Subnautica vs Puncha! Puppetmasters
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Underwater exploration
- Crafting and base building
- Submarine piloting
- Survival mechanics
- Multiple game modes
- Alien ocean planet setting
Read full descriptionHide 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
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide 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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
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.
| Parameter | Subnautica | Puncha! Puppetmasters |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $9.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (1.2K ratings) | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 82.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1.2K — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 8 days | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #28 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2.2 GB | 342 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Unknown Worlds | Richard Callahan |
Customer experience
Subnautica
Puncha! Puppetmasters
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
Subnautica
No in-app purchases
Puncha! Puppetmasters
- Golden Glove$0.99
- Skip to Boss$0.99
- Stopwatch$0.99
Show 3 moreShow fewer
- Remove Ads$2.99
- Big Bundle$4.99
- Mega Bundle$9.99
Questions
Is Subnautica free?
Is Puncha! Puppetmasters free?
Which has better reviews, Subnautica or Puncha! Puppetmasters?
Do Subnautica or Puncha! Puppetmasters have ads?
Which is updated more often, Subnautica or Puncha! Puppetmasters?
Other comparisons















