# Sisyphos vs Populus Run

The clearest difference is rating: Populus Run at 4.7 against Sisyphos's 4.2. Populus Run also leads on ratings volume (1.5K vs 371) and device support (5 vs 3). Sisyphos's advantage is review sentiment (82% vs 70%) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Sisyphos sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Populus Run sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Populus Run holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 371 and 1.5K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 82% of Sisyphos's written reviews are positive against 70% of Populus Run's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Sisyphos ships an update every 2 months, Populus Run every 4 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Sisyphos | Populus Run |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (371 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sisyphos/id700513505/reviews) | **[4.7 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/populus-run/id6470197867/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 371 | **1.5K** |
| Positive reviews | **81.7% of reviews** | 69.6% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 4 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 82 MB | 523 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Florian Grolig](https://appshunter.io/developer/1479215826) | [FIFTYTWO](https://appshunter.io/developer/853087985) |

## What reviewers say

### Sisyphos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sisyphos/id700513505)

Experience the Sisyphean task of pushing a rock uphill. This game offers a unique, philosophical challenge that explores themes of futility and perseverance. It's a minimalist yet profound gaming experience.

**Highlights:** Push a rock uphill, Philosophical gameplay, Minimalist design, Humility and ego destruction themes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| A MODEST OFFERING | $0.99 | one-time |
| A GENEROUS OFFERING | $1.99 | one-time |
| A GENEROUS OFFERING | $2.99 | one-time |
| THE GODS ARE DELIGHTED | $4.99 | one-time |
| THE GODS ARE DELIGHTED | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Captures the essence of the Sisyphus myth
- 🤔 Thought-provoking and meditative gameplay
- 🕰️ Satisfying to pass time
- 🧠 Helps with mental health and coping

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🥱 Repetitive and monotonous
- 😩 Extremely frustrating and demoralizing
- 🤯 Rage-inducing at times
- 🤷‍♀️ Unclear purpose or objective

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes or freezes
- Unresponsive controls
- Audio issues

**Requested features**

- Endless hill mode
- Character customization options
- Varied landscapes or biomes
- Progression system or achievements


### Populus Run

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/populus-run/id6470197867)

Control a crowd of people in this unique running game. Dodge obstacles, battle quirky bosses, and discover hidden characters. Enjoy the full experience with a one-time purchase.

**Highlights:** Control a crowd of people, Dodge giant fast food, Slide down pipes, Battle rapper bosses, Hardcore mode, Collect secret characters, Original soundtrack

**Features:** Game Controller support, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Full Game | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Amazing game
- 👍 Great developers
- 👍 Fantastic music
- 👍 Relaxing and fun
- 👍 Colorful and visually appealing

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall after first few levels
- 🐛 Occasional performance issues
- 🐛 Compatibility problems on some devices

**Reported bugs**

- Freezing on login screen
- Graphical glitches on certain devices
- Saved data not restoring properly

**Requested features**

- Make the full game free to play
- Add more levels and worlds
- Improve level selection UI
- Allow customization of controls


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Sisyphos free?

Sisyphos is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Populus Run free?

Populus Run is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Sisyphos or Populus Run?

Populus Run is rated higher. Sisyphos averages 4.2 out of 5 from 371 ratings, while Populus Run averages 4.7 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do Sisyphos or Populus Run have ads?

Neither Sisyphos nor Populus Run shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Sisyphos or Populus Run?

Sisyphos ships an update every 2 months, and Populus Run every 4 weeks. Most recently, Sisyphos was updated on September 21, 2026 and Populus Run on September 25, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*