Comparison

Conway's Cells vs Aphelion

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

Head to head
About

Conway's Cells

Features
Read full description

Discover the beauty of cellular automata with Conway's Cells, a polished and powerful implementation of Conway's Game of Life for iOS. WHAT IS THE GAME OF LIFE? Conway's Game of Life is a zero-player game where cells on a grid live, die, or multiply based on simple rules. Despite its simplicity, it produces astonishingly complex behavior — gliders that travel across the screen, oscillators that pulse rhythmically, and structures that generate infinite streams of spaceships. TAP, DRAW, AND EXPLORE • Tap individual cells to toggle them alive or dead • Use drawing tools (line, rectangle, circle) to sketch structures quickly • Stamp pre-built patterns onto the grid with a ghost preview before placement • Zoom in to see every cell, pan across large grids MANY CLASSIC PATTERNS Browse a curated library of famous Game of Life patterns: • Still Lifes: Block, Beehive, Loaf, Boat, Ship, Pond • Oscillators: Blinker, Toad, Pulsar, Pentadecathlon • Spaceships: Glider, LWSS, HWSS, Copperhead • Guns: Gosper Glider Gun, Simkin Glider Gun • Methuselahs: R-pentomino, Acorn, Diehard • Save your own creations to the pattern library 18 RULES Go beyond Conway's rules with HighLife, Seeds, Day & Night, Maze, Replicator and more. HighLife and Seeds are free; Pro unlocks the other 15, plus 22 patterns made for them. CUSTOMIZABLE THEMES Personalize with 11 visual themes — Classic, Blueprint, Matrix, Cyberpunk, Laser, Ocean, Forest, Sunset, Terminal, Pixel, Gameboy. Unlock additional themes with a one-time purchase. 3D VISUALIZATION See the Game of Life like never before. Switch to a 3D torus, cylinder, or sphere topology. Watch patterns wrap around edges in real time. FULL CONTROL • Adjustable simulation speed from 1 to 60 generations per second • Step through generations one at a time • Generation counter and population graph • Undo and redo support • Auto-save your session — pick up right where you left off Conway's Cells is free with optional in-app purchases to remove ads and unlock Pro features.

About

Aphelion

Guide a comet through celestial bodies and obstacles using precise flicks. Solve physics-based puzzles across five distinct chapters with over 50 handcrafted levels. Experience a minimalist, timer-free approach to space exploration.

Highlights
  • Flick-based aiming and trajectory control
  • Gravity-driven orbital mechanics
  • 50 handcrafted levels across 5 chapters
  • Minimalist, timer-free gameplay
  • Steer comets and capture celestial bodies
Features
Read full description

Master gravity with one flick. Launch a comet, bend its trajectory around moving worlds, and complete 100 handcrafted orbital puzzles. EXPLORE TEN CHAPTERS • Aim with precision using a live trajectory preview • Slingshot around planets and capture stable orbits • Collect and deliver ice across moving systems • Reshape trajectories with timed engine burns • Survive atmospheric entry and dangerous ring crossings • Defend planets from incoming asteroids • Use animated solver hints whenever you’re stuck Play at your own pace with no timers, energy systems, or forced ads. The core game works offline and fits into a remarkably small download. One flick. One trajectory. One perfect solution.

Screenshots

Conway's Cells4 screens
Aphelion4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Aphelion at every 2 days against Conway's Cells's monthly. 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. Conway's Cells sells 3 one-off in-app purchases and Aphelion sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Conway's Cells ships an update monthly, Aphelion every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Conway's Cells versus Aphelion: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterConway's CellsAphelion
PriceFreeFree
Rating—4.9 (18 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—18 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 2 days — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
Monetization—Free with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.016.0
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB29 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAndrey TyurinJIUSONG GAO

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Conway's Cells

One-time3
  • Remove Ads$1.99
  • Pro Upgrade$3.99
  • Unlock Everything$7.99
1 purchases

Aphelion

One-time1
  • Unlock All Hints$3.99

Questions

Is Conway's Cells free?
Conway's Cells is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Aphelion free?
Aphelion is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Conway's Cells or Aphelion have ads?
Both Conway's Cells and Aphelion show ads.
Which is updated more often, Conway's Cells or Aphelion?
Conway's Cells ships an update monthly, and Aphelion every 2 days. Most recently, Conway's Cells was updated on October 28, 2026 and Aphelion on October 28, 2026.

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