Comparison

Shimmers vs Astropets Arena

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

Head to head
About

Shimmers

A cozy indie game where you travel through time and space to identify mysterious characters using limited questions and guesses. Collect identified characters in your Temporal Codex. Subscription offers increased encounters and ad-free play.

Highlights
  • Time and space travel
  • Character identification gameplay
  • Limited questions and guesses
  • Collect characters in Temporal Codex
  • Unique character rarities and traits
  • Subscription for enhanced features
Features
Read full description

Delve into the world of Shimmers! In this cosy indie game, you hop through time and space to meet different unknown Shimmers. The Shimmers you meet could be anyone from all of human history, fiction and folklore. It's up to you to talk to this unknown Shimmer, and to use up to three open questions and guesses to slim down the infinite options to just one. Be careful though: Shimmers are slippery and cunning, and will flee to never be seen again should you guess wrong too many times. In addition, you only get one new Shimmer encounter per 3 hours, and can only save up to 5 encounters. Make those guesses count! Each Shimmer will have a unique rarity, as well as unique traits. Some Shimmers may even have unique emotions that will seep through in everything they say. Once you have found and identified a Shimmer, you add them to your Temporal Codex for safekeeping. Are you knowledgeable and nimble enough to meet and identify all Shimmers? Shimmers+ Can't get enough of playing Shimmers? Subscribe to Shimmers+ to drastically increase the amount of Shimmer encounters you save up (15 instead of 5), increase the rate of new Shimmer encounters (a new encounter every 1 hour instead of 3), meet unique Shimmers only available to Shimmers+ members, and enjoy an experience without any ads. Why a subscription rather than a one time purchase? Because keeping Shimmers in the air requires running costly servers now and in the future. We are so thankful for your support! IMPORTANT NOTE: the Shimmers (persons) you talk to in the app are not real whatsoever, and are modeled by AI algorithms. Terms of Use By downloading and using Shimmers, you agree to our Terms of Use, as outlined in the standard Apple EULA. Please review the terms carefully at the link below: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Astropets Arena

Assemble a team of unique allies by solving puzzles and equip them with elemental gears to master strategic turn-based combat. Customize your Astropets' abilities and roles to overcome challenging encounters and climb the ranks in this engaging adventure.

Highlights
  • Puzzle-based Astropet recruitment
  • Elemental gear customization
  • Strategic turn-based combat
  • Challenging progression and rewards
  • Team customization and ranking
Features
Read full description

Embark on a Fully Customizable Adventure! Enter a vibrant world where your skill and creativity define every step of your journey. In Astropets Arena, new allies join your roster only after you overcome puzzle-based challenges. Here, strategy is forged through the power of elemental gears. Equipping your Astropets with carefully chosen gear transforms their abilities, enabling you to shape their roles, adapt your tactics, and seize victory on your own terms. Puzzle-Based Recruitment: Add extraordinary Astropets to your team by solving interactive challenges. Each new ally is earned through skill, making their addition truly meaningful. Elemental Gear Mastery: Unleash your creativity by attaching elemental gears that redefine your Astropets' combat roles. Convert a mild-mannered creature into a blazing attacker, a sturdy protector, or a tactical genius. Strategic Turn-Based Combat: Prepare for battles where your equipped gear choices and thoughtful planning outsmart every foe. Adjust, refine, and optimize as you move through increasingly demanding stages. Challenging Progression & Rewards: As you advance, face encounters that push your tactics and team composition to the limit. Strengthen your Astropets with new gears and refine your approach for greater spoils. Showcase Your Evolving Team: Your roster, tailored by your decisions, stands as a testament to your strategic mind. Climb the ranks, display your choices, and prove you’re a force shaped by skill and ingenuity. Why Players Love Astropets Arena: Endless customization through elemental gears and flexible strategies. Recruitment based on puzzle-solving skill, not chance. Accessible gameplay layered with depth, suiting both casual explorers and keen tacticians. A beautifully crafted world that rewards experimentation and growth. Ready to Lead Your Own Path? Download Astropets Arena and discover a realm where your tactical choices truly matter. Your allies await. Will you harness their potential and forge an unstoppable team?

Screenshots

Shimmers4 screens
Astropets Arena4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Astropets Arena at 100% against Shimmers's 0%. Astropets Arena also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and ads (none vs shown). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Shimmers sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $1.99 per month and Astropets Arena sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Astropets Arena holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Astropets Arena has 5 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Shimmers's written reviews are positive against 100% of Astropets Arena's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Shimmers ships an update fortnightly, Astropets Arena every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 21, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Shimmers versus Astropets Arena: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShimmersAstropets Arena
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings15 — better
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.013.0
Further details — not scored
Size129 MB658 MB
Age rating17+17+
DeveloperJochem KleineVu Le

Customer experience

Shimmers

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral100.0%
Negative0.0%

Astropets Arena

All ratings5 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Shimmers

Subscriptions1
  • Shimmers+$1.991 Month
11 purchases

Astropets Arena

One-time11
  • Some Gems$0.99
  • Daily Pack 1$0.99
  • Daily Pack 2$1.99
Show 8 more
  • Basic Astro Pass$4.99
  • Novice Growth Tier$6.99
  • Super Astro Pass$9.99
  • Weekly Pack 1$9.99
  • Weekly Pack 2$9.99
  • Monthly Pack 1$9.99
  • Adept Growth Pack$19.99
  • Monthly Pack 2$19.99

Questions

Is Shimmers free?
Shimmers is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Astropets Arena free?
Astropets Arena is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Shimmers or Astropets Arena?
Astropets Arena is rated higher. Shimmers averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Astropets Arena averages 5.0 from 5 ratings.
Do Shimmers or Astropets Arena have ads?
Shimmers shows ads; Astropets Arena does not.
Which is updated more often, Shimmers or Astropets Arena?
Shimmers ships an update fortnightly, and Astropets Arena every 2 weeks. Most recently, Shimmers was updated on October 10, 2026 and Astropets Arena on October 21, 2026.

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