Comparison

ESP Trainer vs Pine Tar Poker

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

Head to head
About

ESP Trainer

Enhance your psychic abilities with this ESP trainer. Developed under a NASA program, it helps you improve clairvoyant skills through interactive color-square guessing games. Experience multi-sensory feedback and learn to recognize intuitive impressions.

Highlights
  • Color-square guessing game
  • Multi-sensory feedback (chime, vibration, visual)
  • Score tracking and encouragement
  • Optional 'Pass' button for non-forced choices
  • Reinforcement for skill learning
  • Develop intuitive awareness
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

The ESP trainer was developed under a NASA program by Russell Targ at Stanford Research Institute. We have found that people are able to improve their ESP scores by using a machine just like this and get in touch with the part of themselves that is psychic. This is often called a clairvoyant ability, and can enhance your life in many surprising ways. The player is presented with four colored squares. For each trial, one has been selected at random by the ESP Trainer. Your task is to choose the correct square. If you succeed, you will hear a chime, feel a vibration, and see a large color picture. Otherwise, the system lights up the correct square, and you proceed with the next trial. The score indicator at the top counts the number of correct choices. Words of encouragement appear as you achieve the scoring levels of 6, 8. 10, 12 or 14 hits. After 24 trials you may begin a new game. The game offers multi-sensory feedback, reinforcement, and an opportunity to Pass, meeting all the requirements needed for learning this skill. ESP Trainer improves your ability to recognize your intuitive impressions, and it can bring you to a level of intuitive awareness beyond anything you've experienced before. The purpose of the trainer is to allow you to become aware of what it feels like when you psychically choose the correct square. When you don't have that special feeling, we encourage you to press the Pass button. (So this is not a "forced choice" test.) In a year long NASA program with 145 subjects (under Contract 953653 NAS7-100) many were able to significantly improve their scores. Four of the subjects improved their scores at the hundred-to-one level or better. This approach has been used with surprising success on Wall Street. But of course, past results are no guarantee of future performance. Because you are learning a new skill, slower is better than faster. If you find yourself frequently scoring 12 or more, write to the developer at his web site www.espresearch.com. This game can provide the first steps toward experiencing and developing the psychic abilities hidden within us all. software by Levity Novelty LLC

About

Pine Tar Poker

Experience a unique card game with a touch of the supernatural. Gather your deck and paper to learn a new way to play, where a little bit of magic might just tip the scales in your favor and bring a smile to your face.

Highlights
  • Unique card game mechanics
  • Supernatural elements
  • Learn to play easily
  • Focus on entertainment
  • Potential for magical advantages
Features
Read full description

Welcome partner. We don't have much around here, but we still like a lil entertainment every now and then.  Grab that deck a cards and the paper there, let me teach ya a game. Now this here game ain't gonna get ya in touch with the rhythm of the universe, but it might just put a smile on yer face. If ya think magick might help ya win... well partner, ya just might be right...

Screenshots

ESP Trainer4 screens
Pine Tar Poker4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Pine Tar Poker at every 3 days against ESP Trainer's every 14 months. Pine Tar Poker also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (91% vs 75%). ESP Trainer's advantage is price ($0.99 vs $3.99) and iOS requirement (7.0 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

ESP Trainer costs $0.99 and Pine Tar Poker $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pine Tar Poker holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 293 and 140 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 75% of ESP Trainer's written reviews are positive against 91% of Pine Tar Poker's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ESP Trainer ships an update every 14 months, Pine Tar Poker every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 6 level
ESP Trainer versus Pine Tar Poker: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterESP TrainerPine Tar Poker
Price$0.99 — better$3.99
Rating4.5 (293 ratings)4.9 (140 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.2% of reviews90.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings293 — better140
Update frequencyEvery 14 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#23#13 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS7.0 — better11.0
Further details — not scored
Size16 MB250 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperRussell TargBird Cartel LLC

Customer experience

ESP Trainer

All ratings293 ratings
Positive84.6%
Neutral6.5%
Negative8.9%
Written reviews113 reviews
Positive75.2%
Neutral13.3%
Negative11.5%

Pine Tar Poker

All ratings140 ratings
Positive98.6%
Neutral0.7%
Negative0.7%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive90.9%
Neutral3.0%
Negative6.1%

User reviews

ESP Trainer

From 293 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Simple and effective
  • 🤩 Helps develop intuition
  • 🧠 Trains psychic abilities
  • 🎯 Accurate feedback on performance
  • 🌟 Impressive high scores possible

Room to improve

  • 🔇 Loud, annoying sound effects
  • 🔍 Lack of performance tracking/history
  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
  • 🤔 Questionable scientific validity

Pine Tar Poker

From 140 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 👍 Addictive gameplay loop
  • 💡 Unique poker/Yahtzee mechanics
  • ✨ Engaging story and atmosphere
  • 🎨 Charming art style
  • 🎮 High replay value

Room to improve

  • ⏳ Story is too short
  • 🎶 Music can be repetitive
  • ❓ Some mechanics unclear
  • 📱 No cloud save feature
  • 🔥 Device runs hot

Bugs and requests

ESP Trainer

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Freezing or crashing on some devices
  • Inconsistent responsiveness of color squares
  • Inability to disable sound effects

Requested features

4 requests
  • Volume/sound control options
  • Performance tracking and statistics
  • More difficulty levels or game modes
  • Integration with other mindfulness apps

Pine Tar Poker

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • Device overheating on iPad Pro 12.9

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add more content (scratch offs, dice, roulette)
  • More explanation for items/mechanics
  • Option to turn off upgrades/powers
  • Cloud save feature
  • More story content
Show 1 more
  • Hint for broken rune stone activation

In-app purchases

None

ESP Trainer

No in-app purchases

None

Pine Tar Poker

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ESP Trainer free?
ESP Trainer costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Pine Tar Poker free?
Pine Tar Poker costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, ESP Trainer or Pine Tar Poker?
Pine Tar Poker is rated higher. ESP Trainer averages 4.5 out of 5 from 293 ratings, while Pine Tar Poker averages 4.9 from 140 ratings.
Do ESP Trainer or Pine Tar Poker have ads?
Neither ESP Trainer nor Pine Tar Poker shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ESP Trainer or Pine Tar Poker?
ESP Trainer ships an update every 14 months, and Pine Tar Poker every 3 days. Most recently, ESP Trainer was updated on October 17, 2026 and Pine Tar Poker on October 14, 2026.
Which is more popular, ESP Trainer or Pine Tar Poker?
ESP Trainer currently peaks at #23 in the App Store charts, and Pine Tar Poker at #13. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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