# Retro Classics vs Sam's Level Maker

The clearest difference is price: Sam's Level Maker at Free against Retro Classics's $3.99. Sam's Level Maker also leads on update cadence (every 3 months vs every 57 months) and ratings volume (467 vs 1). Retro Classics's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and in-app purchases (none vs 3). On device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Sam's Level Maker is free to download; Retro Classics costs $3.99 up front. Sam's Level Maker sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Retro Classics asks for nothing beyond the download.

Retro Classics holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Sam's Level Maker has 467 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 60% of Retro Classics's written reviews are positive against 70% of Sam's Level Maker's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Retro Classics ships an update every 57 months, Sam's Level Maker every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Retro Classics | Sam's Level Maker |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $3.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-classics-collection-2/id853727709/reviews)** | [4.5 (467 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sams-level-maker/id1213829805/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **467** |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **70.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 57 months | **Every 3 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 46 MB | 77 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.1 | **12.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Rob Wilmot](https://appshunter.io/developer/520672432) | [Mustafa Rasheed](https://appshunter.io/developer/1102888323) |

## What reviewers say

### Retro Classics

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/retro-classics-collection-2/id853727709)

Relive the golden age of arcade gaming with this collection of four classic 80s tabletop electronic games. Experience authentic retro graphics, sounds, and addictive gameplay that defined an era. Perfect for nostalgic gamers and new players alike.

**Highlights:** Four classic 80s tabletop arcade games, Authentic retro graphics and sounds, Addictive old-school gameplay, Accurate machine simulations, i-Cade controller support, Score tracking and combined scores, Game Center integration

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Sam's Level Maker

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sams-level-maker/id1213829805)

Design and build your own custom game levels with a wide variety of tiles, objects, and enemies. Bring your creative ideas to life with an easy-to-use interface and share your creations with others. Offers endless possibilities for platforming gameplay.

**Highlights:** Easy-to-use drag-and-drop interface, Wide range of tiles and objects, Variety of enemies and power-ups, Share created levels with others, Super Sams World-style gameplay, Endless replay value

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Get one extra Life | $0.99 | one-time |
| Get 10 more level slots | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove all Ads in the game | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun level creation
- 🚀 Simple and intuitive
- 💡 Reminds of Mario Maker
- 🎨 Good art style

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and bugs
- 💰 Too many ads
- 🔒 In-app purchases not working
- 🔍 Difficulty finding good levels

**Reported bugs**

- Levels being deleted on water placement
- Enemies not moving or interacting properly
- Crashing when placing certain objects

**Requested features**

- Add more enemies and tiles
- Implement boss fights
- Allow more customization options
- Improve level search functionality
- Fix music reset issue on death


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Retro Classics free?

Retro Classics costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Sam's Level Maker free?

Sam's Level Maker is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Retro Classics or Sam's Level Maker?

Retro Classics is rated higher. Retro Classics averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Sam's Level Maker averages 4.5 from 467 ratings.

### Do Retro Classics or Sam's Level Maker have ads?

Sam's Level Maker shows ads; Retro Classics does not.

### Which is updated more often, Retro Classics or Sam's Level Maker?

Retro Classics ships an update every 57 months, and Sam's Level Maker every 3 months. Most recently, Retro Classics was updated on October 26, 2026 and Sam's Level Maker 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.*