Comparison

RetroBoy vs HOSHIKAGE

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

Head to head
About

RetroBoy

A retro action platformer where a single tap shifts the game between modern HD and 8-bit pixel art. This mechanic alters visuals, music, physics, and gameplay, revealing hidden paths and power-ups. Master both realities to uncover the game's secrets.

Highlights
  • World-flipping mechanic (HD/8-bit)
  • 6 handcrafted levels
  • 5 boss battles
  • Hidden rooms and collectibles
  • 3 unlockable weapons
  • 28 player upgrades
  • Multiple difficulty modes
Features
Read full description

Put on the shades. See the truth. RetroBoy is a handcrafted retro action platformer where a single tap flips the entire world between modern HD and raw 8-bit reality — changing the art, music, physics, abilities, and even the paths you can take. Nemo's world is a lie. His shades reveal the 8-bit code hidden underneath — and inside the code, he becomes more powerful. Run faster, jump higher, double-jump, and ride walls. But Nemo can only stay in the 8-bit world while his energy lasts. When the bar empties, reality snaps back to HD. Grab energy pickups to recharge, then switch at exactly the right moment — platforms, doors, enemies, and entire secret rooms can exist in one reality but not the other. Master both worlds to uncover the truth. FEATURES • Two realities, one tap — transform every level between modern HD visuals with full 3D character models and chunky 8-bit pixel art • 6 handcrafted levels — explore server rooms, neon rooftops, a towering corporate HQ, the corrupted Glitch Zone, the Architect's core, and a final trip to the other side • 5 boss battles and a boss-rush finale — with skippable intro cinematics • Secrets everywhere — 12 hidden rooms behind mode-exclusive doors, 27 data fragments, and 12 elusive pigeons • 3 weapons to master — fists, an energy blaster, and a laser sword • 28 upgrades earned through play — spend the chips you collect on new powers, all the way up to the Mech Suit • Built for replayability — 18 stars to earn, Normal / Hard / Brutal difficulty, and New Game+ prestige runs • A synchronized dual soundtrack — every track has an HD and a chiptune version that swap seamlessly with the world MADE FOR MOBILE • 3 touch layouts — reposition and resize every button to suit your style • Full game-controller support — touch controls tuck away automatically • Play the whole game offline — ideal for flights and commutes • Colorblind modes, haptic feedback, adjustable text size and screen shake • No ads, no in-app purchases, no account required The truth is waiting. Put on the shades.

About

HOSHIKAGE

Read full description

Deflect. Break. Issen. Swipe up, down, left, or right to deflect incoming attacks and break your enemies’ stance. Then touch and hold to unleash Issen, cutting down all staggered enemies in a single strike. Feel the tension of deflecting attack after attack, then the thrill of a decisive counterstrike. Enjoy the clash of blades with simple swipes and holds. Enemies close in from both sides and coordinate their attacks to overwhelm you. One enemy strikes between the blows of another’s combo. Read each attack’s direction and timing, and deflect in rhythm. Chain deflections to spark Quickening, which helps you break your enemies’ stance. Turn successful deflections into an opening for Issen. Boss battles put your skills to the test. Two ways to play. STORY Beneath the moon, a swordswoman in white faces a mysterious figure in a fox mask. Without a single line of dialogue, their story unfolds through the way they fight and the gestures between clashes. See where their blades lead. ENDLESS How long can you survive against a wide variety of enemies? Chain deflections and chase a higher score.

Screenshots

RetroBoy4 screens
HOSHIKAGE3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: HOSHIKAGE at every 3 days against RetroBoy's fortnightly. HOSHIKAGE also leads on iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, 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

RetroBoy ships an update fortnightly, HOSHIKAGE every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 28, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
RetroBoy versus HOSHIKAGE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRetroBoyHOSHIKAGE
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings2 — better—
Update frequencyFortnightlyEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS17.015.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size750 MB81 MB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperPeter HodgesTakashi Ohida

In-app purchases

None

RetroBoy

No in-app purchases

None

HOSHIKAGE

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is RetroBoy free?
RetroBoy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is HOSHIKAGE free?
HOSHIKAGE is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do RetroBoy or HOSHIKAGE have ads?
Neither RetroBoy nor HOSHIKAGE shows ads.
Which is updated more often, RetroBoy or HOSHIKAGE?
RetroBoy ships an update fortnightly, and HOSHIKAGE every 3 days. Most recently, RetroBoy was updated on October 28, 2026 and HOSHIKAGE on October 24, 2026.

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