# Monster Dash vs Io Ninja Games

The clearest difference is monetization model: Io Ninja Games at free with in-app purchases against Monster Dash's subscription. Monster Dash's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 13 months). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Monster Dash sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Io Ninja Games sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Monster Dash holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Monster Dash has 2.1K ratings behind it against 53, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 62% of Monster Dash's written reviews are positive against 40% of Io Ninja Games's.

Monster Dash ships an update every 3 weeks, Io Ninja Games every 13 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monster Dash | Io Ninja Games |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monster-dash/id370070561/reviews)** | [4.1 (53 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/io-ninja-games-fun-slice/id1297481453/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.1K** | 53 |
| Positive reviews | **61.8% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 13 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 127 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Halfbrick Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/356994313) | [Eugene Mikhalevskiy](https://appshunter.io/developer/543927675) |

## What reviewers say

### Monster Dash

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monster-dash/id370070561)

Embark on an action-packed adventure running and gunning through monster hordes. Master simple controls to blast enemies with powerful weapons across diverse worlds. Discover hidden awards and enjoy uninterrupted gameplay.

**Highlights:** Run and gun gameplay, Powerful weapons, Diverse worlds, Unique enemies, Hidden awards, Simple controls

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Halfbrick+ | $2.99 | per month |
| Halfbrick+ (Trial) | $2.99 | per month |
| Halfbrick+ (Early Adopter) | $2.99 | per month |
| Halfbrick+ (Yearly discount) | $2.99 | per month |
| Halfbrick+ | $29.99 | per year |
| Halfbrick+ | $29.99 | per year |
| The Mega Magnet | $0.99 | one-time |
| Special Ammo Gadget | $0.99 | one-time |
| Small Gem Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Fruit Ninja Blade | $1.99 | one-time |
| Weapon Bundle 1 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Weapon Bundle 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Apocalypse Starter Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Medium Gem Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Incredibubble | $3.99 | one-time |
| Large Gem Pack | $8.99 | one-time |
| Halfbrick+ | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Classic arcade-style visuals
- 💡 Ghostbusters event mashup

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔋 Overheating issues on older devices
- 💰 Excessive microtransactions and paywalls

**Reported bugs**

- Progress and purchases disappearing after updates
- Game Center integration not working properly
- Spawning enemies too close to the player

**Requested features**

- Bring back the original pixel art style
- Add more unlockable weapons and gadgets
- Implement a classic mode without energy/stamina system


### Io Ninja Games

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/io-ninja-games-fun-slice/id1297481453)

Engage in a fast-paced slicing game where you defend against incoming paper boxes. Test your reaction time and slicing skills to achieve a high score. Enjoy this addictive ninja-themed game with simple controls and colorful graphics.

**Highlights:** Slicing action gameplay, Defend against paper boxes, High score challenges, Bright and colorful 2D graphics, Offline play (no wifi needed), Smooth one-touch controls

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monster Dash free?

Monster Dash is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Io Ninja Games free?

Io Ninja Games is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Monster Dash or Io Ninja Games?

Monster Dash is rated higher. Monster Dash averages 4.4 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Io Ninja Games averages 4.1 from 53 ratings.

### Do Monster Dash or Io Ninja Games have ads?

Io Ninja Games shows ads; Monster Dash does not.

### Which is updated more often, Monster Dash or Io Ninja Games?

Monster Dash ships an update every 3 weeks, and Io Ninja Games every 13 months. Most recently, Monster Dash was updated on October 23, 2026 and Io Ninja Games on October 20, 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.*