Comparison

Small Fry vs Lava Hopper

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

Head to head
About

Small Fry

Embark on a thrilling ocean adventure as a tiny fish evading predators and obstacles. Navigate through water, air, and space with simple controls, utilizing power-ups and completing challenges. Compete with others on leaderboards and customize your character.

Highlights
  • One-touch controls
  • Seamless water, air, and space transitions
  • Upgradable power-ups
  • 60+ challenges
  • Achievements and leaderboards
  • Character customization
Features
Read full description

The chase is on! Swim for your life as the tiny fish Finley "Small Fry" Fryer in this thrilling and action packed ocean adventure. Swim, jump and even float though space to escape from all the perils of the seven seas. Avoid blazing fast swordfish, electric jellyfish, ink squirting octopuses, asteroids and more. How long can you out-swim the dastardly shark, Wallace "Big Mack" Mackenzie? FEATURES: - Simple one touch controls: touch and hold to dive, release to swim up - An all star cast of awesome sea creatures - Transition seamlessly from water to air to space - Plays like 3 unique games stacked on top of each other! - Awesome boosts and upgradable power-ups - 60+ challenges to complete - Achievements and leaderboards - Customize Small Fry with an assortment of hats, glasses and more!

About

Lava Hopper

Embark on a surreal journey through a world consumed by lava, from a chaotic circus to a futuristic ghetto and a rainbow realm. Uncover ancient truths and embrace the unknown to adapt and unlock mysteries.

Highlights
  • Surreal journey through diverse realms
  • Uncover ancient truths
  • Embrace the unknown
  • Adapt to changing realities
  • Unlock mysteries
Features
Read full description

In a quiet medieval village, a young adventurer wakes to rivers of molten lava consuming their world. Determined to uncover the truth, they embark on a surreal journey beyond the familiar, starting with a chaotic circus and a gritty, futuristic ghetto. The path twists further into a rainbow realm of warped reality, where perception is challenged, and finally leads to an expanse of endless doors and scattered keys. Each step reveals fragments of an ancient truth: the lava is not just destruction but a transformative test. Through resilience and curiosity, the adventurer learns that the world, much like themselves, is ever-changing. To uncover the truth, they must embrace the unknown, adapt to the surreal, and unlock the mysteries ahead.

Screenshots

Small Fry4 screens
Lava Hopper4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Lava Hopper at none against Small Fry's 9. Lava Hopper also leads on review sentiment (100% vs 66%) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). Small Fry's advantage is iOS requirement (5.0 vs 13.0). On price, ads 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Small Fry sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. Lava Hopper asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Small Fry ships an update every 2 months, Lava Hopper every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 4, 2026.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Small Fry versus Lava Hopper: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSmall FryLava Hopper
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (219 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews65.7% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings219 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS5.0 — better13.0
Further details — not scored
Size81 MB167 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperNoodlecakeMagmat

Customer experience

Small Fry

All ratings217 ratings
Positive77.0%
Neutral13.4%
Negative9.7%
Written reviews181 reviews
Positive65.7%
Neutral12.2%
Negative22.1%

Lava Hopper

Written reviews13 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Small Fry

Reported bugs

9 issues
  • App crashes on startup or during gameplay
  • Force close on iOS 6.1.5 and older versions
  • Incompatible with iOS 11 and newer versions
  • Black screen at loading
  • In-app purchase transactions not processing
Show 4 more
  • App won't open on certain devices
  • Lag when water turns red
  • Random collision detection with fish
  • Shark speed inconsistencies with power-ups

Requested features

8 requests
  • Update app for current iOS versions and iPad compatibility
  • Option to remove ads permanently
  • More diverse enemies and environmental variations
  • Improved control mechanics and responsiveness
  • New game modes and challenges
Show 3 more
  • Wider field of view for better visibility
  • Reduce power-up costs
  • Reduce repetitive steps in gameplay loops

Lava Hopper

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

9 purchases

Small Fry

One-time9
  • 2,000 Clam Pack$0.99
  • 10 Pearl Pack$0.99
  • Clam Doubler$3.99
Show 6 more
  • 12,000 Clam Pack$4.99
  • 60 Pearl Pack$4.99
  • 30,000 Clam Pack$9.99
  • 150 Pearl Pack$9.99
  • 100,000 Clam Pack$19.99
  • 500 Pearl Pack$19.99
None

Lava Hopper

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Small Fry free?
Small Fry is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Lava Hopper free?
Lava Hopper is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Small Fry or Lava Hopper have ads?
Neither Small Fry nor Lava Hopper shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Small Fry or Lava Hopper?
Small Fry ships an update every 2 months, and Lava Hopper every 3 weeks. Most recently, Small Fry was updated on November 4, 2026 and Lava Hopper on November 4, 2026.

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