SimpleRockets vs Space Shuttle AR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SimpleRockets
Design and build custom rocket ships with a variety of parts, then launch them into space to explore the solar system. Engage in challenges that test your engineering skills and learn about realistic orbital physics.
- Design custom rocket ships
- Connect various parts and gizmos
- Build rovers with wheels
- Explore the solar system
- Realistic orbital physics simulation
- Engage in in-game challenges
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Be sure to check our new game, SimplePlanes. Build airplanes and test them with realistic physics and see how they fly. You can find it on the App Store now or check out the website at http://www.SimplePlanes.com Design your own rocket ships. Blast off into space. Explore the solar system. See if you have what it takes to be a rocket scientist. CREATE Choose and connect parts together to build rocket ships. You can choose from a variety of rocket engines, fuel tanks, and other gizmos. You can even build rovers with powered wheels. You are only limited by your imagination. EXPLORE Blast off from any planet you want. You can fly through the intense atmosphere of Venus, or you can take advantage of the low gravity of Mercury. Whip around the sun and launch yourself out to the far reaches of the solar system. CHALLENGES Several challenges are built into the game so you can see who can go the fastest, fly the farthest, orbit with the least amount of fuel, land on the moon, and so much more. ROCKET SCIENCE Kepler wrote the equations 400 years ago, and SimpleRockets uses those equations to model extremely realistic orbital physics. Players will learn about rocket science and astrodynamics while they are having a blast exploring the solar system. This makes SimpleRockets ideal for the classroom, or as a healthy alternative to the barrage of brainless games available on the App Store.
Space Shuttle AR
Experience the Space Shuttle's return through augmented reality. As the launch director, guide the shuttle from launch to a safe docking with the International Space Station. Witness realistic smoke, fire, and engine separation in your own environment.
- Augmented Reality (AR) experience
- Launch director role
- Space Shuttle launch simulation
- Docking with International Space Station
- Realistic smoke and fire effects
- Booster and fuel tank separation
- Multiple viewing angles
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The Space Shuttle has been revived through Augmented Reality(AR) since its last flight in 2011. AR is a technology that displays virtual objects in the real world. You are the launch director of the Space Shuttle. Your mission is to launch the Space Shuttle and dock with the International Space Station safely. The Space Shuttle will be launched with smoke and fire from the launch pad. The shuttle will separate booster engines and an external fuel tank. It will dock with the Space Station above the Earth. The sound and the countdown make AR Space Shuttle more realistic. You can watch the shuttle's motions from various angles. Launch a 3D virtual Space Shuttle in your backyard or any other place. This app is a simple experiment in AR. The app is not only for Space Shuttle fans but also for anyone interested in AR. Try launching the 3D virtual Space Shuttle now.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Space Shuttle AR at Free against SimpleRockets's $2.99. Space Shuttle AR also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 5). SimpleRockets's advantage is update cadence (monthly vs every 5 months) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 13.0). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads 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
Space Shuttle AR is free to download; SimpleRockets costs $2.99 up front. SimpleRockets sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Space Shuttle AR asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for SimpleRockets against 4.7 for Space Shuttle AR. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 683 and 1.1K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of SimpleRockets's written reviews are positive against 78% of Space Shuttle AR's.
SimpleRockets ships an update monthly, Space Shuttle AR every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SimpleRockets | Space Shuttle AR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $2.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.6 (683 ratings) | 4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 85.1% of reviews — better | 78.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 683 | 1.1K — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 8.0 — better | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 26 MB | 68 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jundroo, LLC | Noriaki Murao |
Customer experience
SimpleRockets
Space Shuttle AR
User reviews
SimpleRockets
From 683 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Great game
- 🚀 Fun and addictive
- 🚀 Realistic physics
- 🚀 Awesome space simulation
- 🚀 Intuitive and easy to learn
Room to improve
- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🐛 Unstable and unreliable
- 🐛 Difficult to build complex rockets
- 🐛 Lack of camera controls
- 🔧 Limited part selection
Space Shuttle AR
From 1.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Realistic space shuttle simulation
- 👍 Stunning graphics and visuals
- 🎉 Engaging and educational experience
- 💡 Innovative use of AR technology
Room to improve
- 🐛 Placement and launch issues on some devices
- 🔍 Limited control and customization options
- ⏱️ Short gameplay duration
Bugs and requests
SimpleRockets
Reported bugs
5 issues- Crashes on startup
- Rocket parts detaching mid-flight
- Docking and rendezvous issues
- Inconsistent controls and responsiveness
- Graphical glitches and visual bugs
Requested features
7 requests- More parts and customization options
- Improved rocket building and assembly
- Camera controls and different views
- Career mode or progression system
- Multiplayer or cooperative features
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- Expanded solar system and exploration
- Better tutorials and guidance
Space Shuttle AR
Reported bugs
2 issues- Freezing and crashing on launch
- Inability to place the shuttle on flat surfaces
Requested features
4 requests- Add more rockets and spacecraft to launch
- Allow users to build and customize their own rockets
- Implement a re-entry and landing sequence
- Provide more background options (e.g., stars, planets)
In-app purchases
SimpleRockets
- Angel Rocket Skin$0.99
- Cartoon Rocket Skin$0.99
- Guardian Rocket Skin$0.99
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- Lava Rocket Skin$0.99
- Platinum Rocket Skin$0.99
Space Shuttle AR
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is SimpleRockets free?
Is Space Shuttle AR free?
Which has better reviews, SimpleRockets or Space Shuttle AR?
Do SimpleRockets or Space Shuttle AR have ads?
Which is updated more often, SimpleRockets or Space Shuttle AR?
Other comparisons
