Comparison

Retro Racing 2 vs JOUST.

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Retro Racing 2

Experience classic 2D top-down racing with a modern twist. Choose unique cars, collect power-ups, and compete on diverse tracks. Enjoy split-screen multiplayer and climb leaderboards for hours of nostalgic fun.

Highlights
  • Classic 2D Top-Down Racing
  • Variety of Cars with Unique Attributes
  • Power-Ups for Performance Boosts
  • Multiple Challenging Level Packs
  • Split-Screen Multiplayer (up to 4 players)
  • Global Leaderboards
Features
Read full description

PLEASE NOTE: Play the Lessons and Practice level packs for free. A one-time in-app purchase unlocks the full game. Rev your engines and get ready for a thrilling ride with Retro Racing 2, the ultimate old-school retro racing game that brings back the excitement of classic 2D top-down racing. Choose from a variety of cars, each with unique performance characteristics, and race across diverse tracks and challenging environments. Collect power-ups, to increase Top Speed, Acceleration and Tires, or for an instant Nitro boost, and speed your way to the top of the leaderboard! This nostalgic yet fresh racing game offers an adrenaline-pumping experience that will keep you hooked for hours. Slick graphics and exhilarating gameplay make Retro Racing 2 a must-play for racing enthusiasts of all ages. Features • Classic 2D Top-Down Racing: Enjoy the simplicity and thrill of retro-style racing with modern enhancements. • Cars: Choose from a variety of cars, each with distinct speed, handling, and acceleration attributes to suit your racing style and track. • Power-Ups: Collect power-ups scattered across the tracks to boost your car’s performance and gain an edge over your rivals. • Level Packs: Race through various challenging environments including: • Practice: Hone your skills and master the tracks before taking on tougher challenges. • Circuits: Traditional racing tracks for a pure, competitive experience. • Snow: Slippery and unpredictable tracks to test your control. • Sand: Tight sandy tracks that require careful handling and quick reflexes to avoid sliding off course. • Split-Screen Multiplayer: Compete with up to 4 players in split-screen mode and quadruple the fun! • Leaderboards: Climb to the top of the leaderboard, showcasing your racing prowess and achieving the ultimate bragging rights. Why You'll Love It • Fun for All Ages: Simple yet engaging gameplay makes it perfect for players of all ages. • Replay Value: Multiple cars, power-ups, and level packs, every race offers a new and exciting challenge, will keep you coming back to improve on your best time. • Competitive Spirit: The leaderboard adds a competitive edge, encouraging players to continuously improve their skills and outperform their friends. Get Ready to Race! Join the Retro Racing 2 community and relive the glory days of arcade racing with a modern twist. Whether you’re a seasoned racer or a newcomer, there’s always a thrill waiting for you on the track. Download Retro Racing 2 today and experience the ultimate in retro racing fun!

About

JOUST.

Relive the classic 1980s arcade experience with this faithful recreation of the original Joust game. Enjoy the iconic gameplay and challenge yourself with this retro title.

Highlights
  • Original Joust gameplay
  • 1980s arcade experience
  • Retro gaming
  • Arcade classic
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

play the original game of joust from the 1980s

Screenshots

Retro Racing 24 screens
JOUST.4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Retro Racing 2 at Free against JOUST.'s $4.99. Retro Racing 2 also leads on review sentiment (69% vs 35%) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 months). JOUST.'s advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and ads (none vs shown). On rating, ratings volume, device support and iOS requirement 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

Retro Racing 2 is free to download; JOUST. costs $4.99 up front. Retro Racing 2 sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. JOUST. asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.0 for Retro Racing 2 against 4.0 for JOUST.. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 156 and 147 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of Retro Racing 2's written reviews are positive against 35% of JOUST.'s.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Retro Racing 2 ships an update weekly, JOUST. every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 4 level
Retro Racing 2 versus JOUST.: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRetro Racing 2JOUST.
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.0 (156 ratings)4.0 (147 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.2% of reviews — better35.1% of reviews
Number of ratings156 — better147
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 3 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank—#190 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.012.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size46 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMr Qwak LimitedMatthew Reiner

Customer experience

Retro Racing 2

All ratings153 ratings
Positive74.5%
Neutral7.2%
Negative18.3%
Written reviews130 reviews
Positive69.2%
Neutral12.3%
Negative18.5%

JOUST.

