Comparison

Osmos for iPad vs Orbit

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

Head to head
About

Osmos for iPad

Navigate a cosmic world as a galactic mote, absorbing smaller organisms to grow while avoiding larger predators. This physics-based survival game features stunning graphics and an ambient soundtrack, offering a unique and challenging experience.

Highlights
  • Physics-based gameplay
  • Absorb and grow mechanics
  • Stellar graphics
  • Ambient soundtrack
  • 72 levels across 8 worlds
  • Multiplayer mode
  • Arcade mode for replayability
Features
Read full description

** Apple Design Award winner and iPad Game of the Year! ** Enter the Darwinian world of a galactic mote. To survive, absorb smaller organisms and grow—but beware of larger predators. Osmos features unique physics-based play, stellar graphics, and a hypnotic ambient soundtrack. Absorb or be absorbed! “The ultimate ambient experience” — Gizmodo “The best iPad game yet.” — IGN THE CRUX: you must grow by absorbing smaller motes, but to propel yourself you must eject matter behind you, causing you to shrink. From this delicate balance, Osmos leads the player through floating playgrounds, competitive petri dishes, deep solar systems, and more. “Named as iPad Game of the Year for a reason, Osmos is a fantastic game. A combination of physics, survival and classic eat em up” — WeDoCode “Whether you're a child at heart who likes mucking about with single-cell organisms, or a strategist with a physics degree, this game will appeal to everyone.” — App Store review AWARDS / recognition: * "iPad Game of the Year" and "App of the Week" — Apple * Apple Design Award winner * #1 Top iPhone Game — IGN * iPad Game of the Year — TUAW * Game of the Year — Create Digital Music * Editor's Choice — Wired, Macworld, IGN, GameTunnel, and more... * Best in Show — IndieCade * Vision Award — Independent Games Festival * Coolest Atmosphere — IGN * Best Soundtrack — IGN * Most Innovative Game — Best App Ever Awards, Pocket Gamer * Many top lists including Kotaku, PAX, TouchArcade, iLounge, APPera, IFC, and more... FEATURES: * 72 levels spanning 8 distinct worlds: Ambient, Antimatter, Solar, Sentient, Repulsor, Impasse, Warped Chaos, and Epicycles. * Multiplayer! (more info below.) * Endless replay value: play random versions of any level in Arcade mode. * Award-winning electronic soundtrack by Loscil, Gas, High Skies, Biosphere, Julien Neto, and more. * Seamlesss multitouch controls: swipe to warp time, tap anywhere to eject mass, pinch to zoom… * Time-warping: slow down the flow of time to outmaneuver agile opponents; speed it up to raise the challenge. * Confront four distinct AI opponents: the Ovarium, the Biophobe, the Nemocyte… and the deadly Ferax. * 13 single-player and 15 multiplayer achievements. * Progress synced via iCloud. MULTIPLAYER * Play against your friends and enemies, locally (via wi-fi), or over the Internet! * 6 distinct Arenas: Ambient, Impasse, Solar, Warped Chaos, Epicycles, and introducing… Antimatter Impasse. * iPad vs. iPhone play supported. “a beautiful, absorbing experience." — IGN “What iPad Gaming Should Be All About” — Gizmodo 5/5 - Macworld Editor’s Choice - “One of the best games we’ve played so far this year. An utterly serene, yet fiendishly complicated game that deserves a place in every iPad owners collection.” — MacWorld 4/4, Must Have - “We are more than overwhelmed by Osmos for iPad… The game design is thoughtful and intuitive, new level structures are flawless, and the visuals are stunning yet simplistic… every iPad owner should have Osmos on their device. You just won’t find another experience quite like it.” — Slide To Play “Osmos HD is THE game for the iPad.” — Pocket Lint “It’s the best iPad game on the App Store” — MTV Multiplayer “The first proper breakout hit for the iPad. Osmos feels so natural and enjoyable to play, even when the difficulty ramps up and you find yourself repeatedly careening into a giant gaseous enemy.” — Wired 5/5 - “Osmos is an absolute must that will change the way you think of games, and what you expect from them.” — AppAdvice “Beyond doubt, a work of genius... a relaxing, meditative experience about going with the flow... It all adds up to something otherworldly and just . . . incredible.” — GameAndPlayer.net

About

Orbit

This app is a meditative physics puzzler where you launch planets to create stable orbits around black holes. Explore a variety of levels, create your own challenges in a sandbox mode, and enjoy a visually artistic and relaxing experience.

