P8Launcher vs Pinbrawl
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
P8Launcher
Organize, customize, and play your PICO-8 game collection on iPhone. Features include customizable controls, library management, and local multiplayer. Play imported carts offline and connect with creators.
- Customizable touch controls and controller mappings
- Library organization with tags and artwork
- Local multiplayer via P8Link Play
- Offline cart playback
- Auto save and resume functionality
- Multiple display styles
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P8Launcher is a free companion app for organizing and playing your PICO-8 carts on iPhone. Built using p8rt_ios, a WebAssembly module provided by Zep (creator of PICO-8) for building iOS companion apps, P8Launcher offers a highly customizable way to manage, personalize, and play your collection while keeping original cart threads and creators easy to reach. Customize Your Experience • Move and resize touch controls anywhere on the screen • Create custom mappings for supported game controllers • Use touch control layouts and controller profiles globally or save unique settings for individual carts • Personalize your library and gameplay with custom artwork and backgrounds • Choose display styles including CRT, LCD, Pixel Grid, and more • Access your library faster with Home Screen widgets and app icon Quick Actions Organize Your Library • Apply genre tags, mark favorites, rename carts, and customize cover artwork • Search and sort your collection to quickly find what to play next • Track on-device play statistics and earn in-app achievements Save and Resume • Use Auto Save, Quick Save, or manual save states • Enable Auto Resume globally or for individual carts to pick up where you left off P8Link Play • Host or join nearby sessions with up to four players, each using their own iPhone • Uses Wi-Fi Aware for a secure, direct local connection • No router, internet connection, account, or server required • The host runs the cart and audio, while guests receive streamed gameplay video and play from their own device Import and Play • Visit the Lexaloffle BBS in your default browser and import carts into P8Launcher • Import carts manually through the Files app • Import multicart games from either the BBS or the Files app • Play imported carts offline • Use supported game controllers during gameplay and to navigate throughout much of the app • Open the original BBS thread for each cart to read updates, join discussions, and support its creator Backup and Restore • Back up your library and related app data to a ZIP file • Restore your library later or move it to another device Free and Private • 100% free, with no advertisements or subscriptions • No account, analytics, or tracking • P8Launcher does not upload your library or app data to the developer or any server • P8Link Play uses a direct, local connection and does not send session data to the developer or any server P8Launcher is an independent companion application and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Lexaloffle Games. PICO-8 and the Lexaloffle BBS are products of Lexaloffle Games. App Store screenshot designs adapted from templates by AppLaunchpad, licensed under CC BY 4.0. Changes were made. Full attribution and the original source link can be found in the app.
Pinbrawl
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The thundering drums of the orc horde shake the earth as hundreds of green-skinned beasts march relentlessly toward the gates of your castle. But instead of sluggish catapults, your defenses rely on a dynamic weapon: a massive, magically charged iron ball. Using powerful pinball flippers at the castle gate, you launch the multi-ton projectile right into the heart of the enemy ranks. Every impact wreaks havoc as the ball bounces off armored troops, shield-bearers, and massive giants like a hurtling asteroid. Amid the chaos, devastating chain reactions unfold: if the projectile strikes the explosive barrels of orcish pyrotechnicians, massive explosions transform the battlefield into a sea of flames, catapulting the ball at breakneck speed toward the next cluster of targets. Strategically taking out the horde's fearless standard-bearers rewards you with valuable gold coins. Between runs, this gold is used to permanently upgrade your castle: newly erected walls provide space for your archers to rain arrows down on the charging orcs from above, while additional defense systems reinforce the fortress. When the onslaught reaches its climax, magical upgrades like the infamous Multi-Ball mode unleash absolute chaos, flooding the ravine with fiery projectiles until every last orc is vanquished.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: P8Launcher at none against Pinbrawl's shown. Pinbrawl's advantage is iOS requirement (16.4 vs 26.0). On price, 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
| Parameter | P8Launcher | Pinbrawl |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | — |
| Update frequency | — | Weekly |
| Ads | No — better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone | iPhone, iPad — better |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 16.4 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 8 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Eric Arnold | Matthias Schedel |
In-app purchases
P8Launcher
No in-app purchases
Pinbrawl
No in-app purchases









