POOLS™ vs Chain Reaction OG
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
POOLS™
This app offers a slow, reflective, and immersive experience focused on exploration and atmosphere. It evokes feelings of unease and curiosity through its unique environments, inspired by liminal spaces and internet phenomena. Discover changing worlds and subtle narratives without traditional gameplay mechanics.
- Slow, reflective exploration
- Atmospheric and immersive environments
- Inspired by liminal spaces
- Unfolding narrative through exploration
- Six distinct chapters
- Unique sound design
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Explore, admire and listen. That’s it. Uncanny. Relaxing. Unnerving. Eerie. Immersive. POOLS isn’t a traditional game. it’s slow, reflective, and intentionally uneventful, perhaps a bit like virtual museum. So take your time. Breathe. POOLS unfolds slowly, rewarding patience and quiet attention. No monsters chasing you or jumping at your screen. Yet it can feel oppressive at times by invoking quiet fears of getting lost, the dark, tight spaces and the strange beauty of liminal space architecture. There's no typical story. But as you explore and advance further, you start to notice that the game's world changes around you, deeper you go… Rooms look and feel… different. Base game features six chapters, each lasting 10-30 minutes. Inspired by the internet phenomena Liminal spaces, Found footage and The Backrooms, especially the Poolrooms concept. One of the original artists behind the Poolrooms concept is Jared Pike.
Chain Reaction OG
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Build critical mass. Trigger explosive chain reactions. Capture the entire board. Chain Reaction OG is a fast-paced local multiplayer strategy game for 2–8 players. Place your atoms, take control of the arena, and unleash powerful cascades that can transform the board in a single move. Every turn matters. Protect your territory, control valuable corners and edges, and wait for the perfect moment to start an unstoppable chain reaction. The rules are simple, but mastering the board takes clever planning, timing, and tactical thinking. # LOCAL MULTIPLAYER FOR 2–8 PLAYERS Gather friends and family for competitive pass-and-play matches on one device. No accounts, complicated setup, or lengthy tutorials—choose your players, select an arena, and start playing. # SIMPLE TO LEARN, HARD TO MASTER Place atoms inside your cells to build critical mass. When a cell reaches its limit, it explodes and spreads atoms into neighboring spaces. Capture rival cells, create massive combos, and eliminate every opponent to become the last player standing. One carefully planned move can trigger a board-clearing chain reaction. # CUSTOMIZE EVERY MATCH • Local pass-and-play multiplayer for 2–8 players • Fast, competitive strategy matches • Four board sizes: Small, Medium, Large, and Huge • Multiple orb finishes and arena styles • Smooth animations and satisfying chain reactions • Responsive, easy-to-use controls • No account required Whether you are looking for a quick two-player battle, a family party game, or an intense multiplayer strategy challenge, Chain Reaction OG makes every match unpredictable. # FREE TO PLAY Play Chain Reaction OG for free. Ads are shown between completed matches, so gameplay is never interrupted. # CHAIN REACTION PRO Upgrade to Chain Reaction Pro with a monthly subscription to: • Remove all ads • Unlock every orb finish • Unlock every arena skin Internet access is used for purchases, advertising, and diagnostics. # DISCLAIMER Chain Reaction OG is an independently developed game. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, or officially connected to any other game developer, publisher, brand, product, or platform. Any third-party names or trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Gather your rivals, choose your board, and start the next explosive battle in Chain Reaction OG. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chain Reaction OG at none against POOLS™'s 1. Chain Reaction OG also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). POOLS™'s advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (4 vs 2). On price 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
Both are free to download. POOLS™ sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Chain Reaction OG asks for nothing beyond the download.
POOLS™ ships an update every 2 months, Chain Reaction OG monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 19, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | POOLS™ | Chain Reaction OG |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.5 (1.6K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 79.4% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1.6K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 1.9 GB | 50 MB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Tensori | Mayank Kumar Gupta |
Bugs and requests
POOLS™
Reported bugs
2 issues- Unable to move on iPad Pro
- Glitches reported
Requested features
3 requests- Expand to different Backrooms-inspired themes
- Add a multiplayer mode
- Introduce more interactive elements (e.g., monsters, items to discover)
Chain Reaction OG
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
POOLS™
- POOLS: Full Game$9.99
Chain Reaction OG
No in-app purchases









