# Shockwave Games vs Pocket8

The clearest difference is rating: Pocket8 at 4.5 against Shockwave Games's 3.0. Pocket8 also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Shockwave Games sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Pocket8 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Pocket8 holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pocket8 has 40 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Shockwave Games ships an update every 3 weeks, Pocket8 daily. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Shockwave Games | Pocket8 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shockwave-games/id6740349338/reviews) | **[4.5 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket8/id6758171942/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **40** |
| Positive reviews | — | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Daily** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 59 MB | 24 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [LittleBigSnake, Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1441097374) | [Jevon Lipsey](https://appshunter.io/developer/1864554839) |

## What reviewers say

### Shockwave Games

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shockwave-games/id6740349338)

Engage your mind with a variety of daily brain games and puzzles. Choose from over 30 titles across genres like jigsaws and word games to keep your streak going and challenge yourself.

**Highlights:** Daily brain challenges, Over 30 game titles, Jigsaw puzzles, Word games, Classic brain games, Streak tracking

**Features:** iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| SWU Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| SWU Annual | $59.99 | per year |


### Pocket8

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pocket8/id6758171942)

This app brings the PICO-8 fantasy console experience to your mobile device, offering access to thousands of community-made games. Enjoy customizable touch controls or gamepad support, and never lose progress with an instant save system.

**Highlights:** Browse and play community-made PICO-8 games, Customizable touch controls and gamepad support, Instant save states for unlimited progress saving, Portrait and landscape orientation support, Locked 60FPS gameplay

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Shockwave Games free?

Shockwave Games is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Pocket8 free?

Pocket8 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Shockwave Games or Pocket8?

Pocket8 is rated higher. Shockwave Games averages 3.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Pocket8 averages 4.5 from 40 ratings.

### Do Shockwave Games or Pocket8 have ads?

Neither Shockwave Games nor Pocket8 shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Shockwave Games or Pocket8?

Shockwave Games ships an update every 3 weeks, and Pocket8 daily. Most recently, Shockwave Games was updated on October 25, 2026 and Pocket8 on October 24, 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.*