All ratings146 ratings
Positive74.7%
Neutral7.5%
Negative17.8%
Written reviews37 reviews
Positive35.1%
Neutral18.9%
Negative45.9%

User reviews

Retro Racing 2

From 156 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎮 Fun and retro-style gameplay
  • 👍 Great value for money
  • 🎨 Appealing graphics and visuals
  • 🕹️ Responsive and intuitive controls
  • 🕹️ Tight and challenging gameplay

Room to improve

  • 💰 Paid content locked behind paywall
  • 🕹️ Lack of controller support
  • 🕰️ Short game length
  • 🕹️ Difficulty spikes in later levels

JOUST.

From 147 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 💖 Nostalgic classic gameplay
  • 👍 Faithful to original arcade
  • ✨ Graphics faithful to game
  • 🆓 No ads displayed
  • 💯 Real deal classic Joust

Room to improve

  • 💥 Crashes on load screen
  • ❌ Does not run on iPhone/iPad
  • 🎮 Clunky/bad on-screen controls
  • 📉 Controls are janky
  • 🚫 Leaderboard and forum broken

Bugs and requests

Retro Racing 2

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Cones placed in awkward positions
  • Occasional crashes or performance issues

Requested features

4 requests
  • More tracks and game modes
  • Online multiplayer
  • Solo time trial mode
  • Customization options (e.g., liveries)

JOUST.

Reported bugs

24 issues
  • Crashes on load screen
  • App crashes on opening
  • Sound doesn't work
  • Leaderboard and forum are broken
  • Crashes randomly
Show 19 more
  • App does not run on iPhone
  • App doesn't boot up past loading screen
  • Game won't open beyond loading screen
  • Game crashes on load
  • Cannot joust the teradactyl in the mouth to kill it
  • Cannot bounce off the cliff
  • Cannot escape lava by flapping hard
  • Teradactyl occasionally hangs around on the next level
  • Game crashes a bit more than desired
  • Tries to place name on leaderboard, crashes
  • Onscreen controls are very difficult to use
  • Controls are clunky
  • Mechanics are clunky
  • Controls don't work well
  • Demands initials entry EVERY game
  • Controls that have been implemented are bad
  • Difficult to control
  • Controls are swapped from arcade game
  • Game only supports a tiny screen

Requested features

13 requests
  • Add controller support
  • Add Bluetooth controller support
  • Add Magic Keyboard support
  • Add MacOS Version
  • Add directional buttons for facing left or right
Show 8 more
  • Add virtual joystick
  • Add option to swap controls (direction left/right, flap)
  • Add two player mode
  • Add ability to adjust screen size
  • Add option for slightly visible buttons
  • Add Patreon or campaign for controller support
  • Add more controller options
  • Add swipe direction for controls

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Retro Racing 2

One-time3
  • Stallion$0.99
  • Willmans$1.99
  • Premium Version$5.99
None

JOUST.

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Retro Racing 2 free?
Retro Racing 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is JOUST. free?
JOUST. costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Retro Racing 2 or JOUST.?
JOUST. is rated higher. Retro Racing 2 averages 4.0 out of 5 from 156 ratings, while JOUST. averages 4.0 from 147 ratings.
Do Retro Racing 2 or JOUST. have ads?
Retro Racing 2 shows ads; JOUST. does not.
Which is updated more often, Retro Racing 2 or JOUST.?
Retro Racing 2 ships an update weekly, and JOUST. every 3 months. Most recently, Retro Racing 2 was updated on October 24, 2026 and JOUST. on October 24, 2026.

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