Comparison

Stellar Mercenaries vs Astro Shock Zero

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Vertical scrolling arcade shooter
  • Offline capable gameplay
  • Upgradable ships and weapons
  • Customizable loadouts
  • Procedurally generated missions
  • Rival mercenary system
Features
Read full description

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!

About

Astro Shock Zero

Features
Read full description

ASTRO SHOCK ZERO — Build your ship. Save the galaxy. You're the last fleet at the edge of the galaxy. Alien waves are coming — blast them down, collect ship parts, assemble them in your hangar, and grow stronger with every sector. FEATURES - ONE-FINGER GAMEPLAY — Drag your finger, ship follows. Simple, smooth, instantly playable. - BUILD YOUR OWN SHIP — Mix and match hulls, wings, and weapons. Fast and light or heavy and tough? Your call. - 2-MINUTE SECTORS — Each sector is short and punchy. Clear the waves, crush the mini-boss, take down the sector boss, earn new parts. - VARIETY OF ENEMIES — Zig-zagging scouts, spread-firing warriors, burst-shot elites. Each one demands a different approach. - EPIC BOSS FIGHTS — Multi-phase showdowns with memorable mechanics. Dodge, time, position — every boss is a new test. - UPGRADE SYSTEM — Spend your hard-earned coins to level up weapons and ship parts. Always something new to chase. - PLAYS ANYWHERE — On the bus, in line, before bed. One sector fits a coffee break. WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT - Fast to start, easy to learn. - Strategy deepens as you progress. - Plays completely offline. - No accounts, no login — progress stays on your device. - Ads are optional. Watch a rewarded ad for bonus coins, or skip entirely. Support: info@penabt.com Privacy: https://games.penabt.com/astro-shock-zero/privacy-policy.html Ready, captain? Ignite the thrusters.

Screenshots

Stellar Mercenaries4 screens
Astro Shock Zero4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Astro Shock Zero at none against Stellar Mercenaries's 9. Astro Shock Zero also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Stellar Mercenaries's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). On price 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

Both are free to download. Stellar Mercenaries sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Astro Shock Zero asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Stellar Mercenaries ships an update every 3 weeks, Astro Shock Zero weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Stellar Mercenaries versus Astro Shock Zero: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStellar MercenariesAstro Shock Zero
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (34 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews—
Number of ratings34 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksWeekly — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS12.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size198 MB39 MB
Age rating9+9+
DeveloperQuest Builders LLCPena

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Stellar Mercenaries

One-time9
  • Currency - Small Pack$1.99
  • Starter Pack - Basic$1.99
  • Gem Pack - Small$2.99
Show 6 more
  • 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
None

Astro Shock Zero

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Stellar Mercenaries free?
Stellar Mercenaries is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Astro Shock Zero free?
Astro Shock Zero is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Stellar Mercenaries or Astro Shock Zero have ads?
Astro Shock Zero shows ads; Stellar Mercenaries does not.
Which is updated more often, Stellar Mercenaries or Astro Shock Zero?
Stellar Mercenaries ships an update every 3 weeks, and Astro Shock Zero weekly. Most recently, Stellar Mercenaries was updated on October 12, 2026 and Astro Shock Zero on October 2, 2026.

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