Comparison

Gem Slash vs Axe!

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side โ€” with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Gem Slash

A fast-paced physics puzzle game where you swipe to match colored gems and clear the screen. Achieve high scores by making large combos and quick reflexes. Unlock achievements and compete on global leaderboards in this action-oriented casual game.

Highlights
  • Fast-paced gem matching gameplay
  • Physics-based puzzle mechanics
  • Combo bonuses for quick reflexes
  • Unlockable achievements
  • Global high score leaderboards
  • Action-oriented casual experience
Features
Read full description

Gem Slash is a fast-paced puzzle game that challenges you to fight against physics! A towering jumble of gems fills the screen, taunting you with its chaotic mess of color. Swipe the screen to make like-colored groups of gems disappear. The more you match the more points you'll receive, so no matter how many gems are rattling around, just keep swiping! It may look simple, but you'll need to summon all of your skills to master this challenging puzzle game. Bonus points are awarded for big combos and quick reflexes. Match fast enough to unlock all achievements, and with a little luck you might even land a spot on the global high score board! Gem Slash is an action-oriented casual physics puzzle game that's fun for everyone!

About

Axe!

Features
Read full description

Draw. Throw. Destroy. Axe is an addictive Viking arcade game where your weapon does the thinking. Draw any path you like with your finger, release, and your axe follows it, spinning through every enemy it touches. Then it turns around and comes back, carving through anyone it missed the first time. No cooldowns. No energy bars. No ads. Just you, your axe, and an army of increasingly dangerous Vikings threatening your land. MASTER THE THROW Draw your throw path freely in any direction โ€” short bursts, wide sweeping arcs, tight zigzags โ€” every path is valid. Your axe flies out, eliminates everything in its way, then returns in a straight line to your hand. Time your throws, plan your routes, and keep the combo alive. FACE A ROGUES' GALLERY Six enemy types keep every level unpredictable: - Basic Viking โ€” standard threat. Learn him first, everything else is worse. - Berserker โ€” blazing fast. One second of hesitation and he's through. - Shield Bearer โ€” deflects your axe with his forward shield. Catch him on the return trip. - Giant โ€” takes two hits to kill. First hit staggers him; second finishes the job. - Sneaky Viking โ€” full-sized sprite, half-sized hitbox. Precision required. - Thrower โ€” stops at range and rains spears at you. Destroy him fast, or intercept mid-flight. POWER UP YOUR THROWS Power-ups drop from fallen enemies or appear on the battlefield: -Multi-Axe โ€” three axes fly at once in a spread pattern. - Piercing Axe โ€” breaks through shields in a single hit. - Speed Boost โ€” your axe crosses the field in a flash. - Boomerang โ€” an extra loop before returning for double the carnage. - Giant Axe โ€” massive hitbox for satisfying screen-wide sweeps. - Freeze โ€” stops every enemy cold for 3 seconds. 10 HANDCRAFTED LEVELS Each level introduces new threats and demands new strategies across unique battlefields. Clear all waves to advance โ€” let a single enemy reach your garden and it's over. SCORE LIKE A CHAMPION Multi-kills, fast kills, and flawless throws all multiply your score. Keep your combo alive across throws and climb the leaderboard. Compare your all-time high score with players around the world via Game Center. OMPLETELY FREE. COMPLETELY AD-FREE. No ads. No energy timers. No content locked behind paywalls. Just an optional "Buy Me a Coffee" tip if you'd like to support the developer โ€” and a special Game Center achievement for doing so.

Screenshots

Gem Slash4 screens
Axe!4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Axe! at every 4 days against Gem Slash's every 5 months. Gem Slash's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price ยท Rating ยท Positive reviews ยท Number of ratings ยท Update frequency ยท Ads ยท In-app purchases ยท Monetization ยท Best chart rank ยท Devices ยท Requires iOS

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Gem Slash sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Axe! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Gem Slash ships an update every 5 months, Axe! every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences ยท 6 level
Gem Slash versus Axe!: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGem SlashAxe!
PriceFreeFree
Positive reviews100.0% of reviewsโ€”
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 4 days โ€” better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesโ€”
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod โ€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 โ€” better17.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size93 MB17 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperAxel FriedrichJuan Casanueva

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Gem Slash

One-time1
  • Play without Advertisements!$1.99
1 purchases

Axe!

One-time1
  • Buy me a coffee$0.99

Questions

Is Gem Slash free?
Gem Slash is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Axe! free?
Axe! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Gem Slash or Axe! have ads?
Neither Gem Slash nor Axe! shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Gem Slash or Axe!?
Gem Slash ships an update every 5 months, and Axe! every 4 days. Most recently, Gem Slash was updated on November 1, 2026 and Axe! on November 5, 2026.

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