Comparison

Stardash vs Lantern

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

Lantern

Navigate treacherous platforms, collect flames, and keep your lantern burning in this action platformer. Unlock new character skins and lantern colors as you progress through challenging levels and dynamic environments. Discover a secret bonus stage upon completing all levels.

Highlights
  • Skillful platforming gameplay
  • Collect flames to progress
  • Unlock character skins and lantern colors
  • Navigate treacherous traps and obstacles
  • Explore dynamic environments
  • Access secret bonus stage
Features
Read full description

Step into the thrilling world of Lantern, the ultimate action platformer that blends skillful gameplay with stunning visuals. Your mission: complete all the levels by collecting flames as you navigate treacherous platforms filled with traps and obstacles. Core Features Gameplay: Run, jump, and dodge traps while keeping your lantern burning. Collect and Customize: Unlock exciting character skins and lanterns in various colors with collected flames. Secret Level Limbo: Finish all levels to access this mysterious bonus stage. Challenging Obstacles: Master timing and precision as you face moving platforms, spikes. Dynamic Environments: Explore a variety of beautifully designed worlds, each with its own atmosphere and challenges

Screenshots

Stardash4 screens
Lantern4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Lantern at Free against Stardash's $1.99. Lantern also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 69%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Stardash's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and ads (none vs shown). On 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

Lantern is free to download; Stardash costs $1.99 up front. Lantern sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Stardash asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Stardash ships an update every 3 weeks, Lantern weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Stardash versus Lantern: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStardashLantern
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating3.9 (24 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews69.4% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings24 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB200 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperPascal Bestebroeriqbal kpekpassi fofana

Customer experience

Stardash

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

Lantern

Written reviews16 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

Lantern

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Stardash

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Lantern

One-time4
  • coin_500$0.99
  • coin_3000$3.99
  • coin_10000$8.99
Show 1 more
  • coin_50000$29.99

Questions

Is Stardash free?
Stardash costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Lantern free?
Lantern is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Stardash or Lantern have ads?
Lantern shows ads; Stardash does not.
Which is updated more often, Stardash or Lantern?
Stardash ships an update every 3 weeks, and Lantern weekly. Most recently, Stardash was updated on October 23, 2026 and Lantern on October 7, 2026.

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