# Retro vs Smash’em Up!

The clearest difference is update cadence: Retro at daily against Smash’em Up!'s every 2 weeks. Retro also leads on iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.1). Smash’em Up!'s advantage is ratings volume (7 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Retro against 5.0 for Smash’em Up!. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Smash’em Up! has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.

Retro ships an update daily, Smash’em Up! every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retro | Smash’em Up! |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-space-attack/id6738591809/reviews) | [5.0 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smashem-up/id6753736324/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **7** |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | Ad-supported |
| Size | 163 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Batuhan Yildirim](https://appshunter.io/developer/1780110016) | [David Smith](https://appshunter.io/developer/1839832764) |

## What reviewers say

### Retro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-space-attack/id6738591809)

Engage in an arcade-style space shooter with waves of enemies and challenging bosses. Unlock upgrades and master multiple unique ships with stunning pixel art and fast-paced gameplay. It's easy to learn but difficult to master.

**Highlights:** Arcade-style space shooter, Battle waves of enemies, Face epic bosses, Unlock powerful upgrades, Stunning pixel art, Multiple unique ships

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Smash’em Up!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smashem-up/id6753736324)

Test your reflexes in this addictive arcade tapper where you tap and smash endless waves of bugs. Build combos, avoid bombs, and face challenging boss battles. Simple to learn but difficult to master, it's perfect for quick gaming sessions.

**Highlights:** Intuitive one-tap controls, Endless progression with increasing challenge, Skill-based combo system, Boss battles, Rare bug variants, Local high-score tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retro free?

Retro is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Smash’em Up! free?

Smash’em Up! is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Retro or Smash’em Up!?

Retro and Smash’em Up! are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 7 ratings respectively.

### Do Retro or Smash’em Up! have ads?

Both Retro and Smash’em Up! show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Retro or Smash’em Up!?

Retro ships an update daily, and Smash’em Up! every 2 weeks. Most recently, Retro was updated on October 12, 2026 and Smash’em Up! on October 24, 2026.

---

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