# Star Horizon vs Mars

The clearest difference is price: Mars at Free against Star Horizon's $5.99. Mars also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.1) and review sentiment (91% vs 51%). Star Horizon's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and ads (none vs shown). On update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Mars is free to download; Star Horizon costs $5.99 up front. Mars sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Star Horizon asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mars holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mars has 22K ratings behind it against 25, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 51% of Star Horizon's written reviews are positive against 91% of Mars's.

Star Horizon ships an update every 3 weeks, Mars monthly. Both last shipped on November 6, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Star Horizon | Mars |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $5.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-horizon/id814466047/reviews) | **[4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-mars/id1108964305/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 25 | **22K** |
| Positive reviews | 50.8% of reviews | **90.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 927 MB | 256 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Orbital Knight sp. z o.o.](https://appshunter.io/developer/814466050) | [Pomelo Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/899606172) |

## What reviewers say

### Star Horizon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/star-horizon/id814466047)

Embark on an interstellar journey as a Federation pilot, battling through dynamic space combat. Upgrade your ship, make critical story choices, and uncover a galaxy-spanning mystery with an AI companion.

**Highlights:** Intuitive touch controls, Engaging storyline with choices, Ship and weapon upgrades, Variety of spaceships, Unlockable achievements, Game controller support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Stunning graphics and visual effects
- 🎮 Smooth, responsive controls
- 🚀 Excellent frame rate and performance
- 📖 Engaging sci-fi storyline with branching choices
- 💰 No in-app purchases required

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes on various iOS versions
- ⏱️ Very short game length (1-3 hours)
- 🎤 Poor voice acting and cheesy dialogue
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- ❌ Limited control over ship movement

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on iOS 17.2 and newer versions
- Crashes when opening achievements button
- Game crashes when starting missions
- Crashes at specific checkpoints (SOS mission)
- Frame rate drops during intense scenes

**Requested features**

- More levels and missions
- Additional ships and weapons
- Sequel or expansion pack
- Full 3D flight control like Galaxy on Fire
- More varied enemy types


### Mars

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-mars/id1108964305)

Embark on a thrilling space adventure as a volunteer on a mission to Mars. Pilot a jetpack to explore the Martian surface, capture unique selfies, and navigate the challenges of interplanetary travel. Prove the doubters wrong and make history on this groundbreaking expedition.

**Highlights:** Explore Mars on a jetpack, Take selfies on Mars, Avoid Rapid Unscheduled Disassemblies, Discover Martian sights, Volunteer for a space mission

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arnold | $0.99 | one-time |
| Little Martha | $0.99 | one-time |
| Marselot | $0.99 | one-time |
| Nigiri | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ufo | $0.99 | one-time |
| Discman | $0.99 | one-time |
| Kestrel 5 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Eagle | $0.99 | one-time |
| Stephen | $3.99 | one-time |
| El Dorado | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Relaxing and calming experience
- 👍 Variety of unique characters with different themes
- 👍 Optional ads that provide rewards
- 👍 Offline playability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔁 Repetitive and can get boring over time
- 🔁 Lack of difficulty progression
- 🔁 Duplicate character unlocks can be frustrating

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when taking selfies
- Streak resets when returning to a previous level
- Inconsistent controls and fuel usage

**Requested features**

- Add new planets and environments to explore
- Introduce different gameplay modes (e.g., time trials, challenges)
- Allow players to customize platforms and backgrounds
- Implement a way to revisit previous levels


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Star Horizon free?

Star Horizon costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mars free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Star Horizon or Mars?

Mars is rated higher. Star Horizon averages 4.1 out of 5 from 25 ratings, while Mars averages 4.8 from 22K ratings.

### Do Star Horizon or Mars have ads?

Mars shows ads; Star Horizon does not.

### Which is updated more often, Star Horizon or Mars?

Star Horizon ships an update every 3 weeks, and Mars monthly. Most recently, Star Horizon was updated on November 6, 2026 and Mars on November 6, 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.*