Comparison

Spectaculator vs Astro Wars

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

Head to head
About

Spectaculator

Relive the golden era of 8-bit gaming with this emulator. Play over 150 licensed classic ZX Spectrum games, with more available through in-app purchases. Features include save states, cheat codes, game hints, and authentic 1980s visual simulations.

Highlights
  • Play over 150 licensed ZX Spectrum games
  • Save game progress with multiple slots
  • Enter cheats and lookup game hints
  • Authentic 1980s TV screen simulation
  • Virtual and external keyboard support
  • iCloud save syncing across devices
  • Program in Sinclair BASIC
Features
Read full description

Now over 150 licensed ZX Spectrum games available! In April 1982, Sir Clive Sinclair launched what was to become one of the most popular home computers ever made - the Sinclair ZX Spectrum. Spectaculator takes you back to the 1980s - to the golden era of 8-bit gaming! Play the following 22 officially licensed classic ZX Spectrum games:     - 3D Starstrike by Realtime Games Software     - Auf Wiedersehen Monty by Gremlin Graphics     - Avenger by Gremlin Graphics     - Bounder by Gremlin Graphics     - Cyclone by Vortex Software     - Dark Star by Design Design     - Dynamite Dan by Rod Bowkett/Mirrorsoft     - Forbidden Planet by Design Design     - Halls of the Things by Design Design     - Highway Encounter by Vortex Software     - Jack The Nipper by Gremlin Graphics     - Krackout by Gremlin Graphics     - Jekyll & Hyde by Zenobi Software     - Metabolis by Gremlin Graphics     - Monty On The Run by Gremlin Graphics     - On The Run by Design Design     - Revolution by Vortex Software     - Tau Ceti by Pete Cooke/CRL     - The Way Of The Tiger by Gremlin Graphics     - Albatrossity by Jonathan Cauldwell     - Battery's Not Precluded by Jonathan Cauldwell     - The Fantastic Mister Fruity by Jonathan Cauldwell ... with more available from the in-app shop. Spectaculator gives you the most authentic ZX Spectrum experience available on your iPhone, iPod and iPad, and comes with lots of additional features: • Universal App - runs on iPhone, iPod and iPad. • Supports iPhone 5 and iPod touch 5th generation screen. • Play in portrait or landscape orientations • Save your game progress (four saved game slots + one iCloud saved game slot per game). • Save your progress to iCloud from one device (e.g. iPod) and load to continue playing on another (e.g. iPad). • Enter pokes (cheats) for infinite lives, shields etc. • Lookup game hints, tips and maps • Play in black and white with TV screen simulation for the ultimate 1980s experience! • Battle to the top of the (Game Center) leaderboards! • Type on a virtual ZX Spectrum keyboard • Use an external Bluetooth keyboard for playing adventure games • Choose authentic cassette loading or fast play • Program in Sinclair BASIC • Enjoy high resolution graphics on Retina screens • Play using an external arcade controller (iCade or iControlPad) Additional Game Packs ------------------- The following games packs are available from the in-app shop: Design Design Games Pack     - 5 Games. Includes Halls of the Things, Dark Star, Forbidden Planet Gremlin Graphics Vol. 1     - 6 games. Includes Wanted! Monty Mole, Skate Crazy, Thing Bounces Back Gremlin Graphics Vol. 2     - 6 games. Includes Jack The Nipper II: In Coconut Capers, North Star, Grumpy Gumphrey, Supersleuth Gremlin Graphics Vol. 3     - 6 games. Includes Switchblade, Trailblazer, Super Scramble Simulator, Percy The Potty Pigeon Odin Computer Graphics Anthology     - 9 games. Includes Nodes Of Yesod, Robin Of The Wood, Heartland Realtime Games Pack     - Starstrike II     - 3D Tank Duel Stephen Crow Anthology (Free!) ©1983-2013 Stephen Crow. All rights reserved.    - 5 games. Includes Firelord, Starquake, Wizard's Lair Vortex Anthology     - 6 games. Includes Alien Highway, Deflektor, T.L.L. (Tornado Low Level) Zenobi Adventure Pack Vol. 1     - 6 games. Includes Aura-Scope, The Gods of War, Leopold The Minstrel Zenobi Adventure Pack Vol. 2     - 6 games. Includes The Khangrin Plans, The Krazy Kartoonist Kaper, A Murder Mystery Weekend Zenobi Adventures Vol. 3    - 5 games. Includes The Apprentice, The Bardic Rite, Jester Quest, Knight Life, Mutiny! The following single games are available from the in-app shop:     - Carrier Command     - Dynamite Dan II     - Frank N. Stein     - Laser Squad     - Lords Of Chaos     - The Lords Of Midnight     - Doomdark's Revenge     - Everyone's a Wally     - KWAH!     - Redhawk     - Skool Daze

About

Astro Wars

Relive the 80s with an accurate emulation of a classic tabletop arcade game. Experience authentic retro sounds, graphics, and gameplay with multiple attack waves and a challenging ship docking sequence.

