Comparison

Backyard Biome vs Hermit Crab Simulator

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

Head to head
About

Backyard Biome

Features
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Backyard Biome is a calm but deep ecosystem simulation where every planting decision changes a living food web. GROW A SYSTEM, NOT A DECORATION - Shape a 10 by 7 yard with native flowers, grasses, shrubs, trees, ponds, logs, nest boxes, and rain capture - Balance soil, water, shade, nutrients, habitat, and seasonal change - Watch insects, birds, fungi, pollinators, predators, and decomposers respond to the yard you create - Handle drought, storms, disease, invasive species, and migration without timers or premium currency - Follow readable food-web links and discover why a beautiful yard can still be ecologically fragile LEARN THROUGH CONSEQUENCES - Explore a 32-species field guide with habitat roles and relationships - Read biodiversity, stability, watershed, population, and soil indicators - Compare choices across identical seeded Daily Garden and Weekly Watershed scenarios - Earn optional Game Center achievements and compete on Daily and Weekly leaderboards - Listen to an original 20-track generative-inspired soundtrack while the seasons turn BUILT AS A COMPLETE PREMIUM GAME - One paid download with no ads, subscriptions, in-app purchases, energy, or wait timers - No login and no developer-operated server - Gardens remain on device, with optional private iCloud synchronization - Dynamic Type, VoiceOver descriptions, reduced motion, haptic controls, and symbols that do not rely only on color The simulation is scientifically grounded entertainment and is not professional horticultural, pesticide, or environmental advice.

About

Hermit Crab Simulator

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No Ads. No Subscriptions. A Quiet Little World. Welcome a hermit crab and build a tropical home on the sand. Name your companion, collect beautiful shells, and make each habitat your own. A SHELL FOR EVERY MOOD Discover 44 shell designs, from natural spirals to fantasy jewels. Change shells while keeping your crabโ€™s name, age, and care history. Each habitat has its own collection. CREATE YOUR SANCTUARY Explore 12 environments and arrange 29 decorations, including plants, hides, climbing structures, pools, and five luxurious treasures. Move, resize, and layer pieces to design your home. Unlock up to five habitats with a shared coin balance. CARE AND PLAY Feed your crab, mist the habitat, refresh freshwater and saltwater pools, and clean the glass. Tap the sand to play: ten taps fill playfulness. Each fresh pool adds 12 happiness for 24 hours. Optional feeding reminders help you keep a routine. A PEACEFUL POCKET COMPANION Enjoy a silent game with no ambient sound. Earn daily rewards, save terrarium photos, and use optional iCloud backup. Loading a backup replaces local progress; use one device at a time. Coins can be earned through play. Optional consumable coin packs are available through Apple in-app purchases. There are no ads or subscriptions. Care continues while the app is closed. If care lapses, the worn shell is lost. A free recovery meal brings your companion back in the starter shell; buy the lost shell again for 10% of its original coin price. Other collected shells remain yours. This is a fictional virtual-pet game. Its habitats, fantasy shells, and care timers are not instructions for real animal care.

Screenshots

Backyard Biome4 screens
Hermit Crab Simulator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Hermit Crab Simulator at Free against Backyard Biome's $2.99. Backyard Biome's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Hermit Crab Simulator is free to download; Backyard Biome costs $2.99 up front. Hermit Crab Simulator sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Backyard Biome asks for nothing beyond the download.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 4 level
Backyard Biome versus Hermit Crab Simulator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterBackyard BiomeHermit Crab Simulator
Price$2.99Free โ€” better
Update frequencyMonthlyโ€”
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo โ€” betterYes
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 โ€” better
Further details โ€” not scored
Size102 MB112 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRobert CorbinWYATT WAYNE KELLER

In-app purchases

None

Backyard Biome

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Hermit Crab Simulator

One-time5
  • Tiny Coin Pack$0.99
  • Small Coin Pack$3.99
  • Medium Coin Pack$7.99
Show 2 more
  • Large Coin Pack$12.99
  • Premium Coin Pack$29.99

Questions

Is Backyard Biome free?
Backyard Biome costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Hermit Crab Simulator free?
Hermit Crab Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Backyard Biome or Hermit Crab Simulator have ads?
Neither Backyard Biome nor Hermit Crab Simulator shows ads.

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