# Spaceward Ho! vs Crying Suns

The clearest difference is price: Spaceward Ho! at $4.99 against Crying Suns's $8.99. Spaceward Ho! also leads on iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). Crying Suns's advantage is ratings volume (2.2K vs 95) and rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On review sentiment, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Spaceward Ho! costs $4.99 and Crying Suns $8.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Crying Suns holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Crying Suns has 2.2K ratings behind it against 95, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 79% of Spaceward Ho!'s written reviews are positive against 73% of Crying Suns's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Spaceward Ho! ships an update every 6 weeks, Crying Suns monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Spaceward Ho! | Crying Suns |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$4.99** | $8.99 |
| Rating | [4.6 (95 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spaceward-ho/id510527152/reviews) | **[4.8 (2.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crying-suns/id1511788295/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 95 | **2.2K** |
| Positive reviews | **78.6% of reviews** | 72.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#74** |
| Size | 25 MB | 1014 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Ariton](https://appshunter.io/developer/493802606) | [Alternative Shift](https://appshunter.io/developer/394617049) |

## What reviewers say

### Spaceward Ho!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/spaceward-ho/id510527152)

Command a spacefaring civilization to explore, colonize, and conquer the galaxy. Develop technologies, manage resources, and lead your starship fleets in strategic battles against alien adversaries. Forge alliances or dominate the cosmos to determine the fate of the galaxy.

**Highlights:** Galaxy exploration and colonization, Empire and economy management, Technology development, Starship fleet combat, Diplomacy with alien races, Resource mining and terraforming

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- ⏰ Timeless gameplay still engaging after 30+ years
- 📱 Works well on modern iOS devices despite age
- 🎮 Faithful port of classic Mac game
- 🎯 Simple yet deep strategy mechanics
- 😄 Includes original sound effects and Easter eggs

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and stability issues
- 📐 UI feels clunky and dated
- 🔍 Small icons and buttons difficult to tap accurately
- 📊 Missing comparison graphs from original version
- 🎯 Planet icons remain too large when zoomed out

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes when ending turn while winning
- Crashes on iOS 14+ due to security checks
- Audio issues on Mac with Apple Silicon
- Dreadnoughts disappear when mixed with tankers in delayed fleets
- Some planets get stuck and won't terraform or mine

**Requested features**

- Multiplayer support (most frequently requested)
- WiFi/Bluetooth multiplayer with friends
- Game Center integration for multiplayer
- Save/load game functionality for save-scumming
- Ability to rename planets and ships


### Crying Suns

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/crying-suns/id1511788295)

**Currently charting:** #74 Top Paid · Role Playing, #135 Top Paid · Strategy (US App Store)

Command a space fleet in a tactical rogue-lite inspired by classic sci-fi. Explore a procedurally generated universe, engage in strategic ship battles, and uncover a deep storyline across six chapters. Experience a rich narrative and atmospheric gameplay designed for mobile.

**Highlights:** Procedurally-generated space exploration, Tactical battleship and squadron fleet combat, Over 300 story events, Deep, 6-chapter storyline, Mobile-optimized interface

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun gameplay
- 🌟 Amazing atmosphere and story
- 👍 Engaging combat system
- 💎 Great value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔍 Small text and UI elements
- 🔁 Repetitive gameplay and missions

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes when using certain ship abilities
- Crashes during end-of-chapter cutscenes
- Progression-blocking bugs preventing access to new content
- Inability to progress past specific story points due to crashes

**Requested features**

- Zoom functionality for combat screen
- Ability to play own music during gameplay
- Endless mode or sandbox option
- Improved tutorial to explain key mechanics


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Spaceward Ho! free?

Spaceward Ho! costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Crying Suns free?

Crying Suns costs $8.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Spaceward Ho! or Crying Suns?

Crying Suns is rated higher. Spaceward Ho! averages 4.6 out of 5 from 95 ratings, while Crying Suns averages 4.8 from 2.2K ratings.

### Do Spaceward Ho! or Crying Suns have ads?

Neither Spaceward Ho! nor Crying Suns shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Spaceward Ho! or Crying Suns?

Spaceward Ho! ships an update every 6 weeks, and Crying Suns monthly. Most recently, Spaceward Ho! was updated on October 24, 2026 and Crying Suns on October 29, 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.*