Highlights
  • Gravity simulation puzzles
  • Create stable orbits
  • Sandbox mode for level creation
  • Community-created levels
  • Visual orbital mechanics
  • Minimalist graphics and relaxing music
Features
Read full description

ORBIT is a gravity simulator at the heart of a puzzle game. Launch planets with a flick of your finger, and try to get them into stable orbits around black holes. Can you make enough orbits to progress to the next level? New: ORBIT now features a Sandbox (paid) where you can create your own levels! Control time, disable collisions, and paint with gravity. Publish your creations to the world for everyone to play. • 45 free levels, with new mechanics are introduced over time — like repulsive black holes and planets with their own gravity that attract each other • Play community-created levels — virtually limitless content made by other players, all completely free • Launch as many planets as you like, and watch the mesmerizing orbital mechanics unfold • Planets leave colored traces, so that at the end of a level you will have created a beautiful piece of art • See the future trajectory of a planet before you launch it • Play in an environment of smooth, minimalist graphics while listening to relaxing classical piano Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/highkeygames Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highkeygames

Screenshots

Osmos for iPad4 screens
Orbit4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Orbit at Free against Osmos for iPad's $3.99. Orbit also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 6 months) and ratings volume (7.6K vs 499). Osmos for iPad's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, review sentiment and device support 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

Orbit is free to download; Osmos for iPad costs $3.99 up front. Orbit sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Osmos for iPad asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Osmos for iPad against 4.8 for Orbit. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Orbit has 7.6K ratings behind it against 499, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of Osmos for iPad's written reviews are positive against 94% of Orbit's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Osmos for iPad ships an update every 6 months, Orbit every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Osmos for iPad versus Orbit: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOsmos for iPadOrbit
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (499 ratings)4.8 (7.6K ratings) — better
Positive reviews91.2% of reviews94.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4997.6K — better
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB139 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHemisphere GamesHIGHKEY Games

Customer experience

Osmos for iPad

All ratings499 ratings
Positive96.4%
Neutral1.6%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews1,072 reviews
Positive91.2%
Neutral3.4%
Negative5.4%

Orbit

All ratings7,627 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral1.0%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews628 reviews
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.5%
Negative3.0%

User reviews

Osmos for iPad

From 499 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🌟 Timeless and well-designed
  • 🎨 Beautiful visuals and ambient soundtrack
  • 🧠 Challenging yet relaxing gameplay
  • 👍 Addictive and immersive experience
  • 🔍 Unique and innovative concept

Room to improve

  • 🔇 No sound or audio issues
  • 🚫 Lack of support for newer devices/platforms
  • 💰 Perceived as overpriced for the content

Orbit

From 7.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fire game
  • 👍 Relaxing and Enjoyable
  • 👍 Calming, fun, stimulating, humble
  • 👍 Simple and yet complicated
  • 👍 Elegant and easy

Room to improve

  • 🐛 In app purchased not reicevied
  • 🐛 Purchase didn't work for sandbox & ad removal but it's fun.
  • 🔒 Be ware of your data
  • 🐛 Love-hate

Bugs and requests

Osmos for iPad

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Disappearing motes making levels unwinnable
  • Compatibility issues on newer devices

Requested features

2 requests
  • Sandbox mode to create custom levels
  • More levels and content updates

Orbit

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • In app purchase not received
  • Sandbox mode not working
  • Game crashing and unable to open

Requested features

6 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Ability to zoom in and out
  • Ability to rotate the game to landscape on iPad
  • Ability to edit and move existing objects in sandbox mode
  • Ability to name planets and add moons
Show 1 more
  • More levels and game modes

In-app purchases

None

Osmos for iPad

No in-app purchases

7 purchases

Orbit

One-time7
  • $1 contribution$0.99
  • Remove ads$0.99
  • $2 contribution$1.99
Show 4 more
  • $3 contribution$2.99
  • Orbit Pro$2.99
  • $5 contribution$4.99
  • $10 contribution$9.99

Questions

Is Osmos for iPad free?
Osmos for iPad costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Orbit free?
Orbit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Osmos for iPad or Orbit?
Orbit is rated higher. Osmos for iPad averages 4.8 out of 5 from 499 ratings, while Orbit averages 4.8 from 7.6K ratings.
Do Osmos for iPad or Orbit have ads?
Orbit shows ads; Osmos for iPad does not.
Which is updated more often, Osmos for iPad or Orbit?
Osmos for iPad ships an update every 6 months, and Orbit every 2 months. Most recently, Osmos for iPad was updated on October 29, 2026 and Orbit on October 30, 2026.

Other comparisons