Conway's Cells vs Aphelion
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Conway's Cells
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
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.
Conway's Cells ships an update monthly, Aphelion every 2 days. Both last shipped on October 28, 2026.
| Parameter | Conway's Cells | Aphelion |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.9 (18 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 100.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 18 — better |
| Update frequency | Monthly | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 24 MB | 29 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Andrey Tyurin | JIUSONG GAO |
In-app purchases
Conway's Cells
- Remove Ads$1.99
- Pro Upgrade$3.99
- Unlock Everything$7.99
Aphelion
- Unlock All Hints$3.99









