# the Sheep HD vs POOLS™

The clearest difference is ratings volume: POOLS™ at 1.6K against the Sheep HD's 8. POOLS™ also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 69%) and device support (4 vs 1). the Sheep HD's advantage is iOS requirement (6.0 vs 15.6). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. the Sheep HD sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and POOLS™ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for the Sheep HD against 4.5 for POOLS™. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: POOLS™ has 1.6K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of the Sheep HD's written reviews are positive against 79% of POOLS™'s.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | the Sheep HD | POOLS™ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-sheep-hd/id429432506/reviews)** | [4.5 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **1.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 69.0% of reviews | **79.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 56 MB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Ivan Starchenkov](https://appshunter.io/developer/328195084) | [Tensori](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767614989) |

## What reviewers say

### the Sheep HD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-sheep-hd/id429432506)

Embark on an adventure with three sheep, each possessing unique abilities. Solve intricate puzzles by strategically combining their skills to navigate challenging environments and discover new, handcrafted levels. This game offers an exciting experience for players of all ages.

**Highlights:** Three unique sheep characters, Strategic character combination, Solve intricate puzzles, Explore handcrafted locations, Engaging for all ages

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove all locks | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hint | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Premium | $2.99 | one-time |
| Unlock Hints | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Cute and fun game
- 🤔 Challenging puzzles
- 🤖 Interesting gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paid hints/tips
- 🐛 Buggy controls
- 🤯 Frustratingly difficult levels

**Reported bugs**

- Levels not registering as completed
- Sheep getting stuck in environments

**Requested features**

- More free levels
- Improved hint system
- Easier difficulty progression


### POOLS™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878)

This app offers a slow, reflective, and immersive experience focused on exploration and atmosphere. It evokes feelings of unease and curiosity through its unique environments, inspired by liminal spaces and internet phenomena. Discover changing worlds and subtle narratives without traditional gameplay mechanics.

**Highlights:** Slow, reflective exploration, Atmospheric and immersive environments, Inspired by liminal spaces, Unfolding narrative through exploration, Six distinct chapters, Unique sound design

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| POOLS: Full Game | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Immersive experience
- 🔒 No ads
- 👍 Incredible attention to detail
- 👍 Realistic graphics and sound
- 👍 Eerie and creepy atmosphere

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Boring after a while
- 🐛 Lack of variety in environments

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to move on iPad Pro
- Glitches reported

**Requested features**

- Expand to different Backrooms-inspired themes
- Add a multiplayer mode
- Introduce more interactive elements (e.g., monsters, items to discover)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is the Sheep HD free?

the Sheep HD is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is POOLS™ free?

POOLS™ is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, the Sheep HD or POOLS™?

the Sheep HD is rated higher. the Sheep HD averages 4.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while POOLS™ averages 4.5 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do the Sheep HD or POOLS™ have ads?

Neither the Sheep HD nor POOLS™ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, the Sheep HD or POOLS™?

the Sheep HD ships an update every 2 months, and POOLS™ every 2 months. Most recently, the Sheep HD was updated on October 17, 2026 and POOLS™ on October 17, 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.*