# The Pinball Wizard vs Be Brave, Barb

The clearest difference is rating: The Pinball Wizard at 4.7 against Be Brave, Barb's 4.4. The Pinball Wizard also leads on ratings volume (1.1K vs 93) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). Be Brave, Barb's advantage is review sentiment (76% vs 66%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Pinball Wizard sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Be Brave, Barb sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

The Pinball Wizard holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: The Pinball Wizard has 1.1K ratings behind it against 93, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of The Pinball Wizard's written reviews are positive against 76% of Be Brave, Barb's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

The Pinball Wizard ships an update fortnightly, Be Brave, Barb monthly. Both last shipped on November 8, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Pinball Wizard | Be Brave, Barb |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (1.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-pinball-wizard/id6478548395/reviews)** | [4.4 (93 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/be-brave-barb/id6740888321/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.1K** | 93 |
| Positive reviews | 66.2% of reviews | **76.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 309 MB | 193 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Frosty Pop](https://appshunter.io/developer/930758677) | [Thomas Young](https://appshunter.io/developer/866420356) |

## What reviewers say

### The Pinball Wizard

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-pinball-wizard/id6478548395)

Experience a unique blend of classic pinball physics and modern roguelite progression. Control a wizard as the ball, navigating dungeon-like tower floors, mastering flippers, and battling enemies. Collect upgrades and perks to enhance your abilities for each subsequent run.

**Highlights:** Classic pinball physics, Roguelite progression system, Handcrafted tower tables, Pattern-driven boss battles, Perks and upgrades, Quick and deep mastery sessions

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gift | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gift | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $2.99 | one-time |
| Gift | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Fun and engaging gameplay
- 👍 Intuitive and responsive controls
- 🎨 Charming and polished visuals
- 💰 No ads or in-app purchases
- 🕹️ Unique RPG-like pinball mechanics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🕹️ Unresponsive or awkward controls
- 🕰️ Short main campaign length
- 🤕 Difficulty spikes and unfair enemy encounters

**Reported bugs**

- Stuck on loading screen
- Freezing when upgrading skills
- Inconsistent damage and enemy behavior

**Requested features**

- More levels and content
- Expanded character customization
- Landscape mode support
- Improved enemy and level design


### Be Brave, Barb

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/be-brave-barb/id6740888321)

Embark on a gravity-bending platforming adventure as a cactus seeking lost positive affirmations. Navigate 100 challenging levels, defeat bosses, and uncover secrets in this unique quest to face fears and have a nice day.

**Highlights:** Gravity-bending platforming, 100 levels, 5 boss battles, Collect positive affirmations, Unlock secrets, Controller support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Challenging yet fun gameplay
- 🎨 Vibrant graphics and art style
- 🎵 Catchy soundtrack
- 💡 Unique gravity-based mechanics
- 🚀 Lots of levels (100+)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Inconsistent controls and unpredictable gravity
- ⏱️ Slow character movement
- 📢 Too many ads
- 🔨 Bugs causing crashes and level restarts

**Reported bugs**

- Restore purchases not working
- Crashes when restarting levels
- Ads still appearing despite purchase

**Requested features**

- Gallery to view collected affirmations
- Ability to replay intro cutscene
- Improved level scrolling and responsiveness


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Pinball Wizard free?

The Pinball Wizard is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Be Brave, Barb free?

Be Brave, Barb is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The Pinball Wizard or Be Brave, Barb?

The Pinball Wizard is rated higher. The Pinball Wizard averages 4.7 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Be Brave, Barb averages 4.4 from 93 ratings.

### Do The Pinball Wizard or Be Brave, Barb have ads?

Both The Pinball Wizard and Be Brave, Barb show ads.

### Which is updated more often, The Pinball Wizard or Be Brave, Barb?

The Pinball Wizard ships an update fortnightly, and Be Brave, Barb monthly. Most recently, The Pinball Wizard was updated on November 8, 2026 and Be Brave, Barb on November 8, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*