Comparison

Subnautica vs Puncha! Puppetmasters

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

Head to head
About

Subnautica

Explore a vast alien ocean planet, craft equipment, pilot submarines, and uncover mysteries to survive. This open-world adventure offers multiple game modes for different playstyles.

Highlights
  • Underwater exploration
  • Crafting and base building
  • Submarine piloting
  • Survival mechanics
  • Multiple game modes
  • Alien ocean planet setting
Read full description

*Make sure to check if your device is supported before playing Subnautica!* Subnautica is an underwater adventure game set on an alien ocean planet. A massive, open world full of wonder and peril awaits you! Descend into the depths, craft equipment, pilot submarines and out-smart wildlife to explore lush coral reefs, volcanoes, cave systems, and more - all while trying to survive. Unravel the mystery of this world teeming with creatures, both friendly and hostile, scattered with clues from a previous time. Play in Survival mode to experience the original challenge, or switch to Freedom or Creative mode to discover this oceanic planet without the pressures of thirst, hunger, or oxygen. FEATURES • SURVIVE - After crash landing on a vast underwater planet, the clock is ticking to find water, food, and to develop the equipment you need to explore. • EXPLORE - Manage your hunger, thirst, and oxygen supply as you dive into towering kelp forests, sunlit plateaus, bio-luminescent reefs, and winding cave systems. • SCAVENGE - Collect resources from the ocean around you. Venture deeper and further to find rarer resources, allowing you to craft more advanced items. • CRAFT - Build bases to shelter in, vehicles to pilot, tools for survival to aid you in navigating and adapting to this subaquatic landscape. • DISCOVER - What happened to this planet? What caused you to crash? Can you find a way to make it off the planet alive? • CUSTOMIZE - Play in Survival mode to experience the original challenge, or switch to Freedom or Creative mode to discover this oceanic planet without the pressures of thirst, hunger, or oxygen. CAREFULLY REDESIGNED FOR MOBILE • Revamped interface – exclusive mobile UI with complete touch control • Game Center achievements • Cloud Save – Share your progress between iOS devices • Compatible with MFi controllers • iPhone 16 Optimization (including Pro Max) ----- *DEVICES NOT SUPPORTED (THE GAME WON'T WORK)*: - iPhone Xr, iPhone SE Gen 2 (2020) - iPad Mini Gen 5, iPad Air Gen 3, iPad Gen 8, iPad Gen 9 *SUPPORTED DEVICES ON LOW RESOLUTION ONLY*: - iPhone Xs, iPhone Xs Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, iPhone SE Gen 3 (2022) - iPad Pro 10.5", iPad Mini Gen 6, iPad Air Gen 4, iPad Gen 10, iPad Pro 11" Gen 1, iPad Pro 12.9" Gen 3 *SUPPORTED DEVICES* : - iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 14 AND ABOVE - iPad Pro 11" Gen 2, iPad Pro 12.9" Gen 4, iPad Air Gen 5, iPad Pro 11" Gen 3, iPad Pro 11" Gen 4, iPad Pro 12.9" Gen 5, iPad Pro 12.9" Gen 6 AND ABOVE

About

Puncha! Puppetmasters

An arcade-style game where you punch manipulative "Puppetmasters" and their followers. Test your reflexes with fast-paced combat, unique challenges, and a karma system. Unmask the masterminds and reclaim control.

Highlights
  • Arcade-style reflex challenge
  • Fast-paced tap and strike gameplay
  • Unique animations and effects
  • Boss fights and unpredictable obstacles
  • Karma system with game over consequences
  • Combo punches and bonus points
  • High score tracking and achievements
Features
Read full description

A ridiculous arcade-style game about punching the people who think they're pulling the strings. Time to let off a little steam and fight back! The Puppetmasters have spent years manipulating the world using fear, distraction, and division to keep everyone under control. Now their loyal Puppet Kin are everywhere! IT'S TIME TO THROW HANDS AND EXPOSE THE PUPPETMASTERS. TAKE BACK CONTROL! The Puppetmasters have been running the show from behind the curtain for far too long — rigging the game, feeding the algorithm, and cashing in while everyone else dances on their strings. It's time to cut the strings. It's time to PUNCHA! Hit the Puppetmasters and their Puppet Kin with precision or suffer the consequences. Tap, strike, and dominate in this arcade-inspired reflex challenge! LIGHTNING-FAST GAMEPLAY React, tap, and punch! - Unique animations & effects for satisfying combat. - Boss fights & challenges keep things intense. - Smoke & mirror obstacles make each fight unpredictable. - Aim carefully! The Puppetmasters love hiding behind innocent bystanders. Hit a baby, a citizen, or an ally and you'll pay for it! - Don't lose too much Karma! Run out and it's game over, streak gone! - Score big with combo punches. - Earn bonus points for a flawless run. Never miss a punch. - Track high scores and unlock achievements for bragging rights. - Share your greatest hits on Bluesky. HOW FAR UP DO THE STRINGS GO? Which Puppetmasters will you unmask on your journey? Rumor has it a certain very stable genius, a tech-focused doom-prophet, and something slithering this way that really wants you to engage with its content are all waiting at the top...

Screenshots

Subnautica4 screens
Puncha! Puppetmasters4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Puncha! Puppetmasters at Free against Subnautica's $9.99. Puncha! Puppetmasters also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 8 days). Subnautica's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 6) and ads (none vs shown). On device support and iOS requirement 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

Puncha! Puppetmasters is free to download; Subnautica costs $9.99 up front. Puncha! Puppetmasters sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Subnautica asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Puncha! Puppetmasters holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Subnautica has 1.2K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Subnautica's written reviews are positive against 100% of Puncha! Puppetmasters's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Subnautica ships an update every 8 days, Puncha! Puppetmasters every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Subnautica versus Puncha! Puppetmasters: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSubnauticaPuncha! Puppetmasters
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.6 (1.2K ratings)5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews82.0% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1.2K — better2
Update frequencyEvery 8 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
Best chart rank#28 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size2.2 GB342 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperUnknown WorldsRichard Callahan

Customer experience

Subnautica

All ratings1,215 ratings
Positive90.2%
Neutral3.4%
Negative6.4%
Written reviews1,176 reviews
Positive82.0%
Neutral7.8%
Negative10.2%

Puncha! Puppetmasters

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Subnautica

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Sound cuts out after using the seaglide
  • Reapers and ghost leviathans not spawning properly

Requested features

2 requests
  • Support for iPad and Mac devices
  • Improved integration with iOS features

Puncha! Puppetmasters

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Subnautica

No in-app purchases

6 purchases

Puncha! Puppetmasters

One-time6
  • Golden Glove$0.99
  • Skip to Boss$0.99
  • Stopwatch$0.99
Show 3 more
  • Remove Ads$2.99
  • Big Bundle$4.99
  • Mega Bundle$9.99

Questions

Is Subnautica free?
Subnautica costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Puncha! Puppetmasters free?
Puncha! Puppetmasters is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Subnautica or Puncha! Puppetmasters?
Puncha! Puppetmasters is rated higher. Subnautica averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.2K ratings, while Puncha! Puppetmasters averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Subnautica or Puncha! Puppetmasters have ads?
Puncha! Puppetmasters shows ads; Subnautica does not.
Which is updated more often, Subnautica or Puncha! Puppetmasters?
Subnautica ships an update every 8 days, and Puncha! Puppetmasters every 2 days. Most recently, Subnautica was updated on November 13, 2026 and Puncha! Puppetmasters on October 31, 2026.

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