# Space Simulator vs Hades' Star

The clearest difference is rating: Hades' Star at 4.4 against Space Simulator's 2.7. Hades' Star also leads on review sentiment (55% vs 15%) and ads (none vs shown). Space Simulator's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Space Simulator sells 26 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Hades' Star sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Hades' Star holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Hades' Star has 3K ratings behind it against 93, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 15% of Space Simulator's written reviews are positive against 55% of Hades' Star's.

Space Simulator ships an update every 9 days, Hades' Star every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Space Simulator | Hades' Star |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (93 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-simulator/id884510216/reviews) | **[4.4 (3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hades-star/id1058502954/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 93 | **3K** |
| Positive reviews | 14.6% of reviews | **55.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 279 MB | 379 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Thetis Consulting](https://appshunter.io/developer/339173067) | [Parallel Space Inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/760171546) |

## What reviewers say

### Space Simulator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/space-simulator/id884510216)

Experience a highly accurate space flight simulation with realistic physics and celestial bodies. Explore our solar system, witness Earth's rotation, and navigate through asteroid rings. This app offers an immersive astronaut experience with real-world weather and G-force simulations.

**Highlights:** Realistic spaceship physics, Solar system exploration, Real-time Earth rotation, Planet moons and asteroid rings, Weather forecast and G-force simulation, Nasa-based terrain and textures

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (26)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Club Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Club Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Premium Club Yearly | $24.99 | per month |
| Remove Ads forever | $0.99 | one-time |
| Discovery Space Shuttle | $2.99 | one-time |
| Challenger Space Shuttle | $2.99 | one-time |
| Endeavour Space Shuttle | $2.99 | one-time |
| Columbia Space Shuttle | $2.99 | one-time |
| Moon Launch Site | $4.99 | one-time |
| Mars Launch Site | $4.99 | one-time |
| Starlight ZR6 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Artemis Rocket | $4.99 | one-time |
| Soyuz Rocket | $4.99 | one-time |
| Aegean SR8 | $4.99 | one-time |
| RX6 Rimward | $4.99 | one-time |
| Saturn V Rocket | $4.99 | one-time |
| Starship Rocket | $4.99 | one-time |
| Long March 5 Rocket | $4.99 | one-time |
| ZR3 Arminus | $5.99 | one-time |
| F3 Crusader | $5.99 | one-time |
| Space Shuttles Pack | $6.99 | one-time |
| All Launch Sites | $6.99 | one-time |
| Oberon M2 | $6.99 | one-time |
| All Rockets | $12.99 | one-time |
| All Tykhon Corp SpaceShips | $24.99 | one-time |
| Unlock All Aircraft | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎨 Good graphics and visuals
- 🌍 Ability to explore planets and space
- ⚙️ Decent physics mechanics
- 🎮 Fun exploration gameplay

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🚫 Cannot land on planets or re-enter atmosphere
- 📺 Excessive and intrusive ads throughout gameplay
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases ($4.99-$16 for ships/content)
- 🎮 Lack of gameplay depth and objectives
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes frequently when entering space
- App freezes randomly, especially on iPad
- Shuttle burns up even on the moon and during proper re-entry attempts
- FlyWings ad blocks entire screen and cannot be closed
- Game kicks player out when attempting to return to Earth

**Requested features**

- Add ability to land on planets and explore them
- Implement proper atmospheric re-entry mechanics
- Add more spacecraft/rocket options
- Create airports and landing sites on Earth
- Add satellite deployment functionality


### Hades' Star

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hades-star/id1058502954)

Build and expand a space empire in a persistent, evolving galaxy. Colonize planets, research technology, command fleets, and engage in diplomacy and warfare with millions of players. Participate in cooperative and competitive missions to gather resources and dominate the cosmos.

**Highlights:** Colonize and develop planets, Research advanced technology, Build and customize starship fleets, Engage in player diplomacy and cooperation, Participate in Red and Blue Star missions, Form Corporations for strategic gameplay

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Hades' Star Platinum | $9.99 | per month |
| CRYSTAL PACK - SMALL | $2.99 | one-time |
| STARTER PACK | $4.99 | one-time |
| CRYSTAL SHIPMENTS | $4.99 | one-time |
| CRYSTAL PACK - MEDIUM | $9.99 | one-time |
| HYDROGEN TRANSMISSION | $9.99 | one-time |
| CRYSTAL PACK - LARGE | $19.99 | one-time |
| STARTER PACK 2 | $19.99 | one-time |
| CRYSTAL PACK - HUGE | $49.99 | one-time |
| CRYSTAL PACK - EPIC | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Awesome game
- 🕰️ Relaxing, slow-paced gameplay
- 👥 Great community and teamwork
- 🚫 No pay-to-win mechanics
- 🎨 Beautiful graphics and design

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏱️ Slow progression and upgrade process
- 🤖 Unbalanced AI and matchmaking issues
- 🔄 Repetitive gameplay and lack of variety
- 🔌 Connectivity and server stability problems
- 🔧 Bugs and glitches after updates

**Reported bugs**

- Login and account linking issues
- Crashes and freezes after updates
- Unreliable timers and resource generation

**Requested features**

- Offline mode or passive resource generation
- More ship types and customization options
- Improved corporation features and coordination
- Faster-paced PvP modes and events
- Expanded exploration and content updates


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Space Simulator free?

Space Simulator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Hades' Star free?

Hades' Star is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Space Simulator or Hades' Star?

Hades' Star is rated higher. Space Simulator averages 2.7 out of 5 from 93 ratings, while Hades' Star averages 4.4 from 3K ratings.

### Do Space Simulator or Hades' Star have ads?

Space Simulator shows ads; Hades' Star does not.

### Which is updated more often, Space Simulator or Hades' Star?

Space Simulator ships an update every 9 days, and Hades' Star every 3 months. Most recently, Space Simulator was updated on October 24, 2026 and Hades' Star 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.*