# Athena Crisis vs Pixel Commander

The clearest difference is rating: Pixel Commander at 4.8 against Athena Crisis's 3.8. Pixel Commander also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 9 months) and review sentiment (100% vs 73%). Athena Crisis's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Athena Crisis sells 4 one-off in-app purchases and Pixel Commander sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pixel Commander holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12 and 26 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 73% of Athena Crisis's written reviews are positive against 100% of Pixel Commander's.

Athena Crisis ships an update every 9 months, Pixel Commander every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Athena Crisis | Pixel Commander |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (12 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/athena-crisis/id6737795353/reviews) | **[4.8 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-commander-tower-battle/id6748568011/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 12 | **26** |
| Positive reviews | 72.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 5 MB | 23 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Nakazawa Tech KK](https://appshunter.io/developer/1777967794) | [Faraz Khan](https://appshunter.io/developer/1609310808) |

## What reviewers say

### Athena Crisis

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/athena-crisis/id6737795353)

Command over 40 diverse units in this turn-based strategy game. Engage in single-player campaigns or test your skills in online multiplayer. Design custom maps and campaigns, and experience unique invasion mechanics that blend single-player missions with player-vs-player combat.

**Highlights:** 40+ ground, naval, air, and special units, Multiple single-player campaigns, Sync and async online multiplayer, Unlockable player skills and unit powers, Map and campaign design tools, Invasion mechanics for PvP battles

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Map & Campaign Editor | $0.99 | one-time |
| PvP & Curated Campaigns | $2.99 | one-time |
| The Athena Crisis Campaign | $5.99 | one-time |
| Athena Crisis: Full Game | $9.99 | one-time |


### Pixel Commander

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pixel-commander-tower-battle/id6748568011)

Engage in a unique tower connection strategy game that blends classic pixel art with intense warfare. Develop your tactics, upgrade defenses, and deploy armies across diverse battlegrounds for total immersion and challenging gameplay.

**Highlights:** Connect towers for strategic advantage, Upgrade pixel game towers, Deploy armies on multiple fronts, Variety of war strategy game modes, Dynamic tower combat system, State.io and Advance Wars inspired gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Coin Pouch: Get 500 Coins | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coin Bag: Get 2000 Coins | $2.99 | one-time |
| Treasure Chest: Get 5000 Coins | $4.99 | one-time |
| Disable Those Annoying Ads | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Athena Crisis free?

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

### Is Pixel Commander free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Athena Crisis or Pixel Commander?

Pixel Commander is rated higher. Athena Crisis averages 3.8 out of 5 from 12 ratings, while Pixel Commander averages 4.8 from 26 ratings.

### Do Athena Crisis or Pixel Commander have ads?

Pixel Commander shows ads; Athena Crisis does not.

### Which is updated more often, Athena Crisis or Pixel Commander?

Athena Crisis ships an update every 9 months, and Pixel Commander every 2 weeks. Most recently, Athena Crisis was updated on November 4, 2026 and Pixel Commander on November 5, 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.*