# Powder Game vs Sandbox

Powder Game and Sandbox both sit at 4.5 stars, but that hides the real split: 85% of Powder Game's written reviews are positive against 48% of Sandbox's. Powder Game also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Sandbox's advantage is ratings volume (8.4K vs 2.1K). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sandbox sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Powder Game asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Powder Game against 4.4 for Sandbox. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.1K and 8.4K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of Powder Game's written reviews are positive against 48% of Sandbox's.

Powder Game ships an update every 6 weeks, Sandbox monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Powder Game | Sandbox |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (2.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/powder-game/id521519384/reviews)** | [4.4 (8.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-physics-simulator/id1563185441/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2.1K | **8.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **84.9% of reviews** | 47.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 48 MB | 208 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DAN-BALL](https://appshunter.io/developer/348592290) | [Tran Dinh Hung](https://appshunter.io/developer/1475879763) |

## What reviewers say

### Powder Game

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/powder-game/id521519384)

Explore a physics sandbox where you can simulate the interactions of various elements like water, fire, and gunpowder. Witness unique reactions and emergent phenomena as different 'dots' collide and influence each other.

**Highlights:** Physics simulation with powder elements, Over 30 different dot variations, Simulate element reactions, Explosion effects, Plant growth simulation

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎉 Fun sandbox game
- 👍 Satisfying gameplay
- 🎨 Lots of creative possibilities
- 🔍 Interesting element interactions
- 🕹️ Engaging player/fighter mechanics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional glitches and bugs
- 📺 Intrusive ads
- 🔒 Limited customization options
- 🚫 Pixel/dot limit frustrating
- 🔍 Unclear how to use some features

**Reported bugs**

- View feature not working as expected
- Occasional freezing or crashing
- Inconsistent player/fighter behavior
- Saved creations sometimes disappearing

**Requested features**

- Add more elements and materials
- Increase pixel/dot limit or make it unlimited
- Implement a save/load system for creations
- Add more player/fighter customization options
- Introduce new gameplay modes or challenges


### Sandbox

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sandbox-physics-simulator/id1563185441)

Explore a creative sandbox world where you can mix elements to discover their reactions and create dynamic environments. Experiment with physics, build structures, and witness exciting events like explosions and growth. New modes allow for planet destruction and life cycle simulation.

**Highlights:** Element mixing and reaction discovery, World building with plants and weather, Physics experiments (fire, explosions), Planet destruction mode, Life cycle simulation mode

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Unique and creative concept
- 🔬 Interesting physics and chemistry experiments
- 🕹️ Fun and addictive gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Excessive and intrusive ads
- 🤖 Lack of customization and control options
- 🔍 Difficulty finding certain elements

**Reported bugs**

- Certain elements not functioning as expected
- Saved files becoming corrupted
- Inconsistent performance and stability issues

**Requested features**

- Add more elements and materials to experiment with
- Implement a pause/speed up time feature
- Introduce a sandbox mode without any ads
- Allow users to save and load custom creations


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Powder Game free?

Powder Game is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sandbox free?

Sandbox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Powder Game or Sandbox?

Powder Game is rated higher. Powder Game averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Sandbox averages 4.4 from 8.4K ratings.

### Do Powder Game or Sandbox have ads?

Both Powder Game and Sandbox show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Powder Game or Sandbox?

Powder Game ships an update every 6 weeks, and Sandbox monthly. Most recently, Powder Game was updated on September 23, 2026 and Sandbox on September 24, 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.*