# Marathon Game vs Simple Alchemy

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Simple Alchemy at none against Marathon Game's 3. Simple Alchemy also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 7 months) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.5). Marathon Game's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and rating (5.0 vs 4.8). On price, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Marathon Game sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Simple Alchemy asks for nothing beyond the download.

Marathon Game holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 5 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Marathon Game's written reviews are positive against 91% of Simple Alchemy's.

Marathon Game ships an update every 7 months, Simple Alchemy monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Marathon Game | Simple Alchemy |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marathon-game/id721433735/reviews)** | [4.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-alchemy/id6462784198/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 90.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 1 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.5 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Slowinski Solutions Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/566485678) | [登理 郝](https://appshunter.io/developer/910536182) |

## What reviewers say

### Marathon Game

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/marathon-game/id721433735)

A fast-paced game of strategy and luck where players connect like squares with the longest line possible to achieve high scores. It challenges your skill and quick thinking.

**Highlights:** Fast-paced gameplay, Strategy and skill elements, Luck-based scoring, Connect like squares, Longest line scoring

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Appreciation Tip – Small | $0.99 | one-time |
| Appreciation Tip – Medium | $2.99 | one-time |
| Appreciation Tip – Large | $8.99 | one-time |


### Simple Alchemy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/simple-alchemy/id6462784198)

A puzzle game where you combine basic elements to discover over 600 unique items, including cities, mermaids, and aliens. Enjoy one-handed gameplay and offline play with over 20 achievements.

**Highlights:** Discover 980+ elements, One-handed gameplay, 20+ Achievements, Offline play, Mix elements to create items

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Marathon Game free?

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

### Is Simple Alchemy free?

Simple Alchemy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Marathon Game or Simple Alchemy?

Marathon Game is rated higher. Marathon Game averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Simple Alchemy averages 4.8 from 5 ratings.

### Do Marathon Game or Simple Alchemy have ads?

Simple Alchemy shows ads; Marathon Game does not.

### Which is updated more often, Marathon Game or Simple Alchemy?

Marathon Game ships an update every 7 months, and Simple Alchemy monthly. Most recently, Marathon Game was updated on October 3, 2026 and Simple Alchemy on October 16, 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.*