# PapiStep vs Pac.io

The clearest difference is rating: PapiStep at 4.8 against Pac.io's 4.2. PapiStep also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). Pac.io's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 19 months) and ratings volume (340 vs 5). On price, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pac.io sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. PapiStep asks for nothing beyond the download.

PapiStep holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pac.io has 340 ratings behind it against 5, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of PapiStep's written reviews are positive against 54% of Pac.io's.

PapiStep ships an update every 19 months, Pac.io fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PapiStep | Pac.io |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/papistep/id441498738/reviews)** | [4.2 (340 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pacio/id1274026778/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **340** |
| Positive reviews | **60.5% of reviews** | 53.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 19 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 139 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Yohei Iwasaki](https://appshunter.io/developer/285800498) | [Nomadic Bear Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/1188304416) |

## What reviewers say

### PapiStep

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/papistep/id441498738)

Guide a character upwards by tapping to jump onto moving platforms. Avoid falling off the screen to keep playing. The game ends if your character falls.

**Highlights:** Tap to jump, Ascend higher, Moving platforms, Endless gameplay, Left/right screen wrap

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Nostalgic childhood game
- 👍 Addictive and challenging gameplay
- 💯 Masterpiece and best game ever
- 🚀 Fun and passes time
- 🌟 Highly recommended for PapiJump players

**What reviewers complain about**

- 😠 Too hard and frustrating
- 👎 Boring after a while
- 🐌 Slow to respond
- 🤷 Confusing and hard to play
- 😞 Not as good as other Papi games

**Reported bugs**

- Won't lean
- Doesn't show up on homescreen
- Takes to random internet page
- Papi does not jump when trying to make him jump
- Can't control Papi at all

**Requested features**

- Papi Step 2 game
- More graphics and music
- Different difficulties
- Add something new to make it different


### Pac.io

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pacio/id1274026778)

Engage in an addictive grid-battle by swiping to outsmart opponents and dominate the arena. Utilize a variety of power-ups and unlock unique skins to enhance your gameplay and rise through the ranks. Enjoy endless fun offline or online with intuitive controls.

**Highlights:** Swipe controls for movement, Strategic power-ups, Unlockable skins, Offline and online play, Intuitive gameplay

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Coin Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Coin Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Magnet | $4.99 | one-time |
| Thunder | $4.99 | one-time |
| Sword | $4.99 | one-time |
| Big Coin Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| No Ads | $9.99 | one-time |
| Large Coin Pack | $19.99 | one-time |
| Huge Coin Pack | $49.99 | one-time |
| Massive Coin Pack | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 😍 Highly addictive and engaging gameplay
- 🎮 Fun Pac-Man inspired mechanics
- 👥 Real multiplayer players (not just bots)
- ⚡ Fast-paced and entertaining
- 🏆 Leaderboard and competitive features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📺 Excessive ads throughout gameplay
- ⚠️ Ads interrupt and crash the game
- 😤 Unfair difficulty and instant death
- 🎮 Sliding controls instead of D-pad/joystick
- 🤖 Questionable AI behavior and cheating

**Reported bugs**

- Ads crash game at end of video
- Game freezes after ad completion
- Pink screen ad that cannot be closed
- Instant death upon spawning
- Players getting stuck behind walls

**Requested features**

- Arrow buttons or D-pad controls instead of sliding
- Ad-free premium version for purchase
- Ability to disable ads with WiFi off
- Friend list and private room creation
- Real player names instead of randomized ones


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PapiStep free?

PapiStep is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Pac.io free?

Pac.io is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, PapiStep or Pac.io?

PapiStep is rated higher. PapiStep averages 4.8 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Pac.io averages 4.2 from 340 ratings.

### Do PapiStep or Pac.io have ads?

Pac.io shows ads; PapiStep does not.

### Which is updated more often, PapiStep or Pac.io?

PapiStep ships an update every 19 months, and Pac.io fortnightly. Most recently, PapiStep was updated on October 19, 2026 and Pac.io on October 20, 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.*