Comparison

CaveMaster vs Explore Island

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

Head to head
About

CaveMaster

Features
Read full description

CaveMaster is a classic shoot-em-up arcade game. Packed full of skill-based action, you will need all your abilities to dodge bullets, missiles, rocks and rockets as you make your way to the far end. Earn coins on every level and upgrade your shields, your fire power and your thrusters... you will need them

About

Explore Island

Embark on an adventure across procedurally generated islands, each with unique biomes and challenges. Engage in activities like fishing, insect catching, combat, crafting, and resource gathering to uncover mysteries and catalog countless items.

Highlights
  • Procedurally generated islands
  • Resource gathering and crafting
  • Fishing and insect catching
  • Combat against various enemies
  • Dungeon exploration
  • Item cataloging
  • Fairy companion system
Features
Read full description

You are an explorer on a mission to discover various islands, each with unique biomes, resources, and enemies! Through the exploration of procedurally generated islands, the game offers countless tasks such as fishing, catching insects, battling enemies, exploring dungeons, mining, gathering resources, cooking, forging unique weapons, and even crafting gear! The ultimate challenge is to catalog the countless items found in the game! ● Explore 5 islands with different climates, biomes, resources, and enemies. From desert islands with pyramids to snowy islands with castles filled with enemies. ● Gather resources to help you progress. You'll find fruits, minerals, gems, plants, fish, insects, and rare items. ● Master the art of crafting or forging; maybe even become a top chef by creating equipment like swords, fishing rods, axes, pickaxes, backpacks, clothing, insect nets, and delicious food. ● Face off against dozens of enemies in combat. Each island has unique foes, some that only appear at night or in dungeons. Defeat island bosses to advance your journey. ● Fishing is always a good deal, whether it's for creating new recipes or selling them for a hefty profit. The fish collection is vast, ranging from common to legendary! ● Catch a wide variety of insects—dozens to collect, sell, and catalog! ● Explore the depths of dangerous dungeons, with some floors procedurally generated to ensure a unique experience every time. Discover valuable treasures, face challenging enemies, and conquer the dungeon bosses! ● At the start of the game, you'll receive an egg to hatch. After incubation, a fairy with a unique color and ability will be yours! The type of fairy is random—will you be lucky enough to get a legendary one? Explore Island: Craft & Survive is not just about exploration and combat; it's a paradise for crafters, fishermen, relic collectors, and insect enthusiasts. Do you have what it takes to uncover the mysteries of the islands? Find out by diving into this game full of endless possibilities!

Screenshots

CaveMaster4 screens
Explore Island4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: CaveMaster at none against Explore Island's shown. Explore Island's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.2). On price, 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

Both are free to download. CaveMaster sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Explore Island sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CaveMaster ships an update every 2 months, Explore Island every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
CaveMaster versus Explore Island: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCaveMasterExplore Island
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.6 (7 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—7 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.213.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB174 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperNICHOLAS JOHN WARDAlphaquest Games LTDA

In-app purchases

3 purchases

CaveMaster

One-time3
  • Small coin bundle$0.99
  • Remove Ads$0.99
  • Large coin chest$2.99
8 purchases

Explore Island

One-time8
  • Small Gems Pack$1.99
  • Small Coins Pack$1.99
  • Starter Pack$4.99
Show 5 more
  • Medium Gems Pack$6.99
  • Medium Coins Pack$6.99
  • Big Coins Pack$24.99
  • Big Gems Pack$24.99
  • Premium Pack$119.99

Questions

Is CaveMaster free?
CaveMaster is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Explore Island free?
Explore Island is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do CaveMaster or Explore Island have ads?
Explore Island shows ads; CaveMaster does not.
Which is updated more often, CaveMaster or Explore Island?
CaveMaster ships an update every 2 months, and Explore Island every 4 days. Most recently, CaveMaster was updated on October 17, 2026 and Explore Island on October 7, 2026.

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