# Superliminal vs POOLS™

The clearest difference is update cadence: Superliminal at every 8 days against POOLS™'s every 2 months. Superliminal also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Superliminal sells 2 one-off in-app purchases and POOLS™ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Superliminal holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.3K and 1.6K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 72% of Superliminal's written reviews are positive against 79% of POOLS™'s, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Superliminal ships an update every 8 days, POOLS™ every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Superliminal | POOLS™ |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/superliminal/id6443604310/reviews)** | [4.5 (1.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.3K | **1.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 71.7% of reviews | **78.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1.9 GB | 1.9 GB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Noodlecake](https://appshunter.io/developer/370828169) | [Tensori](https://appshunter.io/developer/1767614989) |

## What reviewers say

### Superliminal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/superliminal/id6443604310)

Experience a first-person puzzle game where perception is reality. Solve impossible challenges by thinking creatively and embracing the unexpected in a dreamlike world with a unique narrative.

**Highlights:** First-person perspective puzzles, Optical illusion mechanics, Perspective-based challenges, Intriguing voiced narrative, Subdued and surreal world design

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Game | $7.99 | one-time |
| Full Game Unlock | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Very good execution
- 👍 Interesting puzzle features
- 👍 Unique and creative gameplay
- 👍 Excellent visuals and narration
- 👍 Therapeutic and mind-bending experience

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 👎 Unintuitive and difficult controls
- 👎 Overpriced for the content
- 👎 Misleading as a 'free' game

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on loading screens
- Glitches with objects and navigation
- Unremovable red line on screen
- Inconsistent and buggy door behavior
- Saving and progress issues across devices

**Requested features**

- Add controller support
- Improve camera controls and sensitivity
- Provide more levels and content
- Add a hint system or tutorial
- Optimize performance and stability


### POOLS™

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pools/id6670792878)

This app offers a slow, reflective, and immersive experience focused on exploration and atmosphere. It evokes feelings of unease and curiosity through its unique environments, inspired by liminal spaces and internet phenomena. Discover changing worlds and subtle narratives without traditional gameplay mechanics.

**Highlights:** Slow, reflective exploration, Atmospheric and immersive environments, Inspired by liminal spaces, Unfolding narrative through exploration, Six distinct chapters, Unique sound design

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| POOLS: Full Game | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Immersive experience
- 🔒 No ads
- 👍 Incredible attention to detail
- 👍 Realistic graphics and sound
- 👍 Eerie and creepy atmosphere

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Boring after a while
- 🐛 Lack of variety in environments

**Reported bugs**

- Unable to move on iPad Pro
- Glitches reported

**Requested features**

- Expand to different Backrooms-inspired themes
- Add a multiplayer mode
- Introduce more interactive elements (e.g., monsters, items to discover)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Superliminal free?

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

### Is POOLS™ free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Superliminal or POOLS™?

Superliminal is rated higher. Superliminal averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.3K ratings, while POOLS™ averages 4.5 from 1.6K ratings.

### Do Superliminal or POOLS™ have ads?

Neither Superliminal nor POOLS™ shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Superliminal or POOLS™?

Superliminal ships an update every 8 days, and POOLS™ every 2 months. Most recently, Superliminal was updated on September 29, 2026 and POOLS™ on September 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.*
