Stellar Mercenaries vs Ballpins
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Stellar Mercenaries
Engage in offline, vertical scrolling arcade action with this sci-fi RPG. Upgrade your ship, weapons, and abilities to battle rival mercenaries and conquer the solar system. Enjoy endless procedurally generated missions with diverse objectives and challenges.
- Vertical scrolling arcade shooter
- Offline capable gameplay
- Upgradable ships and weapons
- Customizable loadouts
- Procedurally generated missions
- Rival mercenary system
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Ready to vanquish your enemies and change the solar system forever from anywhere? Stellar Mercs is a vertical scrolling, offline capable, action arcade shooter with upgradable ships, weapons, and special abilities. Customize your loadouts for each mission depending on the environments and enemies you'll face! Each mission will reward you with unlocks and cash to continue building your arsenal. You're not the only mercenary out there - the more successful and accomplished you become, the more attention you'll attract. Enemy mercenaries can become persistent arch-rivals, leveling up along side you. Defeating them will net you great rewards, but if you die at their hands, they'll grow even further in power. The fun is never-ending! Fly missions through endless procedurally generated missions with a variety of environments, objectives, hazards, enemies, and rewards. Hijack cargo from speeding space trains, break into heavily guarded research and development space stations to acquire new prototype ships to fly, or defeat mighty leviathan capital ships in your quest to become the wealthiest, most powerful mercenary in the system! Stellar Mercs operates as a single handed action arcade game, so you can play comfortably on the go. SM is offline capable, so even without signal you can keep gaming and conquering the solar system! Configure your spacecraft's loadout and autoshoot your way to victory - focus on maneuvering through hazards and waves of enemies while you employ special abilities for maximum carnage!
Ballpins
Experience a Zen-inspired Plinko game that blends relaxing visuals with thrilling unpredictability. Watch balls cascade, activate power-ups, and build your score in this tranquil yet captivating experience.
- Zen Mode with soothing visuals and sounds
- Roguelike elements for strategic choices
- Offline play for anytime, anywhere access
- Relaxing atmosphere to unwind
- Lucky Day for thrilling chance-based gameplay
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Welcome to Ballpins, the ultimate Zen-inspired Plinko game that promises a relaxing yet thrilling experience for all gamers. Immerse yourself in a world where each drop is a step towards serenity, blending the unpredictability of a roguelike game with the tranquility of a Zen garden. Ballpins is your perfect companion for a peaceful evening. With its simple yet captivating mechanics, you can watch the balls cascade down, bouncing off pins and activating power-ups, all while building an impressive score multiplier. Key Features: - Zen Mode: Enter a state of calm as you watch the balls glide smoothly across the screen, accompanied by soothing sounds and visuals. - Roguelike Elements: Set your path by choices and strategy. - Offline Accessibility: Play anytime, anywhere, without the need for an internet connection. Perfect for those moments when you need a break from the world. - Relaxing Atmosphere: Designed to help you unwind, the game's aesthetics and soundscapes offer a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. - Lucky Day: Feel the thrill of chance as you aim for the perfect drop, with each game offering the potential for a new high score or a rare power-up. Join the ranks of satisfied players who have found their Zen in the chaotic beauty of Ballpins. It's not just a game; it's a journey to tranquility.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Stellar Mercenaries at 86% against Ballpins's 0%. Stellar Mercenaries also leads on ratings volume (38 vs 2). Ballpins's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 9) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, 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
Both are free to download. Stellar Mercenaries sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Ballpins asks for nothing beyond the download.
Ballpins holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stellar Mercenaries has 38 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 86% of Stellar Mercenaries's written reviews are positive against 0% of Ballpins's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Stellar Mercenaries ships an update every 3 weeks, Ballpins every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Stellar Mercenaries | Ballpins |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.8 (38 ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 85.7% of reviews — better | 0.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 38 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 198 MB | 121 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Quest Builders LLC | Shahar Galukman |
Customer experience
Stellar Mercenaries
Ballpins
In-app purchases
Stellar Mercenaries
- Currency - Small Pack$1.99
- Starter Pack - Basic$1.99
- Gem Pack - Small$2.99
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- Currency - Medium Pack$3.99
- Stater Pack - Advanced$5.99
- Gem Pack - Medium$7.99
- Currency - Large Pack$7.99
- Gem Pack - Large$15.99
- Starter Pack - Legendary$15.99
Ballpins
No in-app purchases









