Comparison

Playful Lynx vs G.A.T.E.S.

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

Head to head
About

Playful Lynx

Features
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Watch a curious lynx cub roam across a warm, sunlit savanna. He runs, hops through tall grass, pauses to sit and look around, and lets out a gentle purr as butterflies drift by. Detailed acacia trees sway in the distance while dry grass and soft heat shimmer bring the landscape to life. There are no scores, no timers, and no pressure—just a beautifully animated cub exploring his world in landscape mode. Tap to send butterflies fluttering and see where his curiosity leads him next. A calm, playful experience designed for relaxation, delight, and a little bit of wild wonder.

About

G.A.T.E.S.

Experience the mobile game ads promised with this retro arcade shooter. Choose paths through gates to boost stats, build an army of ships, and blast through enemy waves and bosses. Unlock upgrades and skins to become stronger with every run.

Highlights
  • Gate path choices for stat boosts
  • Build and upgrade a fleet of ships
  • Retro arcade shooter gameplay
  • Multiple game modes (Arcade, Gambler, Boss Rush, Story)
  • Unlockable skins and permanent upgrades
  • Pixel art visuals and chiptune soundtrack
Features
Read full description

G.A.T.E.S. — Game Ads Teased, Experience Served You know those mobile game ads? The ones showing incredible gate-runner gameplay where you choose paths, multiply your army, and blast through enemies? Then you download the game and it's nothing like the ad? We built the game those ads promised. G.A.T.E.S. is a retro arcade shooter where you drag to move, auto-fire at enemy formations, and pass through gates that boost your stats. Choose your path wisely — every gate decision shapes your run. Fight through waves of enemies with unique behaviors, collect powerups, and face epic boss battles every 5 waves. CHOOSE YOUR PATH Pass through gates to boost damage, fire rate, spread, shields, projectiles, and more. Risk gates offer high reward for the daring. Mystery gates keep you guessing. BUILD YOUR ARMY Collect ships that fight alongside you. Watch your fleet grow from a lone fighter into a full squadron of upgraded warships. 4 GAME MODES - Arcade: Classic wave survival. How far can you go? - Gambler: Risk gates everywhere. High stakes, high rewards. - Boss Rush: Skip straight to the boss fights. - Story: Roguelite progression with credits, upgrades, and unlockable skins. UNLOCK & UPGRADE Earn credits to permanently upgrade your ship. Unlock 11 unique skins. Every run makes you stronger. RETRO VIBES Pixel art visuals inspired by Galaga and Space Invaders. Original chiptune soundtrack. CRT shader for authentic retro feel. FREE TO PLAY, FAIR TO PLAY No paywalls. No pay-to-win. All content is achievable through skill and mastery. Optional ads give you a boost, or remove them with a single purchase. Game Center leaderboards and achievements included.

Screenshots

Playful Lynx1 screens
G.A.T.E.S.4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Playful Lynx at none against G.A.T.E.S.'s shown. 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Playful Lynx ships an update every 3 months, G.A.T.E.S. every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Playful Lynx versus G.A.T.E.S.: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPlayful LynxG.A.T.E.S.
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (5 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—5 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 months — betterEvery 5 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNoNo
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.616.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB33 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSmart Lynx LLCKevin Aleman

In-app purchases

None

Playful Lynx

No in-app purchases

None

G.A.T.E.S.

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Playful Lynx free?
Playful Lynx is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is G.A.T.E.S. free?
G.A.T.E.S. is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Playful Lynx or G.A.T.E.S. have ads?
G.A.T.E.S. shows ads; Playful Lynx does not.
Which is updated more often, Playful Lynx or G.A.T.E.S.?
Playful Lynx ships an update every 3 months, and G.A.T.E.S. every 5 months. Most recently, Playful Lynx was updated on November 9, 2026 and G.A.T.E.S. on October 31, 2026.

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