# Osmos vs Magic Research

The clearest difference is update cadence: Magic Research at every 4 days against Osmos's every 7 months. Osmos's advantage is chart position (#92 vs unranked) and ratings volume (892 vs 188). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Osmos costs $3.99 and Magic Research $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Osmos against 4.7 for Magic Research. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 892 and 188 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 92% of Osmos's written reviews are positive against 95% of Magic Research's.

Osmos ships an update every 7 months, Magic Research every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Osmos | Magic Research |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | $3.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (892 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/osmos/id382991304/reviews)** | [4.7 (188 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-research/id1671272877/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **892** | 188 |
| Positive reviews | 92.3% of reviews | **95.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#92** | — |
| Size | 48 MB | 25 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.4** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Hemisphere Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/379323385) | [Matias Ezequiel Colotto](https://appshunter.io/developer/1669682477) |

## What reviewers say

### Osmos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/osmos/id382991304)

**Currently charting:** #92 Top Paid · Puzzle, #161 Top Paid · Simulation (US App Store)

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

**Highlights:** Physics-based gameplay, Absorb smaller organisms to grow, Avoid larger predators, Stellar graphics, Ambient soundtrack, 72 levels across 8 worlds, Multiplayer mode

**Features:** Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Mesmerizing visuals and aesthetics
- 🎶 Excellent soundtrack and audio design
- 🧠 Challenging and thought-provoking gameplay
- 🕰️ Ability to control time/speed
- 🕊️ Relaxing and meditative experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Frustratingly difficult at times
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🖥️ Not optimized for larger screens (iPad)
- 🔍 Lack of zoom/scale controls

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on certain devices/OS versions
- Compatibility issues with newer hardware

**Requested features**

- More levels and content updates
- Multiplayer mode improvements
- Customization options (e.g. music, visuals)
- Difficulty settings or accessibility options


### Magic Research

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/magic-research/id1671272877)

Lead a new magic institution to discover the secrets of magic and achieve fame. Research spells, build your campus, manage staff, and uncover hidden storylines to win the Tournament of Magic. Enjoy a complete game experience with no ads.

**Highlights:** Cast over 100 spells, Research magic in various schools, Build and manage campus, Manage researchers and apprentices, Discover hidden features and storylines, Retirement bonuses for faster progress

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great idle/incremental game
- 💡 Deep and complex systems
- 🚀 Well-paced progression
- 💰 Worth the price
- ✨ No ads or microtransactions

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 UI layout issues
- 🐌 Can be grindy
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 🐛 Text running off page/scrolling issues
- 🐛 Wood resource bug

**Reported bugs**

- On new iPhones, switching away and back causes UI unresponsiveness
- Text running off the page, preventing interaction with buttons
- Wood resource counting backwards
- Becoming stunned for a full minute, unable to act
- Bosses running away from fights

**Requested features**

- Add background music
- Add Chinese language support
- Make monsters pixelated
- Adjustable times for apprentice auto-casting
- Display monstium collection counter during exploration


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Osmos free?

Osmos costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Magic Research free?

Magic Research costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Osmos or Magic Research?

Osmos is rated higher. Osmos averages 4.8 out of 5 from 892 ratings, while Magic Research averages 4.7 from 188 ratings.

### Do Osmos or Magic Research have ads?

Neither Osmos nor Magic Research shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Osmos or Magic Research?

Osmos ships an update every 7 months, and Magic Research every 4 days. Most recently, Osmos was updated on October 15, 2026 and Magic Research on October 13, 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.*