Comparison

Hole Stars vs SORTWAVE

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

Head to head
About

Hole Stars

Guide a growing black hole through colorful levels, collecting items and solving puzzles against the clock. Enjoy satisfying gameplay with smooth animations and ASMR-style sound effects. Compete with friends on the leaderboard for a fun and relaxing puzzle experience.

Highlights
  • Addictive black hole gameplay
  • Dozens of clever puzzles
  • Collect items and grow stronger
  • Use smart boosters
  • Avoid sneaky blockers
  • ASMR-inspired effects
  • Leaderboard competition
Features
Read full description

Hole Stars – Scoop, Solve, and Shine Looking for a game that’s fun, fast, and totally satisfying? Meet Hole Stars — a relaxing puzzle game where you guide a growing black hole through colorful levels, collect everything in sight, and beat the clock in style. From tiny objects to giant surprises, every level is packed with items to collect, puzzles to solve, and obstacles to outsmart. Whether you’re in it for the challenge or the relaxing vibes, Hole Stars is the perfect break-time pick-me-up. Easy to Play, Hard to Put Down Swipe to move your black hole and start collecting! As you gather more, your hole grows bigger, letting you scoop up larger items and clear the board even faster. Watch out for tricky objects and blockers that’ll keep you on your toes. Think Fast, Move Smart Each level is a puzzle with a twist: time is ticking! Use strategy, quick thinking, and helpful level boosters to collect everything before the clock runs out. Whether you're sorting, planning your path, or just going with the flow — every move matters. Satisfying, Soothing Gameplay Enjoy smooth animations, crisp visuals, and gentle ASMR-style sound effects as you play. Hole Stars is built to be relaxing and satisfying — perfect for short sessions or deep puzzle streaks. Play, Compete, Repeat Want to challenge yourself even more? Compete with friends, rise through the leaderboard, and show off your speed and puzzle skills. It’s easy to pick up and play — but there’s always a new challenge waiting. What Makes Hole Stars Shine: - Addictive black hole gameplay with a unique twist - Dozens of clever puzzles and satisfying levels - Swallow items, grow stronger, and clear the board - Use smart boosters to tackle tough spots - Avoid sneaky blockers and stay one step ahead - Clean design and smooth, ASMR-inspired effects - A relaxing mix of strategy, action, and fun - Ideal for fans of sorting games and brain teasers - Join the leaderboard and race to the top! Whether you’re chasing high scores or just want a satisfying way to unwind, Hole Stars is your new favorite way to play. The stars are waiting — download now and shine bright! Terms of Service: https://static.moonactive.net/legal/terms.html?lang=en Privacy Notice: https://static.moonactive.net/legal/privacy.html?lang=en Questions about the game? Our support is ready and waiting at: https://support.holestarsgame.com/

About

SORTWAVE

Features
Read full description

SORTWAVE is a fast arcade puzzle game about reading patterns, making quick decisions and keeping the signal alive. Swipe each block into the matching lane. Correct sorts build your combo and score. Mistakes cost time, while bombs, frozen blocks and shifting rules push every run towards overload. CAMPAIGN Learn the system through handcrafted levels, then face faster belts, new hazards and tougher score targets. DAILY CHALLENGE Play a shared challenge that changes each day and chase a better result. ENDLESS PANIC Keep sorting as the pressure rises. Survive for as long as you can and push your high score. BUILT FOR QUICK PLAY • Simple swipe controls • Portrait play designed for iPhone and iPad • Original synthwave soundtrack • Local scores, stars and progress • No adverts • No account required Levels 1-5 are free. A one-time £2.99 in-app purchase grants access to the remaining campaign levels, Daily Challenge, Endless Panic and future level updates. There are no subscriptions.

Screenshots

Hole Stars4 screens
SORTWAVE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: SORTWAVE at none against Hole Stars's shown. Hole Stars's advantage is chart position (#32 vs unranked) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Hole Stars sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and SORTWAVE sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hole Stars ships an update every 10 days, SORTWAVE fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 10, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 8 level
Hole Stars versus SORTWAVE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHole StarsSORTWAVE
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.9 (37K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews46.9% of reviews—
Number of ratings37K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 10 days — betterFortnightly
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
Best chart rank#32 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size299 MB41 MB
Age rating17+4+
DeveloperMoon ActiveCeeKay Apps LTD

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Hole Stars

One-time10
  • Hole Stars 2$1.99
  • Hole Stars 3$2.99
  • Hole Stars 5$4.99
Show 7 more
  • Hole Stars 6$5.99
  • Hole Stars 8$7.99
  • Hole Stars 9$8.99
  • Hole Stars NoAds 10$9.99
  • Hole Stars 10$9.99
  • Hole Stars 15$14.99
  • Hole Stars 20$19.99
1 purchases

SORTWAVE

One-time1
  • Unlock Full Game$2.99

Questions

Is Hole Stars free?
Hole Stars is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is SORTWAVE free?
SORTWAVE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Hole Stars or SORTWAVE have ads?
Hole Stars shows ads; SORTWAVE does not.
Which is updated more often, Hole Stars or SORTWAVE?
Hole Stars ships an update every 10 days, and SORTWAVE fortnightly. Most recently, Hole Stars was updated on November 10, 2026 and SORTWAVE on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons