Comparison

Chromabeam vs NOVA STRIKER

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

Head to head
About

Chromabeam

Solve light beam puzzles across 75 levels by strategically placing reflectors and colored stones. Enjoy a relaxed gameplay experience with no time limits and no ads. Hints are available for purchase, with free hints included to help you progress.

Highlights
  • 75 puzzle levels
  • Reflector and Chromastone mechanics
  • No time limits
  • No ads
  • Optional hint purchases
  • Help section with tips
Features
Read full description

Puzzle through 75 levels where you direct beams of light to their destinations using mirrored Reflectors and colored Chromastones. Each group of levels starts easy as new abilities are revealed. No time limits! Take as long as you want to solve each level. No ads! Play 15 levels before deciding if you want to purchase the rest. Hints are available for purchase but 4 free hints are included. A help section is included with tips and tricks.

About

NOVA STRIKER

Features
Read full description

A retro '90s-style vertical bullet-hell shooter you can play with one finger — free, and fully playable offline. Weave through walls of bullets across 3 stages and massive boss battles. Skim past enemy fire to "graze" for score and bomb gauge, and turn the tables with screen-clearing bombs. Clear everything, and a hidden true battle awaits. ◆ Features - Intuitive controls: drag to move, auto-fire, double-tap to bomb — one-handed play - Graze system: near-misses are the path to high scores - 3 stages + more: unique midbosses, bosses, and a hidden final boss - Achievements & rankings: 14 achievements and global rankings (with per-language boards) - Difficulty options: EASY / NORMAL / HARD - 17 languages supported, works offline ◆ How to Play 1. Drag to move (your ship fires automatically) 2. Double-tap to trigger a bomb (clears enemy bullets) 3. Graze enemy bullets for bonus score 4. Watch a short video to revive after game over and push on for the clear Note: This game contains flashing lights. Player discretion is advised for those with photosensitivity. ◆ Made for players who enjoy - A retro arcade shooter, pixel art, neon lights, and a tense trip through space - A quick game during a break, or a longer high-score and score-attack session at home - Learning to dodge patterns with one hand in portrait mode instead of aiming every shot - Starting on EASY, settling into NORMAL, then taking on the hardcore density of HARD ◆ A score run with choices NOVA STRIKER is a danmaku-style shmup where reading a pattern matters as much as reflexes. Your ship fires on its own, leaving you free to steer through the gaps. A close dodge earns graze and fills the bomb gauge, so a daring line can be worth more than a safe one. Spend a bomb to clear a crowded screen, or save it for a boss phase: each run is a chance to refine that decision. ◆ Reasons to return The three stages are built around distinct enemy waves, midbosses, and boss battles, culminating in the hidden final boss. Choose the pace that suits you: EASY introduces the flow, NORMAL rewards consistency, and HARD asks for careful routing through thicker bullet patterns. Chase all 14 achievements, improve your high-score, and compare results on global leaderboards with separate boards by language. ◆ Play on your terms This is a free single-player action game for portrait smartphones, designed for a few spare minutes or repeated practice. It works offline, so a connection is not required to fly and dodge. A rewarded video is offered only when you choose to revive after game over; there are no forced ads interrupting play. With drag movement, auto-fire, and a double-tap bomb, it stays focused on the arcade rhythm. Price: Free to play, with one optional one-time purchase (rewarded ads only — no forced ads) Supports: Smartphones (portrait)

Screenshots

Chromabeam4 screens
NOVA STRIKER4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Chromabeam at none against NOVA STRIKER's shown. NOVA STRIKER's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.5). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Chromabeam sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and NOVA STRIKER sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Chromabeam against 5.0 for NOVA STRIKER. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chromabeam ships an update every 2 months, NOVA STRIKER every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and November 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 6 level
Chromabeam versus NOVA STRIKER: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChromabeamNOVA STRIKER
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings)
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPod
Requires iOS17.515.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size6 MB53 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperTiny Static LLCJOIN CIRCLE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Chromabeam

One-time5
  • Chromabeam: 3 Hints$0.99
  • Chromabeam: 18 Hints$1.99
  • 40 Hint Stones for any level$2.99
Show 2 more
  • Chromabeam: 200 Hints$3.99
  • Chromabeam Primary Levels Pack$3.99
1 purchases

NOVA STRIKER

One-time1
  • All-Range Beam$2.49

Questions

Is Chromabeam free?
Chromabeam is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NOVA STRIKER free?
NOVA STRIKER is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Chromabeam or NOVA STRIKER?
Chromabeam and NOVA STRIKER are both rated 5.0 out of 5 on the App Store, from 1 and 1 ratings respectively.
Do Chromabeam or NOVA STRIKER have ads?
NOVA STRIKER shows ads; Chromabeam does not.
Which is updated more often, Chromabeam or NOVA STRIKER?
Chromabeam ships an update every 2 months, and NOVA STRIKER every 3 days. Most recently, Chromabeam was updated on October 30, 2026 and NOVA STRIKER on November 6, 2026.

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