Comparison

Scarecase vs Tension Head

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

Head to head
About

Scarecase

Features
Read full description

A race against time, through a crumbling world, pursued by mysterious forces… In this old-school infinite-runner, you just need to keep going. Run through gloomy crypts and over treacherous precipices. Use a single finger tap to jump, climb, and repel the forces of evil. And don’t miss your footing, because it’s a long way down… Instructions * Tap the screen to jump, (and to ascend stairs) * Avoid the holes in the floor, and the scary, grabbing hands * If you do get caught, tap to escape * Just keep going! In-app purchases * The first two levels are free to play * A single in-app purchase unlocks the whole game permanently: levels 3 to infinity

About

Tension Head

Merge shapes to survive a collapsing arena in this roguelite. Trigger chain reactions for high scores and unlock permanent upgrades to tackle escalating challenges. Discover hidden elements and unlock visual themes.

Highlights
  • Merge shapes to score
  • Trigger chain reactions
  • Permanent roguelite upgrades
  • Escalating difficulty modes
  • Unlockable visual themes
  • Hidden game elements
Features
Read full description

Tension Head is a merging roguelite where every run is a fight against the walls closing in on you. Stack shapes, trigger chain reactions, and score big before the pressure destroys you. MERGE & SURVIVE Drop shapes into the arena and merge matching tiers to score. But the walls never stop closing. Every merge pushes them back — just enough to breathe. BUILD YOUR COMBO Chain merges to multiply your score. The longer your streak, the higher the multiplier. Think less puzzle game, more trick run. ROGUELITE DEPTH Between runs, spend Crowns on permanent upgrades that carry across every run. Each run offers power-ups with unique evolutions and wild synergies — combine them right and watch everything break open. CURSES & CONSEQUENCES Every run comes with a cost. Curses stack. Walls shrink faster. The danger line rises. Learn to work with what you're dealt or get crushed. ASCENSION MODE Beat the game? Good. Now do it with the walls shrinking 30% faster. Now do it with one life. Now do it with radioactive junk dropping into your arena. Ten escalating modifiers. Each one a new way to suffer. VISUAL THEMES Unlock a collection of visual filters that transform the entire look of the game. Each one earned through play — or unlocked instantly with Premium. SOMETHING ELSE IS HERE Pay attention. Not everything is what it seems. Some testers have found things that weren't meant to be found. A ghost in the code. PREMIUM — $3.99 One purchase. No subscription. Removes all ads and unlocks every visual theme instantly. 100% indie — your support means a lot. merge. survive. destroy. ascend.

Screenshots

Scarecase3 screens
Tension Head4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Tension Head at Free against Scarecase's $1.99. Tension Head also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 10 months). Scarecase's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 14.0). On in-app purchases and device support 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

Tension Head is free to download; Scarecase costs $1.99 up front. Scarecase sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Tension Head sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Scarecase ships an update every 10 months, Tension Head weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Scarecase versus Tension Head: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScarecaseTension Head
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating—4.7 (3 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—3 — better
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size153 MB107 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperDramatic Software Co LtdRobert Lothian

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Scarecase

One-time1
  • Unlock all levels (NOW UNNECESSARY)$0.99
1 purchases

Tension Head

One-time1
  • Premium$3.99

Questions

Is Scarecase free?
Scarecase costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Tension Head free?
Tension Head is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Scarecase or Tension Head have ads?
Tension Head shows ads; Scarecase does not.
Which is updated more often, Scarecase or Tension Head?
Scarecase ships an update every 10 months, and Tension Head weekly. Most recently, Scarecase was updated on October 13, 2026 and Tension Head on October 11, 2026.

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