# Monster Dash vs Star Thief

The clearest difference is rating: Star Thief at 4.9 against Monster Dash's 4.4. Star Thief also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 19) and review sentiment (95% vs 62%). Monster Dash's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (2.1K vs 16). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Monster Dash sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Star Thief asks for nothing beyond the download.

Star Thief holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Monster Dash has 2.1K ratings behind it against 16, 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 95% of Star Thief's.

Monster Dash ships an update every 3 weeks, Star Thief every 9 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Monster Dash | Star Thief |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/monster-dash/id370070561/reviews) | **[4.9 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-thief/id629733958/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.1K** | 16 |
| Positive reviews | 61.8% of reviews | **94.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 9 months |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free** |
| Size | 127 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Halfbrick](https://appshunter.io/developer/356994313) | [Paul Ewers](https://appshunter.io/developer/301281533) |

## 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


### Star Thief

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-thief/id629733958)

Embark on an interstellar adventure across five unique worlds with over 70 levels. Challenge yourself with daily endless modes or a New Game+ after completion. Compete globally on leaderboards and unlock achievements.

**Highlights:** 70+ levels, Five unique worlds, Daily Rush mode, New Game+, Global online leaderboards, Game Center achievements, iCloud game saves

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Addictive and fun gameplay
- 💡 Innovative and unique idea
- ✨ Charming and cute graphics/art style
- 🚀 Smooth and relaxing experience
- 🎮 Simple controls, easy to learn

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏳ Too short, not enough levels
- ⭐ Strict rating system (missed stars)
- 🤔 Some find it too simple

**Requested features**

- More levels
- Updates
- New worlds
- Sequels or packs
- Game Center leaderboards


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Monster Dash free?

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

### Is Star Thief free?

Star Thief is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Monster Dash or Star Thief?

Star Thief is rated higher. Monster Dash averages 4.4 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Star Thief averages 4.9 from 16 ratings.

### Do Monster Dash or Star Thief have ads?

Neither Monster Dash nor Star Thief shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Monster Dash or Star Thief?

Monster Dash ships an update every 3 weeks, and Star Thief every 9 months. Most recently, Monster Dash was updated on October 27, 2026 and Star Thief on October 24, 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.*