Comparison

Core Arcade vs Nova

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

Head to head
About

Core Arcade

Features
Read full description

Your phone becomes a pocket game console. Console Game packs 12 original arcade experiences into one polished library. Jump between quick sessions, discover different genres, and launch straight into gameplay with responsive on-screen controls. INCLUDES 12 GAMES Snake Ball Bounce Breakout Alien wave shooter Number Merge Meteor Run Signal Match Minefield Orbit Guard Hyper Gate Pulse Lock Skyline Stack WHY PLAY CONSOLE GAME One app, many game styles: arcade, puzzle, shooter, reflex, strategy Instant launch flow from the library to gameplay Adaptive challenge tuning to help you improve while staying engaged Console-style interface designed for iPhone and iPad Touch-first controls with a familiar D-pad and action button layout Progress tracking across your sessions PLAY YOUR WAY Use quick runs to chase high scores, improve your timing, and master each game’s mechanics. Whether you want a 2-minute break or a longer session, Console Game is built for smooth, pick-up-and-play fun. Download now and start your next run.

About

Nova

This is a one-finger arcade game focused on momentum and survival. Collect different types of motes to score points and increase your multiplier, while evading hunters that spawn and become more aggressive over time. The goal is to last as long as possible and achieve a high score.

Highlights
  • One-finger controls
  • Momentum-based gameplay
  • Mote collection for scoring
  • Multiplier system
  • Hunter evasion
  • High score chasing
Features
Read full description

Press. Drag. Survive. NOVA is a one-finger arcade game about momentum. Every move takes a beat to commit to. That beat is the whole game. Collect motes to score. Chain pickups fast enough and your multiplier climbs — miss the window and the combo resets. • Blue motes — steady points • Green motes — big points, but teleport you somewhere random on the map. Could save you. Could drop you right next to a hunter. • Gold motes — the biggest score, and a shockwave that clears nearby hunters. Getting to one is the hard part. Hunters spawn from the edges and home in on you. More of them, faster, the longer you survive. There's no winning — just how long you last, and whether you beat your best. No timers, no lives, no ads mid-run. Tap in, chase the score, go again.

Screenshots

Core Arcade4 screens
Nova4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Nova at none against Core Arcade's 4. Nova also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 3 weeks). On price 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. Core Arcade sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Nova asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Core Arcade ships an update every 3 weeks, Nova every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 5 level
Core Arcade versus Nova: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCore ArcadeNova
PriceFreeFree
Rating—5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Number of ratings—1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 3 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
Monetization—Free
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size19 MB15 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJose BlancoPriya Mane

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Core Arcade

Subscriptions2
  • Arcade Plus Monthly$2.991 Month
  • Arcade Plus Yearly$19.991 Year
One-time2
  • 14 Day Free TrialFree
  • Remove Ads Lifetime$9.99
None

Nova

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Core Arcade free?
Core Arcade is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Nova free?
Nova is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Core Arcade or Nova have ads?
Core Arcade shows ads; Nova does not.
Which is updated more often, Core Arcade or Nova?
Core Arcade ships an update every 3 weeks, and Nova every 3 days. Most recently, Core Arcade was updated on October 23, 2026 and Nova on October 25, 2026.

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