# Darkstar vs Driftwing

The clearest difference is rating: Driftwing at 5.0 against Darkstar's 4.2. Driftwing also leads on update cadence (daily vs fortnightly). Darkstar's advantage is ratings volume (261 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Darkstar sells 31 one-off in-app purchases and Driftwing sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Driftwing holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Darkstar has 261 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Darkstar ships an update fortnightly, Driftwing daily. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Darkstar | Driftwing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (261 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkstar-idle-rpg/id6612023856/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/driftwing/id6793268466/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **261** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 33.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 443 MB | 108 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Neptune Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/539389569) | [Beyzer LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1895949273) |

## What reviewers say

### Darkstar

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/darkstar-idle-rpg/id6612023856)

Build and grow an endless space fleet in this idle RPG. Collect powerful warships and drones, conquer planets, and upgrade your equipment with stunning graphics and effects. Enjoy offline rewards and exciting growth content.

**Highlights:** Endless fleet growth, Warship and drone collection, Planet conquest, Equipment and skill upgrades, Offline rewards, Resource mining and raiding

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

**In-app purchases (31)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Package21 | $0.49 | one-time |
| Starter Package | $1.49 | one-time |
| Package10 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Drone Package1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Parts Package1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Skill Package1 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Package16 | $3.49 | one-time |
| Package17 | $3.99 | one-time |
| NormalPass2 Step1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| NormalPass1 Step1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| NormalPass3 Step1 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Package19 | $4.99 | one-time |
| NormalPass1 Step4 | $7.49 | one-time |
| AdRemove Package | $7.49 | one-time |
| Package22 | $7.49 | one-time |
| Package02 | $8.49 | one-time |
| Seasonpass1 | $8.99 | one-time |
| Parts Package2 | $10.99 | one-time |
| Skill Package2 | $10.99 | one-time |
| Stellar Pass | $12.99 | one-time |
| Package05 | $12.99 | one-time |
| Package07 | $14.99 | one-time |
| Package09 | $18.99 | one-time |
| Package11 | $21.99 | one-time |
| Package13 | $24.99 | one-time |
| Drone Package3 | $27.99 | one-time |
| Parts Package3 | $27.99 | one-time |
| Skill Package3 | $27.99 | one-time |
| Package18 | $40.99 | one-time |
| Package20 | $49.99 | one-time |
| Package23 | $74.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Nostalgic starship theme
- 💰 Generous with free rewards
- 👍 Respectable monetization model

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and overheats device
- 🐛 Buggy tutorial and unplayable
- 🕹️ Limited gameplay and content
- 💰 Pay-to-win mechanics

**Reported bugs**

- Game doesn't exist in the updated version
- Frequent crashes and performance issues
- Coupon code functionality not obvious

**Requested features**

- Combine idle gameplay with roguelite or shmup elements
- Add in-app language translation
- Provide a clear purpose and progression


### Driftwing

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/driftwing/id6793268466)

Pilot a fleet through a dynamic space campaign with physics-driven flight, arcade combat, and precise landing challenges. Build and customize your own modular spacecraft with a variety of parts and upgrades.

**Highlights:** Physics-driven flight and landing, Modular spacecraft builder, Campaign operations and daily missions, Endless sectors with escalating challenges, Multiple ship types and upgrades, Customizable ship parts and aesthetics

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Nova Ship | $1.99 | one-time |
| Volt Ship | $1.99 | one-time |
| Shipworks | $2.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads Forever | $4.99 | one-time |
| Complete Hangar | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Darkstar free?

Darkstar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Driftwing free?

Driftwing is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Darkstar or Driftwing?

Driftwing is rated higher. Darkstar averages 4.2 out of 5 from 261 ratings, while Driftwing averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Darkstar or Driftwing have ads?

Both Darkstar and Driftwing show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Darkstar or Driftwing?

Darkstar ships an update fortnightly, and Driftwing daily. Most recently, Darkstar was updated on October 30, 2026 and Driftwing on October 13, 2026.

---

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