Comparison

Osmos vs Powder Game

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

Head to head
About

Osmos

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
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 “Beyond doubt, a work of genius" — GameAndPlayer.net 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 "iPhone App of the Week" — Apple * Apple Design Award winner (iPad version) * #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.) * Award-winning electronic soundtrack by Loscil, Gas, High Skies, Biosphere, Julien Neto, and more. * Endless replay value: play random versions of any level in Arcade mode. * 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 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 “The best iPad game yet.” — IGN 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 “What iPad Gaming Should Be All About” — Gizmodo “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 “It’s the best iPad game on the App Store” — MTV Multiplayer 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

Powder Game

Explore a physics sandbox where you can simulate the interactions of various elements like water, fire, and gunpowder. Witness unique reactions and emergent phenomena as different 'dots' collide and influence each other.

Highlights
  • Physics simulation with powder elements
  • Over 30 different dot variations
  • Simulate element reactions
  • Explosion effects
  • Plant growth simulation
Features
Read full description

Imagine the cool phenomenon when the wind blows the falling leaves. This game physics simulates the phenomenon with powder (dots)! You can choose more than 30 different variations of the dot. Water, fire, oil, gunpowder, metal, seed, birds, Ant and more. The various reactions when in hit with a dot and a dot. The explosion on hit with fire and gunpowder. Trees grow when in hit with the seed and sand.

Screenshots

Osmos4 screens
Powder Game4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Powder Game at Free against Osmos's $3.99. Powder Game also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 7 months). Osmos's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On review sentiment, ratings volume, in-app purchases 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

Powder Game is free to download; Osmos costs $3.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Osmos holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 892 and 2.1K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 92% of Osmos's written reviews are positive against 85% of Powder Game's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Osmos ships an update every 7 months, Powder Game every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Osmos versus Powder Game: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOsmosPowder Game
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating4.8 (892 ratings) — better4.5 (2.1K ratings)
Positive reviews92.3% of reviews — better84.9% of reviews
Number of ratings8922.1K — better
Update frequencyEvery 7 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaidAd-supported — better
Best chart rank#56 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.413.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size48 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHemisphere GamesDAN-BALL

Customer experience

Osmos

All ratings892 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.2%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews1,212 reviews
Positive92.3%
Neutral3.2%
Negative4.5%

Powder Game

All ratings2,144 ratings
Positive88.8%
Neutral4.3%
Negative6.9%
Written reviews518 reviews
Positive84.9%
Neutral7.1%
Negative7.9%

User reviews

Osmos

From 892 App Store ratings

What we love

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

Room to improve

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

Powder Game

From 2.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎉 Fun sandbox game
  • 👍 Satisfying gameplay
  • 🎨 Lots of creative possibilities
  • 🔍 Interesting element interactions
  • 🕹️ Engaging player/fighter mechanics

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
  • 📺 Intrusive ads
  • 🔒 Limited customization options
  • 🚫 Pixel/dot limit frustrating
  • 🔍 Unclear how to use some features

Bugs and requests

Osmos

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

Powder Game

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • View feature not working as expected
  • Occasional freezing or crashing
  • Inconsistent player/fighter behavior
  • Saved creations sometimes disappearing

Requested features

6 requests
  • Add more elements and materials
  • Increase pixel/dot limit or make it unlimited
  • Implement a save/load system for creations
  • Add more player/fighter customization options
  • Introduce new gameplay modes or challenges
Show 1 more
  • Improve visibility of glass and other transparent elements

In-app purchases

None

Osmos

No in-app purchases

None

Powder Game

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Osmos free?
Osmos costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Powder Game free?
Powder Game is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Osmos or Powder Game?
Osmos is rated higher. Osmos averages 4.8 out of 5 from 892 ratings, while Powder Game averages 4.5 from 2.1K ratings.
Do Osmos or Powder Game have ads?
Powder Game shows ads; Osmos does not.
Which is updated more often, Osmos or Powder Game?
Osmos ships an update every 7 months, and Powder Game every 6 weeks. Most recently, Osmos was updated on September 24, 2026 and Powder Game on September 23, 2026.

Other comparisons