# Lightopus (Appxplore) vs Stick Ranger

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Stick Ranger at none against Lightopus (Appxplore)'s 2. Stick Ranger also leads on review sentiment (85% vs 59%) and rating (4.6 vs 4.4). Lightopus (Appxplore)'s advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Lightopus (Appxplore) sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Stick Ranger asks for nothing beyond the download.

Stick Ranger holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Stick Ranger has 296 ratings behind it against 40, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 59% of Lightopus (Appxplore)'s written reviews are positive against 85% of Stick Ranger's.

Lightopus (Appxplore) ships an update every 3 weeks, Stick Ranger every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lightopus (Appxplore) | Stick Ranger |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (40 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightopus-appxplore/id828230274/reviews) | **[4.6 (296 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stick-ranger/id857566887/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 40 | **296** |
| Positive reviews | 59.0% of reviews | **85.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 5 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 137 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Appxplore (iCandy) Sdn. Bhd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/464212314) | [DAN-BALL](https://appshunter.io/developer/348592290) |

## What reviewers say

### Lightopus (Appxplore)

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lightopus-appxplore/id828230274)

Embark on an epic quest to rescue young creatures from the clutches of Abyss monsters. Navigate challenging levels with intuitive controls, stunning graphics, and engaging gameplay. Face formidable bosses and strive for high scores.

**Highlights:** Full HD devices support, Intuitive touch or virtual joypad controls, Fun and addictive gameplay, Attractive graphics and character movements, Face various monster bosses, Checkpoint system, Leaderboards & Achievements

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Stars Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Premium Upgrade | $1.99 | one-time |


### Stick Ranger

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stick-ranger/id857566887)

Embark on an action RPG adventure with four stick figures. Explore diverse environments, battle enemies, and upgrade weapons. Level up your character by assigning experience points to attributes.

**Highlights:** Action RPG gameplay, Explore diverse environments, Battle enemies, Upgrade weapons, Character attribute customization, Level up system

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great game
- 🤖 Addictive gameplay
- 🎮 Nostalgic experience
- 💎 Challenging and rewarding
- 🕹️ Fun and simple

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Bugs and glitches
- 💰 Excessive grinding required
- 📺 Intrusive ads
- 🕹️ Lack of player control
- 🚫 No option to remove ads

**Reported bugs**

- Map and menu buttons not working
- Certain weapons/abilities not functioning
- Inconsistent enemy behavior
- Progression-blocking issues

**Requested features**

- Add multiplayer mode
- Improve character controls
- Introduce new classes and updates
- Provide an option to disable ads
- Enhance in-game descriptions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lightopus (Appxplore) free?

Lightopus (Appxplore) is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Stick Ranger free?

Stick Ranger is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Lightopus (Appxplore) or Stick Ranger?

Stick Ranger is rated higher. Lightopus (Appxplore) averages 4.4 out of 5 from 40 ratings, while Stick Ranger averages 4.6 from 296 ratings.

### Do Lightopus (Appxplore) or Stick Ranger have ads?

Stick Ranger shows ads; Lightopus (Appxplore) does not.

### Which is updated more often, Lightopus (Appxplore) or Stick Ranger?

Lightopus (Appxplore) ships an update every 3 weeks, and Stick Ranger every 5 months. Most recently, Lightopus (Appxplore) was updated on October 23, 2026 and Stick Ranger on October 29, 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.*