# Notebook Artillery vs The Universe, Controlled

The clearest difference is price: The Universe, Controlled at Free against Notebook Artillery's $0.99. The Universe, Controlled also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 weeks). Notebook Artillery's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and review sentiment (82% vs 50%). On rating, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

The Universe, Controlled is free to download; Notebook Artillery costs $0.99 up front. The Universe, Controlled sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Notebook Artillery asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Notebook Artillery against 4.3 for The Universe, Controlled. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notebook Artillery has 149 ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 82% of Notebook Artillery's written reviews are positive against 50% of The Universe, Controlled's.

Notebook Artillery ships an update every 2 weeks, The Universe, Controlled every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notebook Artillery | The Universe, Controlled |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[4.5 (149 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-artillery/id6497486112/reviews)** | [4.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-universe-controlled/id6812953850/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **149** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **81.6% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#179** | — |
| Size | 115 MB | 26 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Austin Ivansmith](https://appshunter.io/developer/806084714) | [Lex Friedman](https://appshunter.io/developer/402531616) |

## What reviewers say

### Notebook Artillery

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-artillery/id6497486112)

**Currently charting:** #179 Top Paid · Casual (US App Store)

Engage in strategic cannon combat with this arcade-simulation-action game. Adjust firing angle and powder to hit targets or opponents, accounting for wind and random stage layouts. Features hand-drawn art and multiple game modes.

**Highlights:** Adjust firing angle and powder, Account for wind and stage layouts, Solo target practice mode, CPU opponent, Local multiplayer vs mode, Hand-drawn game art, Unlockable stickers

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Engaging gameplay
- 👍 Charming hand-drawn visuals
- 🎨 Creative twist on artillery games
- 💡 Simple yet effective mechanics
- 🕹️ Satisfying challenge of mastering angles and power

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔁 Repetitive gameplay
- 🤖 Erratic AI behavior
- 🕹️ Controls could be improved for one-handed play
- 🎨 Pixelated terrain graphics
- 🕹️ Lacking difficulty settings or progression

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on iOS 12 and 13 on iPad Pro
- Inconsistent animation speeds

**Requested features**

- Online multiplayer
- Campaign mode with objectives
- Weapon/tower upgrades
- Customization options
- Special game modes (speed run, boss battles, etc.)


### The Universe, Controlled

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-universe-controlled/id6812953850)

Guide spacecraft, rockets, and UFOs to safe landings on planets and moons. Trace flight paths, avoid collisions with asteroids and aliens, and score points. Enjoy an immersive space experience with customizable sound options.

**Highlights:** Trace spacecraft paths, Avoid collisions, Land on planets/moons, Dodge aliens and asteroids, Score points, Customizable soundtrack and sound effects

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock The Universe | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlock (Platinum) | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notebook Artillery free?

Notebook Artillery costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Universe, Controlled free?

The Universe, Controlled is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Notebook Artillery or The Universe, Controlled?

Notebook Artillery is rated higher. Notebook Artillery averages 4.5 out of 5 from 149 ratings, while The Universe, Controlled averages 4.3 from 3 ratings.

### Do Notebook Artillery or The Universe, Controlled have ads?

Notebook Artillery shows ads; The Universe, Controlled does not.

### Which is updated more often, Notebook Artillery or The Universe, Controlled?

Notebook Artillery ships an update every 2 weeks, and The Universe, Controlled every 3 days. Most recently, Notebook Artillery was updated on November 8, 2026 and The Universe, Controlled on October 31, 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.*