Comparison

Nova Drift vs Astro Party EX

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Nova Drift

This roguelike space shooter blends arcade combat with RPG elements for deep ship customization. Evolve your vessel through rapid gameplay sessions, experimenting with over 200 modular upgrades to craft unique builds and dominate unpredictable, randomly generated challenges.

Highlights
  • Roguelike space shooter gameplay
  • Deep ship build-crafting
  • Over 200 modular upgrades
  • Quick, iterative gameplay sessions
  • Randomly generated challenges
  • Permanent death
Features
Read full description

- SURVIVE - EVOLVE - DOMINATE - Nova Drift is a roguelike space shooter that combines classic arcade combat with action-rpg elements, emphasizing build-crafting and deep customization. Your ship rapidly evolves as you defeat enemies, allowing you to take a build from inception to execution in a single, captivating game session. Featuring: - Quick gameplay sessions (15-45 minutes) that allow for rapid experimentation, iteration, and advancement. - Over 200 modular upgrades, unlocked over time, to create your ideal build with. Snipe, command a drone army, discharge your shields, charge up, burn enemies with your thrusters, or smash right through them... there's a way to make it work. - Modular challenge modes to unlock and activate, providing greater risk and rewards. The stakes are high, as death is permanent! - Every game is randomly generated, keeping the fight intense and unpredictable. Fight through the campaign or play endlessly... Nova Drift is created by Chimeric, with music by Miles Tilmann. Website: https://novadrift.io/ Discord: https://discord.com/invite/Zp2MkPJ

About

Astro Party EX

A chaotic party game where up to four players compete on a single device. Navigate your ship with a unique right-turn-only mechanic, blast opponents, and crush stranded pilots. Enjoy destructible levels and retro pixel art in this explosive sequel.

Highlights
  • Up to 4 players on one device
  • Unique right-turn-only controls
  • Beautiful pixel art & music
  • Fully destructible levels
  • Sequel to a popular hit game
Features
Read full description

Astro Party EX is the ultimate portable party game. Blast enemy ships, run over stranded pilots, and laugh while you do it. The twist? Ships can only turn right. (whaaaaa?) • Up to 4 players on one device • Two-button controls • Beautiful new pixel art & music • Fully destructible levels • The explosive sequel to the hit game played by millions

Screenshots

Nova Drift4 screens
Astro Party EX4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Astro Party EX at Free against Nova Drift's $9.99. Astro Party EX also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.4). Nova Drift's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 13.0). On review sentiment, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Astro Party EX is free to download; Nova Drift costs $9.99 up front. Astro Party EX sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Nova Drift asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Astro Party EX holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 56 and 22 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 81% of Nova Drift's written reviews are positive against 75% of Astro Party EX's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Nova Drift ships an update every 10 days, Astro Party EX weekly. Both last shipped on October 30, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Nova Drift versus Astro Party EX: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNova DriftAstro Party EX
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (56 ratings)4.7 (22 ratings) — better
Positive reviews81.4% of reviews — better75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings56 — better22
Update frequencyEvery 10 daysWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS10.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size573 MB132 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperChimeric LLCRusty Moyher

Customer experience

Nova Drift

All ratings54 ratings
Positive85.2%
Neutral5.6%
Negative9.3%
Written reviews59 reviews
Positive81.4%
Neutral8.5%
Negative10.2%

Astro Party EX

All ratings22 ratings
Positive90.9%
Neutral4.5%
Negative4.5%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Nova Drift

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Astro Party EX

One-time1
  • Full Game Unlock$4.99

Questions

Is Nova Drift free?
Nova Drift costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Astro Party EX free?
Astro Party EX is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Nova Drift or Astro Party EX?
Astro Party EX is rated higher. Nova Drift averages 4.4 out of 5 from 56 ratings, while Astro Party EX averages 4.7 from 22 ratings.
Do Nova Drift or Astro Party EX have ads?
Neither Nova Drift nor Astro Party EX shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Nova Drift or Astro Party EX?
Nova Drift ships an update every 10 days, and Astro Party EX weekly. Most recently, Nova Drift was updated on October 30, 2026 and Astro Party EX on October 30, 2026.

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