# VVVVVV vs The Ensign

The clearest difference is update cadence: The Ensign at every 2 months against VVVVVV's every 18 months. The Ensign also leads on chart position (#69 vs unranked) and review sentiment (86% vs 75%). VVVVVV's advantage is iOS requirement (6.0 vs 11.0). On rating, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

VVVVVV costs $2.99 and The Ensign $1.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for VVVVVV against 4.6 for The Ensign. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 187 and 552 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 75% of VVVVVV's written reviews are positive against 86% of The Ensign's.

VVVVVV ships an update every 18 months, The Ensign every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | VVVVVV | The Ensign |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **$1.99** |
| Rating | [4.5 (187 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vvvvvv/id880645949/reviews) | **[4.6 (552 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-ensign/id908073488/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 187 | **552** |
| Positive reviews | 74.8% of reviews | **86.2% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 18 months | **Every 2 months** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#69** |
| Size | 83 MB | 32 MB |
| Requires iOS | **6.0** | 11.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | +12 |
| Developer | [Distractionware Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/413794996) | [Amirali Rajan](https://appshunter.io/developer/736683064) |

## What reviewers say

### VVVVVV

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vvvvvv/id880645949)

Experience a critically acclaimed indie platformer where you control gravity to navigate a challenging world. Avoid enemies and traps by flipping your surroundings. A retro-inspired adventure with a unique mechanic.

**Highlights:** Gravity flipping mechanic, Challenging platforming, Retro pixel art style, Award-winning indie game, Unique level design

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fun, worth the money, amazing
- 👍 Great gameplay, story, and characters
- 🎶 Amazing soundtrack

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Old, outdated port with issues
- 📱 Controls not optimized for mobile
- 🔍 Blurry graphics, low resolution

**Reported bugs**

- Impossible user-created levels
- Teleporter issues and softlocks
- Frequent crashes and performance problems

**Requested features**

- Add controller support
- Update for newer iOS versions
- Implement level editor


### The Ensign

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-ensign/id908073488)

**Currently charting:** #69 Top Paid · Role Playing, #132 Top Paid · Adventure (US App Store)

Embark on a challenging narrative-driven adventure where your choices have dire consequences. This game offers a fully accessible experience for VoiceOver users, delivering a difficult yet rewarding gameplay loop.

**Highlights:** 100% VoiceOver playable, Challenging gameplay, Narrative-driven, No ads, No data collection, No in-app purchases

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

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🌟 Compelling story and world-building
- 🤖 Unique and challenging gameplay
- 🎮 Rewarding progression and sense of accomplishment
- 💎 Excellent prequel to A Dark Room
- 🧠 Encourages strategic thinking and decision-making

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤯 Extremely difficult and punishing at times
- 🔁 Frustrating to restart from the beginning after dying
- 🕹️ Lack of checkpoints or save options
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🧭 Unclear navigation and objectives at times

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashing when trying to collect loot
- Inconsistencies between item descriptions and inventory
- Saved progress being lost after closing the app

**Requested features**

- Ability to save progress and resume later
- Difficulty settings or optional modes
- More narrative depth and character development
- Improved accessibility and UI for visually impaired players


## Frequently asked questions

### Is VVVVVV free?

VVVVVV costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is The Ensign free?

The Ensign costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, VVVVVV or The Ensign?

The Ensign is rated higher. VVVVVV averages 4.5 out of 5 from 187 ratings, while The Ensign averages 4.6 from 552 ratings.

### Do VVVVVV or The Ensign have ads?

Neither VVVVVV nor The Ensign shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, VVVVVV or The Ensign?

VVVVVV ships an update every 18 months, and The Ensign every 2 months. Most recently, VVVVVV was updated on October 26, 2026 and The Ensign on October 28, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*