Space Simulator vs Space Shuttle AR
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Space Simulator
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.
- 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
Read full descriptionHide full description
Space Simulator is the best space simulator already created for iOS devices! We focus our efforts and development team on bringing the best set of commands to our spaceship! So, the experience of flying on the infinity space is very accurate! The game simulates the spaceship, it's engines, moving parts and all planets from our solar system!! Become an astronaut! And explore the space at your will! Features - Realtime Earth rotation. - You can watch the night becoming day, and day becoming night in different places of the planet! - All planets from solar system. - Realistic sun - Asteroids ring. - All planet moons! Some technology provided by Nasa: - Realist terrain using Nasa’s photos and elevation. - Realist texture for all planets from Nasa’s photos. - Using Nasa’s utility FoilSim 3 to calculate the physics of the spaceship (really realistic). - Using real airfoils from our library, the engines, rockets and trusters are very accurate. Real world simulation: - Weather forecast. - Turbulence and G-Force - Real clouds We are thinking about everything we can do to improve the space simulator experience! So please, feel free to contact us to give your feedback! Have a good trip astronaut! Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Space Shuttle AR
Experience the Space Shuttle's return through augmented reality. As the launch director, guide the shuttle from launch to a safe docking with the International Space Station. Witness realistic smoke, fire, and engine separation in your own environment.
- Augmented Reality (AR) experience
- Launch director role
- Space Shuttle launch simulation
- Docking with International Space Station
- Realistic smoke and fire effects
- Booster and fuel tank separation
- Multiple viewing angles
Read full descriptionHide full description
The Space Shuttle has been revived through Augmented Reality(AR) since its last flight in 2011. AR is a technology that displays virtual objects in the real world. You are the launch director of the Space Shuttle. Your mission is to launch the Space Shuttle and dock with the International Space Station safely. The Space Shuttle will be launched with smoke and fire from the launch pad. The shuttle will separate booster engines and an external fuel tank. It will dock with the Space Station above the Earth. The sound and the countdown make AR Space Shuttle more realistic. You can watch the shuttle's motions from various angles. Launch a 3D virtual Space Shuttle in your backyard or any other place. This app is a simple experiment in AR. The app is not only for Space Shuttle fans but also for anyone interested in AR. Try launching the 3D virtual Space Shuttle now.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: Space Shuttle AR at 4.7 against Space Simulator's 2.7. Space Shuttle AR also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 26) and ads (none vs shown). Space Simulator's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 5 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. Space Simulator sells 26 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Space Shuttle AR asks for nothing beyond the download.
Space Shuttle AR holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Space Shuttle AR has 1.1K ratings behind it against 86, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Space Simulator ships an update every 9 days, Space Shuttle AR every 5 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Space Simulator | Space Shuttle AR |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 2.7 (86 ratings) | 4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 78.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 86 | 1.1K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days — better | Every 5 months |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 279 MB | 68 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Thetis Consulting | Noriaki Murao |
Customer experience
Space Simulator
Space Shuttle AR
User reviews
Space Simulator
From 86 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🎨 Good graphics and visuals
- 🌍 Ability to explore planets and space
- ⚙️ Decent physics mechanics
- 🎮 Fun exploration gameplay
Room to improve
- 🚫 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
Space Shuttle AR
From 1.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Realistic space shuttle simulation
- 👍 Stunning graphics and visuals
- 🎉 Engaging and educational experience
- 💡 Innovative use of AR technology
Room to improve
- 🐛 Placement and launch issues on some devices
- 🔍 Limited control and customization options
- ⏱️ Short gameplay duration
Bugs and requests
Space Simulator
Reported bugs
10 issues- 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
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Crashes when purchasing full package
- Ad bar persists at top of screen
- Unskippable ads interrupt gameplay
- Landing gear displayed in incorrect position
- Game crashes every 3 seconds on some devices
Requested features
10 requests- 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
Show 5 moreShow fewer
- Expand to other galaxies
- Add objectives and missions
- Improve shuttle control during launch
- Add Canadarm and cargo bay door functionality
- Include all dwarf planets and moons in solar system
Space Shuttle AR
Reported bugs
2 issues- Freezing and crashing on launch
- Inability to place the shuttle on flat surfaces
Requested features
4 requests- Add more rockets and spacecraft to launch
- Allow users to build and customize their own rockets
- Implement a re-entry and landing sequence
- Provide more background options (e.g., stars, planets)
In-app purchases
Space Simulator
- Premium Club Weekly$2.997 Days
- Premium Club Monthly$9.991 Month
- Premium Club Yearly$24.991 Month
- Remove Ads forever$0.99
- Discovery Space Shuttle$2.99
- Challenger Space Shuttle$2.99
Show 20 moreShow fewer
- Endeavour Space Shuttle$2.99
- Columbia Space Shuttle$2.99
- Moon Launch Site$4.99
- Mars Launch Site$4.99
- Starlight ZR6$4.99
- Artemis Rocket$4.99
- Soyuz Rocket$4.99
- Aegean SR8$4.99
- RX6 Rimward$4.99
- Saturn V Rocket$4.99
- Starship Rocket$4.99
- Long March 5 Rocket$4.99
- ZR3 Arminus$5.99
- F3 Crusader$5.99
- Space Shuttles Pack$6.99
- All Launch Sites$6.99
- Oberon M2$6.99
- All Rockets$12.99
- All Tykhon Corp SpaceShips$24.99
- Unlock All Aircraft$49.99
Space Shuttle AR
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Space Simulator free?
Is Space Shuttle AR free?
Which has better reviews, Space Simulator or Space Shuttle AR?
Do Space Simulator or Space Shuttle AR have ads?
Which is updated more often, Space Simulator or Space Shuttle AR?
Other comparisons
