# Trench Runner vs Explore Island

The clearest difference is rating: Explore Island at 4.4 against Trench Runner's 3.0. Explore Island also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs every 21 months) and ratings volume (10 vs 1). Trench Runner's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 8). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Explore Island sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Trench Runner asks for nothing beyond the download.

Explore Island holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Explore Island has 10 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Trench Runner ships an update every 21 months, Explore Island every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Trench Runner | Explore Island |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trench-runner/id830779307/reviews) | **[4.4 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explore-island-craft-survive/id6503089872/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **10** |
| Positive reviews | — | 91.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 21 months | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 87 MB | 174 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [kerem yokuva](https://appshunter.io/developer/499612704) | [Alphaquest Games LTDA](https://appshunter.io/developer/1122156257) |

## What reviewers say

### Trench Runner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/trench-runner/id830779307)

Navigate a dangerous trench, destroying enemy turrets to survive. The objective is to last as long as possible in this challenging survival game. Prepare for an inevitable end.

**Highlights:** Destroy turrets, Survival gameplay, High score chasing, Trench environment

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Explore Island

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/explore-island-craft-survive/id6503089872)

Embark on an adventure across procedurally generated islands, each with unique biomes and challenges. Engage in activities like fishing, insect catching, combat, crafting, and resource gathering to uncover mysteries and catalog countless items.

**Highlights:** Procedurally generated islands, Resource gathering and crafting, Fishing and insect catching, Combat against various enemies, Dungeon exploration, Item cataloging, Fairy companion system

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

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Gems Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Small Coins Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Starter Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Medium Gems Pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| Medium Coins Pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| Big Coins Pack | $24.99 | one-time |
| Big Gems Pack | $24.99 | one-time |
| Premium Pack | $119.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Trench Runner free?

Trench Runner is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Explore Island free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Trench Runner or Explore Island?

Explore Island is rated higher. Trench Runner averages 3.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Explore Island averages 4.4 from 10 ratings.

### Do Trench Runner or Explore Island have ads?

Both Trench Runner and Explore Island show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Trench Runner or Explore Island?

Trench Runner ships an update every 21 months, and Explore Island every 4 days. Most recently, Trench Runner was updated on October 16, 2026 and Explore Island on October 24, 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.*