Ellipse vs Rocket Touchdown
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Ellipse
Design, build, and launch rockets with realistic orbital mechanics. Explore celestial bodies and experience dynamic physics for a true-to-life space simulation. Ideal for aspiring engineers and space enthusiasts.
- Rocket design and customization
- Realistic orbital mechanics
- Explore celestial bodies
- Dynamic physics engine
- Space exploration simulation
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Build your own vehicles and conduct your own space missions to explore space. Launch capsules, satellites, land on the Moon, land on Mars. - Real orbital mechanics and physics, nothing is faked - Planets based on real solar system data - Thrilling visual effects - No ads, no account required, free to download
Rocket Touchdown
Test your piloting skills in a challenging space landing simulator. Manage fuel, fight gravity, and navigate hazards across different celestial bodies. Master precise controls for a brutal, physics-based arcade experience with a retro-futuristic aesthetic.
- Authentic flight physics
- Multiple environments (Earth, Moon, Mars)
- Dynamic hazards (meteors, lasers, black holes)
- Global leaderboards
- Retro-futuristic brutalist interface
- Limited fuel management
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[ SYSTEM ACTIVE ] Welcome to Rocket Touchdown — a no-forgiveness landing simulation. This isn’t just a game. It’s a test of precision, control, and physics. Your mission is simple: Control your spacecraft, manage limited fuel, fight gravity… and land safely. But one mistake? Total mission failure. Built on pure physics and wrapped in a retro-futuristic terminal aesthetic, Rocket Touchdown delivers a brutal, skill-based arcade experience. Key Features • Authentic Flight Physics Master the balance between main thrusters and RCS controls. Every input matters. • 8 Unique Spacecraft Unlock and command 8 distinct crafts—from the agile Hermes to the titan Zenith—each with unique thrust, armor, and handling profiles. • Flight Directives & Daily Protocols Access the onboard Flight Terminal. Complete 75+ career directives across 9 flight disciplines, tackle 24-hour rotating daily protocols, claim rewards, and rise from Cadet to Cosmic Legend. • Multiple Environments Train on Earth, survive the Moon, and conquer Mars across 99 progressive missions. • Dynamic Hazards Dodge meteors, endure laser strikes, collect orbital shields, and exploit mysterious wormhole warps. • Global Leaderboards Compete worldwide on Game Center and prove you’re the ultimate pilot. • Brutalist Interface CRT scanlines, monochrome displays, and immersive deep-space audio. Do you have the precision to land? Or will you burn on impact? [ LAUNCH SEQUENCE INITIATED ]
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Ellipse at none against Rocket Touchdown's shown. Ellipse also leads on ratings volume (2K vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). Rocket Touchdown's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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. Ellipse sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Rocket Touchdown sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Rocket Touchdown holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ellipse has 2K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Ellipse ships an update monthly, Rocket Touchdown every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Ellipse | Rocket Touchdown |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (2K ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 78.9% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2K — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 8 days — better |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple TV |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 245 MB | 97 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Starwelds | Ufuk AYDIN |
Customer experience
Ellipse
Rocket Touchdown
Bugs and requests
Ellipse
Reported bugs
12 issues- Connected parts don't work
- Staging issues (last stage goes first)
- Fairings don't attach
- Cannot delete after spawning samples
- Detached parts don't detach
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- Game freezes during missions
- Parachute gets cut before launch
- Expansion pack causes build issues
- Glitches on iPad
- Rocket parts don't separate
- Capsule doesn't separate from rocket near the moon
- Build area barrier
Requested features
49 requests- Add more planets
- Add astronauts
- Add a delete button
- Add more parts (solar panel, battery, antenna, wing, landing leg, chassis, monopropellant tank, docking port)
- Add electricity consumption
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- Add plane flight mechanics
- Add planet navigation (like SFS)
- Improve RCS control
- Improve plane aerodynamics
- Improve RCS in docking mode
- Add launch instructions
- Add symmetry feature
- Add staging mechanic
- Add modding or community made packs
- Add individual save slots
- Add more free stuff
- Add engine mounts
- Add SRB customizations
- Make fuel tanks adjustable
- Add emergency escape towers
- Add Jupiter and its moons
- Add Deimos (Mars' second moon)
- Add gas giants and their moons
- Add controllers support
- Add better damage and break apart models
- Add rovers
- Add Saturn V rocket parts
- Add free space shuttle
- Adjust planet speed
- Add more buildings around Earth
- Make planets more detailed
- Add more expansion parts
- Make build area better
- Remove build area barrier
- Add Saturn V rocket
- Add gas giants
- Add gas giant moons
- Add Deimos
- Add Jupiter and its 4 biggest moons
- Add more free parts
- Add tutorial on how to build
- Improve realism
- Add space stations
- Add more capsules
- Add bigger fuel tanks
- Add bigger rocket booster fuel
- Add more detailed graphics
- Add more parts to build planes
- Add a tutorial for maneuvers
Rocket Touchdown
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Ellipse
- Large Parts$2.99
- Heavy Lift Program$4.99
- Expansion$4.99
Rocket Touchdown
- Full System Access$0.99
Questions
Is Ellipse free?
Is Rocket Touchdown free?
Which has better reviews, Ellipse or Rocket Touchdown?
Do Ellipse or Rocket Touchdown have ads?
Which is updated more often, Ellipse or Rocket Touchdown?
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