BugSim vs Steampunk Foucault Pendulum
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
BugSim
Explore Darwinian evolution through a simulation game where virtual bugs learn to survive and hunt bacteria. This educational app is based on a concept from a 1989 Scientific American article.
- Darwinian evolution simulation
- Survival of the fittest mechanics
- Bugs hunt bacteria
- Educational gameplay
- Based on Scientific American concept
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Bugs is a simulation game for Darwinian evolution, specifically through survival of the fittest. This program based on an idea presented in the May 1989 issue of Scientific American in an article titled Simulated Evolution: wherein bugs learn to hunt bacteria, by A. K. Dewdney.
Steampunk Foucault Pendulum
Experience a 3D physics simulation of Foucault's pendulum, demonstrating Earth's rotation. Explore its history, customize notifications, and find other pendulums globally. This educational tool brings a classic physics experiment to life with a steampunk aesthetic.
- 3D physics simulation
- Steampunk theme
- History and reference
- Customizable notifications
- Global pendulum locator
- Earth rotation demonstration
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In 1851 French physicist, Léon Foucault, constructed a simple pendulum where at the base, placement of pegs arranged in an arc are struck by the bob as the pendulum rhythmically oscillates above. The plane of oscillation appears to rotate eventually knocking each peg but this effect is that of the Earth rotating underneath. This was the first experiment of its kind that visually demonstrated the rotation of Earth about its axis. Enjoy this physics simulation presented in 3D themed in Steampunk genre! Includes • History and reference • Settings including receiving notifications when pegs are about to be knocked over • An immersive 3D rotunda demonstrating the principles of a Foucault Pendulum • Locate other pendulums operating around the world!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: BugSim at 4.0 against Steampunk Foucault Pendulum's 3.0. BugSim also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). Steampunk Foucault Pendulum's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 80%) and update cadence (every 12 months vs every 33 months). On price, 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
Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
BugSim holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 4 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 80% of BugSim's written reviews are positive against 100% of Steampunk Foucault Pendulum's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
BugSim ships an update every 33 months, Steampunk Foucault Pendulum every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | BugSim | Steampunk Foucault Pendulum |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.0 (1 ratings) — better | 3.0 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 80.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 4 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 33 months | Every 12 months — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1 MB | 37 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mike Wesemann | Brian Buck |
Customer experience
BugSim
Steampunk Foucault Pendulum
In-app purchases
BugSim
No in-app purchases
Steampunk Foucault Pendulum
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is BugSim free?
Is Steampunk Foucault Pendulum free?
Which has better reviews, BugSim or Steampunk Foucault Pendulum?
Do BugSim or Steampunk Foucault Pendulum have ads?
Which is updated more often, BugSim or Steampunk Foucault Pendulum?
Other comparisons