Highlights
  • Accurate simulation of classic handheld machine
  • Full retro sound effects
  • Four waves of attack
  • Simple and addictive gameplay
  • Nostalgic 80s experience
  • Ship docking challenge
Features
Read full description

Astro Wars reviewed in the latest edition of Retro Gamer magazine: "Fans of the old tabletop game from Grandstand will be highly impressed with this accurate IOS port. It looks superb, sounds annoyingly authentic and features every stage and the ship docking from the original game." 72% -Retro Gamer After the success of our Galaxy Invader and Invader from Space games, BeatsNBobs are proud to release our most eagerly anticipated and requested video game emulation, Astro Wars. Also known as Galaxy II *Screenshots show actual app in action and original artwork based on the original packaging. See how close to the real thing it is! Travel back to the 80's and this was THE video game to have in the home. It was one of the most advanced video games of the time with four sub games, coloured fluorescent display and a joystick only seen in the arcades. You could finally have your very own arcade machine in your home. These types of machines were made by companies such as Grandstand, Tomy, Entex, CGL, Tandy, Bandai and Epoch to name but a few. Also known as "Galaxy II" by Epoch • Accurate simulation of the classic handheld /desktop machine • Full retro sounds • 4 waves of attack • Simple and addictive • Totally nostalgic Some reviews so far: Great retro fun ***** by romfordneil - Version 1.0 - Sep 7, 2013 Super gameplay just like the original machine for those of us of a certain age! A blast from the past ***** by Bagpuss1000 - Version 1.0 - Sep 3, 2013 A perfect emulation...... A must for retro fans. Brilliant old skool action ***** by psj3809 - Version 1.0 - Sep 2, 2013 I remember this from the early 80s. It was one if the best tabletop games out there This is a brilliant version for iOS and the memories come flooding back. Well worth picking up TO PLAY: Turn Power ON (menu will disappear and intro music will play). Select Level (Graphics will resemble difficulty level). Press Start (Gameplay will begin after intro music). Fire at all enemies while dodging enemy fire on all phases of attack. If you survive three attack waves,you get the chance for more points if you can dock your rocket-ship. Press fire, left and right for thrusts to land rocket ship. Game is complete when you reach 9999 points or you lose all your lives. To restart, turn off and on Power. If using with iCade or compatible controller, press the iCade button on top left and you can now use joystick and red fire(5) button. NOTE: pressing this without connection to a compatible Bluetooth controller will bring up the keyboard. If this happens just press the button again to turn it off. We have painstakingly analysed every detail of this game and we have managed to achieve 99% of the original. We had to modify the controls as it simply does not work as well on an iPhone or iPad so you now have extra large arrow keys but we have left the joystick in for the purists out there (which you can try to use but we recommend the larger arrow keys). All the sound effects are here. All four phases including the docking sequence. We compared this to two real machines as these also vary with slight details and we are very pleased with the results. We hope you will be too. If you find anything that does not feel quite right let us know from the app. Enjoy this blast from the past and if you like this why not look at our others. More information about this classic game on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astro_Wars

Screenshots

Spectaculator4 screens
Astro Wars3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Astro Wars at none against Spectaculator's 10. Astro Wars also leads on price ($1.99 vs $2.99). Spectaculator's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.2) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 12 months). On review sentiment, ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

Spectaculator costs $2.99 and Astro Wars $1.99 up front. Spectaculator sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Astro Wars asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Spectaculator holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Spectaculator has 39 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 64% of Spectaculator's written reviews are positive against 69% of Astro Wars's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spectaculator ships an update every 2 months, Astro Wars every 12 months. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Spectaculator versus Astro Wars: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpectaculatorAstro Wars
Price$2.99$1.99 — better
Rating4.7 (39 ratings) — better4.2 (5 ratings)
Positive reviews63.6% of reviews69.4% of reviews — better
Number of ratings39 — better5
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 12 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better12.1
Further details — not scored
Size31 MB28 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperJonathan NeedleRob Wilmot

Customer experience

Spectaculator

All ratings39 ratings
Positive92.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative7.7%
Written reviews121 reviews
Positive63.6%
Neutral5.0%
Negative31.4%

Astro Wars

All ratings5 ratings
Positive80.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative20.0%
Written reviews72 reviews
Positive69.4%
Neutral4.2%
Negative26.4%

Bugs and requests

Spectaculator

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Astro Wars

Reported bugs

17 issues
  • Lag on left right controls
  • Constant crashing
  • Controls don't work
  • Black screen
  • Joystick works poorly
Show 12 more
  • Game doesn't switch on
  • No sound
  • Controls are so bad
  • Unresponsive controls
  • Docking manoeuvre timing out
  • Cannot move left and right on lander level
  • Sometimes only takes 2 shots not 3 to knock out aliens
  • Ship nor the dock moves in the docking sequence
  • Left right controls need work
  • Controls are not responsive enough
  • Ship dock is uncontrollable
  • No sound on iPad Pro

Requested features

10 requests
  • Improve slider control responsiveness
  • Fix docking sequence timing
  • Make controls more positive
  • Expand responsive area for controls
  • Fix lander level movement
Show 5 more
  • Fix alien hit detection timing
  • Add continuous melody for 10 times in sound
  • Fix docking maneuver timing out
  • Fix ship and dock movement in docking sequence
  • Fix lander level movement and alien hit detection

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Spectaculator

One-time10
  • Realtime Games Pack$0.99
  • The Lords Of Midnight$0.99
  • Skool Daze$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Frank N. Stein$0.99
  • Design Design Anthology$1.99
  • Vortex Anthology$1.99
  • Odin Anthology$1.99
  • Alternative Software Pack 1$1.99
  • Zenobi Adventures Vol. 2$1.99
  • Zenobi Adventures Vol. 1$1.99
None

Astro Wars

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Spectaculator free?
Spectaculator costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Astro Wars free?
Astro Wars costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Spectaculator or Astro Wars?
Spectaculator is rated higher. Spectaculator averages 4.7 out of 5 from 39 ratings, while Astro Wars averages 4.2 from 5 ratings.
Do Spectaculator or Astro Wars have ads?
Neither Spectaculator nor Astro Wars shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spectaculator or Astro Wars?
Spectaculator ships an update every 2 months, and Astro Wars every 12 months. Most recently, Spectaculator was updated on November 7, 2026 and Astro Wars on November 6, 2026.

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