# Core Arcade vs Nova

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.

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Core Arcade | Nova |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-a-cognexis-game/id6797683874/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **1** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | — | Free |
| Size | 19 MB | 15 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jose Blanco](https://appshunter.io/developer/1643690946) | [Priya Mane](https://appshunter.io/developer/1830740718) |

## What reviewers say

### Core Arcade

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-arcade/id6760246123)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arcade Plus Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Arcade Plus Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| 14 Day Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Remove Ads Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |


### Nova

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nova-a-cognexis-game/id6797683874)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked 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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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*