
Features
Read full description

"Fantastic... Super-simple, pixel-perfect, great music and sound." - daringfireball.net "Canabalt is pure genius." -necessarygames.com Escape the destruction of your city with just one button! The game that popularized the infinite runner genre is back with new game modes and support for every dang phone and tablet thingy! ------------------------- "This "daring escape" platformer is simply beautiful and beautifully simple." -Kotaku "It's going to be quite some time before you find something so simple so thrilling again." -Offworld "Canabalt is actually much more intense than you'd assume of a game which requires a single finger to play." -GameSpy ------------------------- Play any of the 8 new game modes with one or two players, dash across rooftops with four different runners, or just chase that high score in the classic futile race for survival. ------------------------- "It's all very lovely and full of poignant subtext. And awesomeness. Canabalt is a prime example of a simple idea executed extremely well." -JayIsGames "I have never seen a concept so richly and successfully realized in such a simple yet stunningly complete form. Canabalt represents the power and potential of small independent games." -gameinmind.com "Music is another component that is just perfect - it enhances the strange and unsettling setting of the game and also gives a sense of speed with a hint of hope that quick feet might be the salvation to the horror." -bartsnews.net

About

subpar pool

Engage in a unique pocket billiards experience across procedurally generated levels. Strategize your shots, adapt to unpredictable physics, and customize challenges with a deck of cards for endless replayability. Immerse yourself in a vibrant world with a charming art style and a relaxing soundtrack.

Highlights
  • Procedurally generated levels
  • Card-based challenge customization
  • Four distinct worlds
  • Thousands of gameplay combinations
  • Bite-sized play sessions
  • One-handed play
Features
Currently charting
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Dive into each procedurally generated level, consisting of a series of tables filled with balls you must pocket within a set number of shots. Escape into the fantastically vibrant world, while strategizing the best plan to pocket your balls. Watch your plan inevitably combust as you adapt your next move to skillfully take home the win. Progress in the game and create your course choosing cards from a deck to tailor the challenges to your desired game experience and playstyle. Want to feel stressed to the max? Take part in the Fast Run, which limits the time you have to aim. Want a level with portals? Subpar Pool has you covered. Or want to see what happens when you play Subpar Pool with glass balls as they roll and collide? There’s thousands of ways to combine the dynamic cards to create a unique playthrough experience, every time. Immerse yourself in the charming, lively world of Subpar Pool while you find out if you can master the unpredictability of ever-changing balls colliding in this satisfying and mesmerizing mashup experience. Features: • Four different worlds, each with its own set of constraints and challenges • Procedurally generated tables and 18 different cards with more than 14,000 ways to combine for an always fresh gameplay experience • A compact game experience designed for bite-sized play sessions (or longer if you prefer!) • A stunning, vibrant french-inspired art style that transports you into the enchanting world • Plays comfortably with one hand • A soothing, mini-golf funk soundtrack to get you in the spirited mood • Created by grapefrukt games, the dev behind beloved and acclaimed games holedown, twofold inc & rymdkapsel

Screenshots

Canabalt4 screens
subpar pool4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: subpar pool at every 2 weeks against Canabalt's every 2 months. subpar pool also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and chart position (#94 vs unranked). Canabalt's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $4.99) and iOS requirement (9.2 vs 11.0). On ratings volume, ads, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Canabalt costs $2.99 and subpar pool $4.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

subpar pool holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 84 and 38 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 68% of Canabalt's written reviews are positive against 78% of subpar pool's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Canabalt ships an update every 2 months, subpar pool every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Canabalt versus subpar pool: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCanabaltsubpar pool
Price$2.99 — better$4.99
Rating4.3 (84 ratings)4.6 (38 ratings) — better
Positive reviews68.1% of reviews78.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings84 — better38
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#94 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.2 — better11.0
Further details — not scored
Size27 MB74 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperFinjiwebbfarbror AB

Customer experience

Canabalt

All ratings82 ratings
Positive79.3%
Neutral9.8%
Negative11.0%
Written reviews364 reviews
Positive68.1%
Neutral11.8%
Negative20.1%

subpar pool

All ratings39 ratings
Positive87.2%
Neutral7.7%
Negative5.1%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive78.3%
Neutral8.7%
Negative13.0%

Bugs and requests

Canabalt

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes on iOS 14
  • Sound effects not working on some devices
  • High scores not displaying correctly

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to turn off music
  • More game modes and levels
  • Online leaderboards and achievements
  • Controller support

subpar pool

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Canabalt

No in-app purchases

None

subpar pool

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Canabalt free?
Canabalt costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is subpar pool free?
subpar pool costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Canabalt or subpar pool?
subpar pool is rated higher. Canabalt averages 4.3 out of 5 from 84 ratings, while subpar pool averages 4.6 from 38 ratings.
Do Canabalt or subpar pool have ads?
Neither Canabalt nor subpar pool shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Canabalt or subpar pool?
Canabalt ships an update every 2 months, and subpar pool every 2 weeks. Most recently, Canabalt was updated on October 24, 2026 and subpar pool on October 24, 2026.

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