Comparison

Short Journey vs Drift

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

Head to head
About

Short Journey

Features
Read full description

Embark on a ‘Short Journey’ Through Enchanting Worlds! ‘Short Journey’ is a captivating 2D platformer that takes you through a series of uniquely designed levels. Each of the 12 stages offers a variety of challenges that range from quick and straightforward to complex and demanding. Charming Aesthetics: Experience the classic charm as you traverse through levels that pay homage to the golden age of gaming. Diverse Challenges: ‘Short Journey’ provides a spectrum of difficulties, ensuring that each level feels fresh and engaging. Intuitive Gameplay: The game’s mechanics are designed to be accessible yet challenging, allowing both newcomers and seasoned gamers to enjoy the thrill of the journey. In ‘Short Journey’, every level is an opportunity to test your skills and uncover new surprises. Prepare to embark on an adventure that’s as nostalgic as it is exciting!

About

Drift

Experience a precision platformer set in a surreal house filled with ticking clocks and shifting realities. Explore 17 unique rooms, master precise movement mechanics, and uncover a poignant story told through memories. Challenge yourself with daily dreams and unlockable difficulty modes.

Highlights
  • 17 hand-built rooms
  • Precision platforming mechanics
  • Story told through memories
  • Daily Dream challenges
  • Unlockable difficulty modes
  • Speedrun timer
  • Shop with boosters
Features
Read full description

A precision platformer about leaving a house full of clocks. Free to play. If you loved Celeste, Journey, or Gris — this is your next obsession. She grew up in a house where the clocks didn't tick in time. Where the wallpaper breathed. Where mirrors stopped agreeing. The story starts small — a man at the table, a hallway that grew longer when she was alone in it — and ends with every clock in the house stopping. You play as the version of her that walked out. FEATURES • 17 hand-built rooms — each its own mood, palette, and score • Precision mechanics: wall slide, wall jump, air dash, coyote time • A story told one memory at a time • Daily Dream — a new room every day, same seed for every player • 3 Dream Layers: beat the game to unlock Nightmare and Abyss • 10 achievements • Speedrun timer • Shop with boosters and cosmetic effects • Original soundtrack that shifts with the room • Free to play, no required purchases "the house tried to swallow the sound. it could not."

Screenshots

Short Journey4 screens
Drift4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Short Journey at none against Drift's 4. Short Journey also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 6 weeks). On price, ads, 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

Both are free to download. Drift sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Short Journey asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Short Journey ships an update daily, Drift every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 7 level
Short Journey versus Drift: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterShort JourneyDrift
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 6 weeks
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size98 MB37 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperAli TalebElliott White

In-app purchases

None

Short Journey

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Drift

One-time4
  • Dream Pack$0.99
  • 50 Coins$0.99
  • 200 Coins$2.99
Show 1 more
  • 500 Coins$4.99

Questions

Is Short Journey free?
Short Journey is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Drift free?
Drift is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Short Journey or Drift have ads?
Both Short Journey and Drift show ads.
Which is updated more often, Short Journey or Drift?
Short Journey ships an update daily, and Drift every 6 weeks. Most recently, Short Journey was updated on October 25, 2026 and Drift on October 6, 2026.

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