Strayward vs Ball Merge
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side ā with what reviewers say about each.
Strayward
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Strayward is an endless vertical-descent arcade. One thumb. Endless floors. A different face of abandonment every run. In the Forgotten City, every stray has heard the same legend ā at the very bottom there is a Door, and beyond it, a place where every stray belongs. So they descend. Through Neon Ruins, Flooded Metro, Forgotten Foundations. Floor after floor. Faster than the chase that follows. Each run picks one danger ā the Flood, the Cold, Traffic, the Dark, Hunger, Illness, Loneliness, or the Rogue Animal ā and that danger drives both the rising chase behind you and the obstacles on the floors. Floor types bias with the threat: ice on cold nights, conveyor belts under traffic, crumbling ledges when the ground itself is unwell. Pick a stray: Ash the orange cat ā a Slink that makes the chase lose ground. Patch the Shiba Inu ā a Guard invulnerability for the moments that matter. Nix the raccoon ā Scavenge pulls coins out of the bins (magnet included). Pip the pigeon ā Preen shakes off sickness, vertigo, and frostbite. One more run. Modes for every night: Normal descent, Daily with a pinned threat, Living (survive on the clock), Boss (race the Door Boss for your fastest kill), and Creative (author a challenge, share a code, or browse what others published). Personal-best toasts mid-descent. A leaderboard of strays who got further than you last night. Spend a Boss ticket in Boss mode (earn via Normal or buy for 100 coins in the shop) and you drop straight into the Door Boss fight ā bank shards on the way down, then Strike to win. Your fastest kill tops the Boss board. Free to play. Soft currency only ā every character is unlockable through play. Optional Remove Ads purchase. Downward. Homeward.
Ball Merge
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Ball Merge ā Match, Merge & Grow! Welcome to Ball Merge, a simple and engaging merge game where your goal is to match balls and create bigger ones. Drop the balls carefully, combine matching balls, and keep merging to achieve the highest score. When two balls of the same color and size come together, they merge into a bigger ball. Plan your moves carefully, create chain reactions, and make the most of the available space. With simple controls, colorful visuals, and satisfying merge mechanics, Ball Merge offers an enjoyable experience for casual players and puzzle game fans. How to Play ⢠Drop the balls into the play area. ⢠Match two balls of the same color and size. ⢠Merge matching balls to create a bigger ball. ⢠Plan your moves to make more space for new balls. ⢠Create chain reactions by making smart combinations. ⢠Keep merging and aim for the highest score. ⢠Avoid filling the play area and keep the game going. Features -Easy to Learn, Fun to Play Simple controls and straightforward gameplay make Ball Merge easy to pick up and enjoy. -Satisfying Merge Gameplay Match identical balls and watch them combine into larger balls. -High Score Challenge Keep improving your strategy and challenge yourself to achieve a higher score. -Strategic Gameplay Think ahead and choose the right place to drop each ball to keep the board under control. - Colorful Ball Designs Enjoy a variety of colorful and visually appealing balls as you progress. - Smooth Gameplay Simple and responsive controls provide a smooth gaming experience. -Replay and Improve Play again, try different strategies, and beat your previous high score. -Challenge Yourself Every drop can change the game. As the balls become bigger, managing the available space becomes more challenging. Plan your moves, look for matching balls, and create multiple merges whenever possible. How big can you make your ball, and how high can you take your score? -Why You'll Love Ball Merge Ball Merge combines simple controls with strategic merge gameplay. It is easy to understand but becomes more challenging as you continue playing. Whether you want to play for a few minutes or challenge yourself to beat your best score, Ball Merge provides a simple and satisfying gaming experience. Perfect For ⢠Merge game lovers ⢠Puzzle game enthusiasts ⢠Casual gamers ⢠Players who enjoy matching games ⢠Players who enjoy high-score challenges ⢠Anyone looking for simple and relaxing gameplay Download Ball Merge today and start matching, merging, and growing your way to a new high score!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ball Merge at none against Strayward's 4. Strayward's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 2 weeks). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Strayward sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Ball Merge asks for nothing beyond the download.
Strayward ships an update every 5 days, Ball Merge every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.
| Parameter | Strayward | Ball Merge |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days ā better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No ā better | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No ā better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Further details ā not scored | ||
| Size | 89 MB | 106 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Yiu Tung LAM | Gatch |
In-app purchases
Strayward
- 500 Coins$0.99
- 10 Crystals$1.99
- 1,500 Coins$2.99
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- 4,000 Coins$4.99
Ball Merge
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Strayward free?
Is Ball Merge free?
Do Strayward or Ball Merge have ads?
Which is updated more often, Strayward or Ball Merge?
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