Comparison

Scarecase vs Tide Runner

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

Head to head
About

Scarecase

Features
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A race against time, through a crumbling world, pursued by mysterious forcesโ€ฆ 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 donโ€™t miss your footing, because itโ€™s a long way downโ€ฆ 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

Tide Runner

Features
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The current runs with you. Keep the reds to port, stay off the sand, and don't lift too early into the bend. Tide Runner is a racing game about carrying speed. Your hull holds its momentum through a turn, so the fast way round is never the tight way round โ€” ease off before the mark, let the stern come round, and get back on the throttle before the boat behind does. ONE HUNDRED COURSES, FOUR WORLDS Twenty-five winding rivers. Twenty-five channels cut through lava. Twenty-five frozen leads across the ice. Twenty-five runs through open space. Every one has its own width, character and racing line โ€” from Fjord Run, four long sweeps you can hold the throttle through, to Corryvreckan, twenty-six corners of almost continuous helm. RIVALS THAT ACTUALLY RACE Two, three or five laps against up to eleven others, at four skill tiers. Up to Hard the tiers are driving skill rather than horsepower: how much of the corner a rival dares use, how steadily it holds its line, how quickly it moves the helm. From Normal upward they race each other too โ€” tucking into the wake ahead for the tow, then pulling out to pass once there's clear water. Insane sits just above what a drafting boat can hold. Quick enough to chase. Slow enough to catch in the corners. THE WATER FIGHTS BACK Fifty-nine courses have something in them. Whirlpools that turn the helm and put you somewhere you never pointed. Logs that drift with the current, so last lap's line isn't this lap's. Rockfalls with a second and a half of shadow for warning. Orcas breaching along the channel. Pressure cracks that open right across the ice and leave one gap to thread. Run aground and sit there too long and something takes an interest. What comes for you depends on where you are. GEAR WORTH SPENDING ON Lay a net across the channel behind you. Put a torpedo straight down your own wake. Hold a nitro charge for the straight where it counts. All of it bought with coins you earned racing, which makes every purchase a decision. 119 BOATS TO EARN Eighteen colours. Fifty-five national flags. Twenty animated camos that move while you race. Twenty-five challenge skins, each locked behind a time target on its own course โ€” beat all twenty-five and Diamond Camo is yours. CHASE YOURSELF Time trial runs you solo against your own ghost, re-recorded every time you beat it. Course records save per course and follow you into the HUD. Gold, silver and bronze targets are computed from the shape of the course itself, not picked out of the air. BUILT FOR A PHONE Thumb stick and throttle, two fingers at once, so you can fire gear without letting go of the helm. Keyboard and arrows on desktop. A short tutorial lap that shows you the controls and then gets out of the way. PLAYS ANYWHERE No account. No sign-in. No connection needed. Your progress lives on your device, and a transfer code moves it to another one whenever you want. Free to play, supported by ads. Optional rewarded videos double your winnings from a race or add a bonus spin โ€” there is nothing in the game that can only be bought, and no purchases at all. Every boat is earned on the water.

Screenshots

Scarecase3 screens
Tide Runner4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Tide Runner at Free against Scarecase's $1.99. Tide Runner also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 10 months). Scarecase's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). On device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Tide Runner is free to download; Scarecase costs $1.99 up front. Scarecase sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Tide Runner asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Scarecase ships an update every 10 months, Tide Runner every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences ยท 1 level
Scarecase versus Tide Runner: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterScarecaseTide Runner
Price$1.99Free โ€” better
Update frequencyEvery 10 monthsEvery 2 weeks โ€” better
AdsNo โ€” betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo โ€” better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS11.0 โ€” better15.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size153 MB14 MB
Age rating9+9+
DeveloperDramatic Software Co LtdPolite Carrot LTD

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Scarecase

One-time1
  • Unlock all levels (NOW UNNECESSARY)$0.99
None

Tide Runner

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Scarecase free?
Scarecase costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Tide Runner free?
Tide Runner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Scarecase or Tide Runner have ads?
Tide Runner shows ads; Scarecase does not.
Which is updated more often, Scarecase or Tide Runner?
Scarecase ships an update every 10 months, and Tide Runner every 2 weeks. Most recently, Scarecase was updated on September 28, 2026 and Tide Runner on October 1, 2026.

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