Basic Buddies vs Dolphin Beyond
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Basic Buddies
Experience a fast-paced arcade game focused on vertical descent and precision movement. Navigate a continuously generating world with unique challenges and unlockable content. Master timing and control to survive longer and achieve higher scores.
- Four unique game modes
- Endless vertically scrolling gameplay
- Responsive mobile controls
- Unlockable characters and customization
- Coin-based progression
- Designed for quick sessions
Read full descriptionHide full description
Descend fast. Survive longer. Master the descent. This is a fast-paced arcade-style game built around vertical descent, precision movement, and split-second decision making. Each run drops you into a continuously generating world filled with platforms, hazards, and opportunities to push just a little farther. The game features four distinct game modes, each offering a different way to play — from endless, score-chasing runs to survival-style challenges that test how long you can last under pressure. Whether you’re aiming for a clean, focused descent or pushing yourself through increasingly intense encounters, every mode rewards timing, control, and momentum. Features: - Four unique game modes with different rules and challenges - Endless, vertically scrolling gameplay - Smooth, responsive controls built for mobile - Unlockable characters and visual customization - Coin-based progression and optional rewards - Designed for quick sessions and high replay value Easy to learn but difficult to master, this game is all about control, rhythm, and surviving the descent.
Dolphin Beyond
Experience an arcade physics game where you guide a dolphin through an ocean-to-space journey. Master dives and launches to build momentum, perform aerial tricks, and race against the clock or for distance. Collect in-game currency to unlock cosmetic skins and progress through daily challenges.
- Physics-based momentum building
- Aerial trick combos
- Two game modes: score chase and distance sprint
- Ocean to space progression
- Collectible dolphin skins
- Daily missions and achievements
Read full descriptionHide full description
Dive. Launch. Fly. Dolphin Beyond is a physics arcade game about one dolphin chasing one perfect run — from the depths of the ocean, up past the clouds, and out into space. It runs on one honest idea: speed is earned, and it compounds. Dive to build momentum, time your launch off the surface, and slice back in nose-first to keep it. Nail a clean entry and you climb higher and faster. Belly-flop and you start over. The better you read the water, the further you fly. HOW YOU PLAY - Two simple controls. Hold the left or right button to arc the angle of your dive and your launch — a tap nudges, a hold swings you all the way into a flip. - Slide up on a button to layer in a spin, flipping and corkscrewing at once. - Clean entries bank your momentum and raise your speed cap. - Chain tricks in the air for points, and mix them up: repeating the same trick is worth less each time, so variety wins. TWO WAYS TO RUN - Two Minutes — the score chase. Climb as high and score as big as you can before the buzzer, from the waves to deep space. - Slipstream — a 60-second distance sprint with a rolling start. Keep your entries clean and go the distance. WHAT'S OUT THERE - Tricks — front flips, back flips, corkscrews and more, scored on a combo multiplier that rewards flow. - Starslides — out in space, ride glowing star rails to bank a boost and reach the next milestone. - Ocean to space — break past the sky and climb through the solar system, from the waves to distant planets. - Boosters — arm one active and one passive booster (Rocket, Deep Dive, Splash Guard, Pearl Magnet, Slow Motion) to shape a run. COLLECT AND PROGRESS - Earn Pearls from every run and scoop them up mid-flight. - Spend them on a roster of dolphin skins, from bright common tints to legendary characters. Skins are looks only — they never change how you play. - Daily missions, a daily reward ladder, achievements, and a Planet Hunt collection give you a reason to come back. BUILT FOR SCORE CHASERS - Verified leaderboards powered by a fully deterministic physics engine — the same input always produces the same run, so every score is fair. - Separate boards for each mode. Compete globally, or keep your profile private. - No ads and no in-app purchases — every Pearl, skin, and booster is earned by playing. How far beyond can you go?
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Dolphin Beyond at none against Basic Buddies's 5. Dolphin Beyond also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 26.0). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume 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
Both are free to download. Basic Buddies sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Dolphin Beyond asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 5.0 for Basic Buddies against 5.0 for Dolphin Beyond. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 100% and 100% positive.
Basic Buddies ships an update weekly, Dolphin Beyond every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 27, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Basic Buddies | Dolphin Beyond |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (1 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 1 |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 52 MB | 139 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Andrew Hoffart | Halfdan Valentin Harring |
Customer experience
Basic Buddies
Dolphin Beyond
In-app purchases
Basic Buddies
- Small Coin Pack (100 Coins)$0.99
- Medium Coin Pack (500 Coins)$2.99
- Premium Upgrade (No Ads)$3.99
Show 2 moreShow fewer
- Large Coin Pack (1,500 Coins)$4.99
- Epic Coin Pack (5,000 Coins)$9.99
Dolphin Beyond
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Basic Buddies free?
Is Dolphin Beyond free?
Which has better reviews, Basic Buddies or Dolphin Beyond?
Do Basic Buddies or Dolphin Beyond have ads?
Which is updated more often, Basic Buddies or Dolphin Beyond?
Other comparisons















