# Stardash vs Sword & Penguin

The clearest difference is price: Sword & Penguin at Free against Stardash's $1.99. Sword & Penguin also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.9) and review sentiment (100% vs 69%). Stardash's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ratings volume (24 vs 2). On update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Sword & Penguin is free to download; Stardash costs $1.99 up front. Sword & Penguin sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Stardash asks for nothing beyond the download.

Sword & Penguin holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stardash has 24 ratings behind it against 2, 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 100% of Sword & Penguin's.

Stardash ships an update every 3 weeks, Sword & Penguin monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stardash | Sword & Penguin |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [3.9 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stardash/id465071724/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sword-and-penguin/id788767327/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **24** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 69.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 46 MB | 46 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Pascal Bestebroer](https://appshunter.io/developer/364591324) | [Easy 8 Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/293405662) |

## What reviewers say

### Stardash

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stardash/id465071724)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great retro feel
- 👍 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Tight controls
- 👍 Well-designed levels
- 👍 Good value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitchy controls
- 🐛 High difficulty curve
- 🐛 Pixel-perfect jumps required
- 🐛 Inconsistent hit detection
- 🐛 Stuttering frame rate

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- Joystick for movement
- Make Shesan Level 9 easier
- Update for iOS 11 compatibility
- Full screen on iPhone 5
- More sound effects


### Sword & Penguin

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sword-and-penguin/id788767327)

Embark on an adventure to rescue kidnapped penguin eggs from invading polar bears. Solve hundreds of daily puzzles, defeat bosses, and create your own levels. Supports touch, swipe, and controller input.

**Highlights:** Hundreds of daily puzzles, Level editor for user creations, Boss battles against bear army, Touch, swipe, and controller support, Rescue kidnapped penguin eggs

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hint Book | $1.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stardash free?

Stardash costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sword & Penguin free?

Sword & Penguin is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Stardash or Sword & Penguin?

Sword & Penguin is rated higher. Stardash averages 3.9 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Sword & Penguin averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Stardash or Sword & Penguin have ads?

Neither Stardash nor Sword & Penguin shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Stardash or Sword & Penguin?

Stardash ships an update every 3 weeks, and Sword & Penguin monthly. Most recently, Stardash was updated on November 1, 2026 and Sword & Penguin on November 6, 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.*