# Stardash vs NightmareF

Stardash and NightmareF both sit at 3.9 stars, but that hides the real split: 95% of NightmareF's written reviews are positive against 69% of Stardash's. Stardash's advantage is ratings volume (24 vs 2) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Stardash costs $1.99 and NightmareF $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.9 for Stardash against 4.0 for NightmareF. 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 are what separate them: 69% of Stardash's written reviews are positive against 95% of NightmareF's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Stardash | NightmareF |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $1.99 | $1.99 |
| Rating | [3.9 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stardash/id465071724/reviews) | **[4.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nightmaref/id929758928/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **24** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 69.4% of reviews | **95.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Size | 46 MB | 77 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) | [gon lee](https://appshunter.io/developer/929736378) |

## 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


### NightmareF

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nightmaref/id929758928)

Experience a retro-style shooting game with simple touch controls. Battle through stages, defeat bosses and monsters, and aim for the top score on the leaderboard. Enjoy exciting retro sounds and a unique Game&Watch graphic style.

**Highlights:** 5 Stages, 5 Bosses, 14 Monsters, Leaderboard, Retro graphics, Easy touch controls

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Stardash free?

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

### Is NightmareF free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Stardash or NightmareF?

NightmareF is rated higher. Stardash averages 3.9 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while NightmareF averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Stardash or NightmareF have ads?

Neither Stardash nor NightmareF shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Stardash or NightmareF?

Stardash ships an update every 3 weeks, and NightmareF every 3 weeks. Most recently, Stardash was updated on October 15, 2026 and NightmareF on October 4, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*