Comparison

Stardash vs Gargoyle Ruins

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

Head to head
About

Stardash

Experience a challenging retro platformer with classic gameplay and vibrant pixel art. Master difficult levels with infinite lives, unlock secret areas, and enjoy an authentic chiptune soundtrack. This game offers a rewarding experience for those who love a good challenge.

Highlights
  • Classic platformer gameplay
  • Challenging levels
  • Infinite lives
  • Unlockable temple levels
  • Flip-mode challenges
  • Retro graphics
  • Original chiptune soundtrack
Features
Read full description

Not just the looks of a classic game, also the gameplay of a classic platformer. This game is NOT EASY! you have an endless amount of lives, so you can quickly restart a level when you miss a jump, get hit by an enemy, get bitten by a plant, get hit by a spiky-ball, crushed by big statues, run onto spikes, get hit by a wasp, or any of the other many ways you’ll get stopped in your run. BUT when you do complete a level, the rush you get will keep you coming back for more, and more, and more, and.. Unlock special temple levels by finding hidden keys, unlock a flip-mode by completing a level both within the time set, and also by collecting all the coins in a level. Stardash is all about the gameplay thrown at you in awesome retro graphics and original chiptunes. ** OTHERS SAY: "all the ingredients needed for platforming excellence" - iFanzine "Orange Pixel nailed everything they were going for in this veritable symphony of old school gaming." - Appolicious "back to my early years, playing my favorite platform games" - unbound gamer "if you’re not gonna grab this, you will miss something truly wonderful" - app-score

About

Gargoyle Ruins

Embark on a retro adventure inspired by classic tabletop arcade games. Solve a kingdom's mystery, rescue kidnapped girls, and defeat evil forces through challenging gameplay and engaging story.

Highlights
  • Retro VFD tabletop arcade style
  • Story Mode with mystery and upgrades
  • Arcade Mode with global leaderboards
  • Over 50 upgradeable items
  • 40 challenging achievements
  • Multiple death scenarios
Features
Read full description

Step into the boots of a true hero in Gargoyle Ruins, the prequel to Game Stew's first title and TouchArcade's Arcade 2012 Game Of The Year--Tower of Fortune! With your companion by your side it is your hero's duty to save a wealthy kingdom where girls are kidnapped by gargoyles once a year. Solve the mystery and defeat the evil forces in this retro VFD tabletop arcade game inspired by the early Game & Watch games! Features - Retro-style visuals with funny animation and detailed 8-bit art - 7 fun and challenging games to enjoy including Princess Rescue, Dead Man’s Gold, Queen’s Chamber, and more - Play Story Mode to unveil the mystery behind the troubled kingdom as you equip the hero and upgrade the game with over 50 pieces of content to take on the next rewarding challenge - Arcade mode lets you challenge other player's high scores and see your ranking in the world - From getting stabbed, drowned, or burned, prepare to die in more than 13 unique ways during your journey - 40 challenging achievements to conquer if you have what it takes to be a hero ----------------------------------------------------------- Facebook http://www.facebook.com/TowerofFortune Gameplay Movie http://youtu.be/8cv-TIUTgyc

Screenshots

Stardash4 screens
Gargoyle Ruins4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Stardash at 3.9 against Gargoyle Ruins's 3.3. Stardash also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 8) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months). On price, ads, monetization model 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

Stardash costs $1.99 and Gargoyle Ruins $1.99 up front. Gargoyle Ruins sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Stardash asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Stardash holds the better App Store score, 3.9 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stardash has 24 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 69% of Stardash's written reviews are positive against 52% of Gargoyle Ruins's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Stardash ships an update every 3 weeks, Gargoyle Ruins every 8 months. Both last shipped on October 23, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Stardash versus Gargoyle Ruins: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStardashGargoyle Ruins
Price$1.99$1.99
Rating3.9 (24 ratings) — better3.3 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews69.4% of reviews — better51.5% of reviews
Number of ratings24 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 8 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPascal BestebroerGame Stew

Customer experience

Stardash

All ratings24 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral12.5%
Negative20.8%
Written reviews62 reviews
Positive69.4%
Neutral12.9%
Negative17.7%

Gargoyle Ruins

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews33 reviews
Positive51.5%
Neutral18.2%
Negative30.3%

Bugs and requests

Stardash

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • Jump button disappeared after update
  • Game crashes on iOS 7
  • Doesn't work with iOS 11
  • Proximity to enemies kills needs work
  • Hit detection is weird
Show 6 more
  • Animation could be smoother
  • Collision detection needs to be tighter
  • Controls broken on iControlPad in iCade mode
  • Crash on launch
  • Frame rate issues
  • Invisible walls for secret areas

Requested features

15 requests
  • Joystick for movement
  • Make Shesan Level 9 easier
  • Update for iOS 11 compatibility
  • Full screen on iPhone 5
  • More sound effects
Show 10 more
  • Character upgradable
  • Make game compatible with 60beat controller
  • Add mega difficulty mode
  • Fix achievements
  • Move OpenFeint logo
  • Rearrange buttons
  • More levels
  • Add color or costume for character
  • Unique control system
  • Flip iPad upside down for headphone jack clearance

Gargoyle Ruins

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Stardash

No in-app purchases

8 purchases

Gargoyle Ruins

One-time8
  • 1000G$0.99
  • 2500G$1.99
  • 7500G$4.99
Show 5 more
  • 25000G$9.99
  • 42000G$14.99
  • 62000G$19.99
  • 85000G$24.99
  • 150000G$29.99

Questions

Is Stardash free?
Stardash costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Gargoyle Ruins free?
Gargoyle Ruins costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Stardash or Gargoyle Ruins?
Stardash is rated higher. Stardash averages 3.9 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Gargoyle Ruins averages 3.3 from 4 ratings.
Do Stardash or Gargoyle Ruins have ads?
Neither Stardash nor Gargoyle Ruins shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Stardash or Gargoyle Ruins?
Stardash ships an update every 3 weeks, and Gargoyle Ruins every 8 months. Most recently, Stardash was updated on October 23, 2026 and Gargoyle Ruins on October 23, 2026.

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