Comparison

Howl vs Save Polly

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

Head to head
About

Howl

Engage in turn-based tactical combat within a dark fairy-tale world threatened by a mysterious plague. Play as a deaf heroine who can foresee enemy moves, utilizing unique arrows and skills to defeat beasts. Explore beautifully illustrated environments and uncover secrets.

Highlights
  • Turn-based tactical combat
  • Foretell enemy moves
  • Variety of arrow types
  • Unlockable skills and upgrades
  • Living ink art style
  • Multiple chapters and levels
  • Save villagers
Features
Read full description

This game is free to download and play for a limited number of levels and time. Do you like the game? Then you can easily unlock the full version through the in App purchase! Howl is a turn-based puzzle/tactical folktale set in the Middle Ages, where a mysterious "howling plague" ravages the land. Any who hear the beasts’ howls turn into feral, hungering beasts themselves – further spreading the curse through their own howls. The Heroine of this tale was born deaf, giving her a unique protection against this curse. Play as a daring combat Prophet with the ability to foretell your enemies’ moves. Plan up to six steps ahead to outmaneuver your enemies. Fire a variety of arrows, such as exploding, lightning, or piercing shots, and use skills like Smoke Bombs and Shadow Step’s Invisibility to kill any beasts who stand in your way. Each type of beast offers its own challenges, with some approaching fast, while others taking more powerful hits or attacking from afar. Howl's visuals are created through "living ink", a flowing art style that paints the story as you play. Carve your way through a dark, fairy-tale world made up of obscure yet magical places where you fight to rid the lands of the howling plague. Howl features a total of 5 chapters, including the free Heart of Rot update, each with a distinct visual atmosphere scored by soothing music. Access to this update is FREE for anyone who has bought the Howl base game. You can access this update chapter from the Chapter 3 map at any point after reaching Chapter 3 of the main story. This update features its own chapter map, new enemies, a new boss level, new environment mechanics, the new Lightning Shot skill (which, once unlocked, can be used in the main game!), and an NPC who fights by your side in later levels. Features • Foretell the actions of your enemies in turn-based puzzle/tactics combat. • Play through 60 levels across 4 chapters, plus 18 new levels in the free update chapter! • Beautifully illustrated in a unique, living ink art style. • Outsmart the different wolf species, from fast predators to enormous pack leaders. • Unlock and upgrade new skills like Shadow Step, Exploding Shot, and more. • Save villagers from the claws – and howls – of the wolves. • Plot your route on the world map to uncover new skills and secret paths.

About

Save Polly

Embark on an emotional endless runner adventure as a brave parrot searching for her lost parents. Navigate diverse jungle environments, master intuitive controls, and overcome challenging obstacles. Compete weekly and unlock upgrades to enhance your journey.

Highlights
  • Compelling storyline
  • Intuitive flight controls
  • Endless runner gameplay
  • Diverse environmental challenges
  • Marathon mode
  • Weekly competitions
  • Unlockable mystery chests
  • Character upgrades and customization
Read full description

EXCLUSIVELY ON IPHONE! Join Polly, a courageous parrot, on a heart-pounding quest to reunite with her parents after a fierce storm tears them apart. Traverse lush jungles, brave intense thunderstorms, explore bustling villages, soar over erupting volcanoes, and delve into dark, mysterious caves in this captivating endless runner game. - Compelling Storyline: Embark on a journey filled with emotion and excitement as Polly battles the elements to find her lost family. - Seamless Controls: Master intuitive flight controls that make navigating the skies a breeze. - Endless Runner Thrill: Experience non-stop action as you guide Polly through ever-changing environments. - Diverse Challenges: Navigate through varied landscapes, from dense jungles to fiery volcanoes, each with unique obstacles. - Marathon Mode: Push your limits and see how far Polly can fly in a single run. - Weekly Competitions: Test your skills against other players in our competitive weekly challenges. - Unlock Mystery Chests: Discover hidden treasures that offer valuable rewards. - Character Upgrades: Enhance Polly's abilities with special upgrades to help her on her journey. - Customization Options: Personalize Polly with unique accessories to make her stand out. Dive into Polly's adventure and help her reunite with her family. "Save Polly" is easy to learn but hard to master, offering a challenging and immersive experience for players of all levels. How far can you guide Polly on her epic quest?

Screenshots

Howl4 screens
Save Polly4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Howl at 4.2 against Save Polly's 3.8. Howl also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 55%) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Howl sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Save Polly sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Howl holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 63 and 20 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Howl's written reviews are positive against 55% of Save Polly's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Howl versus Save Polly: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHowlSave Polly
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (63 ratings) — better3.8 (20 ratings)
Positive reviews78.1% of reviews — better54.5% of reviews
Number of ratings63 — better20
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS12.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size477 MB454 MB
Age rating12+4+
Developerastragon Entertainment GmbHPolarcade AB

Customer experience

Howl

All ratings63 ratings
Positive77.8%
Neutral4.8%
Negative17.5%
Written reviews64 reviews
Positive78.1%
Neutral4.7%
Negative17.2%

Save Polly

All ratings20 ratings
Positive70.0%
Neutral5.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews11 reviews
Positive54.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative45.5%

Bugs and requests

Howl

Reported bugs

8 issues
  • Arrow card hidden by sidebar UI on left screen edge
  • Text bubbles blocking enemy action information
  • Save data not persisting after app closure
  • UI elements too small to read on iPhone
  • Tooltip descriptions not displaying correctly
Show 3 more
  • Hover mechanics don't work on iPad
  • Specific level completion issues (Tower chapter)
  • Yellow completion symbol blends with map background

Requested features

10 requests
  • Movable text bubbles to prevent obstruction
  • Character gender/pronoun customization
  • More levels and expanded content
  • Language localization (Vietnamese, German, etc.)
  • UI scaling for smaller phones
Show 5 more
  • Ability to select language for voice acting
  • More detailed story development
  • 3D graphics enhancement
  • Clearer level count visibility upfront
  • Improved tooltip system for mobile

Save Polly

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Howl

One-time1
  • Upgrade to Full Version$3.99
5 purchases

Save Polly

One-time5
  • Lite Pack$0.99
  • Small Pack$2.99
  • Medium Pack$9.99
Show 2 more
  • Starter Pack$14.99
  • Large Pack$29.99

Questions

Is Howl free?
Howl is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Save Polly free?
Save Polly is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Howl or Save Polly?
Howl is rated higher. Howl averages 4.2 out of 5 from 63 ratings, while Save Polly averages 3.8 from 20 ratings.
Do Howl or Save Polly have ads?
Neither Howl nor Save Polly shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Howl or Save Polly?
Howl ships an update every 3 weeks, and Save Polly every 3 weeks. Most recently, Howl was updated on October 15, 2026 and Save Polly on October 14, 2026.

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