Comparison

SUPERSTAR SMTOWN vs Arcaea

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

Head to head
About

SUPERSTAR SMTOWN

Engage with your favorite K-POP artists' music in this rhythm game. Collect and upgrade artist cards to build powerful decks, compete in weekly leagues, and complete missions for rewards. Enjoy regular events tied to artist comebacks and concerts.

Highlights
  • Play SMTOWN artist songs
  • Collect and upgrade artist cards
  • Build custom card decks
  • Compete in weekly leagues
  • Complete daily missions
  • Participate in events
Features
Read full description

Global K-POP Rhythm Game The first game of SUPERSTAR Series! 'SUPERSTAR SMTOWN' where you can enjoy the song of SMTOWN artist as a mobile game! Receive various artists and sound sources -Please play the song of SMTOWN artists that are updated every week! My own card deck filled with a favorite theme card -Collect artist cards of various themes and fill in card decks! -In up to upgrade the collected cards and make R cards! Weekly League / SUPERSTAR League every week -Please participate in the Weekly League / SUPERSTAR League and enjoy ranking competition with global K-POP fan users! -You can get a higher score by strengthening your card! Enjoy 100 times 'SUPERSTAR SMTOWN' with missions and events -Clear a new mission every day and get rewards! -Meet the comeback of SMTOWN artists and the SUPERSTAR SMTOWN event with concerts! --------------------- [Guide to access rights to smartphone apps] When using the app, we are requesting access to the following services. [Required approach permission] -Photo/Video/File: To save game data in storage -Reading external repository, recording: Necessary to store various settings in the game and to store music data cache -Call: Necessary to analyze advertising tracking and create PUSH reception tokens -Wi-Fi connection information: When downloading additional data, it is necessary to check the Wi-Fi connection and send a guide message. -ID: Necessary for 'Creating and Confirmation of User Revision' [Selection approach permission] -Note: To receive information notifications and advertising PUSH notifications sent from the game app. * You can use the app without agreeing with the optional access rights. * It may be difficult to use some of the functions of the service when the optional approach. [How to withdraw access to access] Settings> Select the app and withdraw ※ If the notes do not come down smoothly when playing the game, please check the "Low " in the [Display Settings] option of [Settings]! ※ SUPERSTAR SMTOWN can be enjoyed for free, but the rate is charged when purchasing some paid items. ※ For other inquiries, please send it to support.superstar@dalcomsoft.com and we will do our best to consult. --------------------- Sweet Soft Game Inquiry related to SUPERSTAR SMTOWN support.superstar@dalcomsoft.com

About

Arcaea

Experience a unique rhythm game that blends challenging gameplay with an immersive story. Progress through a narrative driven by your performance, unlock new difficulties, and compete with others online. Enjoy a vast library of music, with more available through content packs.

Highlights
  • Novel gameplay mechanics
  • Immersive sound and story
  • High difficulty ceiling
  • Over 350 songs
  • 3 rhythm difficulty levels per song
  • Real-time online multiplayer
  • Rich Main Story and Side Stories
Read full description

New Dimension Rhythm Game - Experience sound and story unlike ever before. "A harmony of Light awaits you in a lost world of musical Conflict." In a world of white, and surrounded by “memory”, two girls awaken under glass-filled skies. Arcaea is a mobile rhythm game for both experienced and new rhythm game players alike, blending novel gameplay, immersive sound, and a powerful story of wonder and heartache. Experience gameplay that reflects the story’s emotions and events—and progress to unlock more of this unfurling narrative. Challenging trials can be discovered through play, higher difficulties can be unlocked, and a real-time online mode is available to face off against other players. Arcaea does not require an internet connection for play, and is fully playable both on smartphones and tablets. On install the game includes a large library of free playable songs, and more can be made available by acquiring additional songs and content packs. ==Features== - A high difficulty ceiling - experience personal growth as you develop skills in arcade-style progression - Over 350 songs from more than 200 artists famous across other games - 3 rhythm difficulty levels for every song - An expanding music library through regular content updates - Collaborations with other beloved rhythm games - Online friends and scoreboards - Real-time online multiplayer - A Course Mode that tests endurance through gauntlets of songs - A rich Main Story that features two protagonist’s perspectives across a powerful journey - Additional Side and Short Stories of varying styles and perspectives featuring the game’s characters that build upon the world of Arcaea - A vast array of original characters and guest characters from collaborations to accompany you, level up, and alter your play through many game-changing skills - Stunning, never-before-seen connections to storylines via gameplay, challenging the very paradigm of play ==Story== Two girls find themselves in a colorless world full of memory, and with no memory of themselves. Each alone, they set out into places often beautiful, and just as often dangerous. Arcaea’s story is interwoven throughout Main, Side, and Short stories which each focus on individual, playable characters. While separate, they all share the same space: the world of Arcaea. Their reactions to it, and its reactions to them, form an ever-shifting narrative of mystery, sorrow, and bliss. As they explore this heavenly place, follow their steps down paths of glass and grief. --- Follow Arcaea & News: Twitter: http://twitter.com/arcaea_en Facebook: http://facebook.com/arcaeagame

Screenshots

SUPERSTAR SMTOWN4 screens
Arcaea4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Arcaea at none against SUPERSTAR SMTOWN's shown. Arcaea also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 49%) and rating (4.8 vs 4.5). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and in-app purchases 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. SUPERSTAR SMTOWN sells 35 one-off in-app purchases and Arcaea sells 3 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Arcaea holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10K and 25K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 49% of SUPERSTAR SMTOWN's written reviews are positive against 78% of Arcaea's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SUPERSTAR SMTOWN ships an update every 2 weeks, Arcaea every 8 days. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
SUPERSTAR SMTOWN versus Arcaea: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSUPERSTAR SMTOWNArcaea
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.5 (10K ratings)4.8 (25K ratings) — better
Positive reviews48.8% of reviews78.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings10K25K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 8 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank#30 — better#50
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size422 MB1.2 GB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperDalcomsoft, Inc.lowiro

Customer experience

SUPERSTAR SMTOWN

All ratings10,046 ratings
Positive88.2%
Neutral3.9%
Negative8.0%
Written reviews410 reviews
Positive48.8%
Neutral14.4%
Negative36.8%

Arcaea

All ratings24,761 ratings
Positive96.6%
Neutral1.4%
Negative1.9%
Written reviews1,254 reviews
Positive78.3%
Neutral6.9%
Negative14.8%

User reviews

SUPERSTAR SMTOWN

From 10K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🎮 Fun and engaging gameplay
  • 💎 Generous event rewards
  • 🎨 Visually appealing design
  • 🎶 Wide selection of K-pop songs

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • ⏱️ Slow loading times
  • 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
  • 🤔 Confusing card management system

Arcaea

From 25K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Unique gameplay mechanics
  • 🎨 Beautiful visuals and art
  • 🎶 Excellent music selection
  • 👍 Smooth and responsive controls
  • 💯 Challenging yet rewarding difficulty

Room to improve

  • 💰 Excessive paywall for content
  • 🔁 Repetitive grind in World Mode
  • 🐛 Occasional note registration issues
  • 🔊 Audio desync when multitasking
  • 🤖 Lack of practice mode or tutorial

Bugs and requests

SUPERSTAR SMTOWN

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Notes not registering properly
  • Sudden account disconnections
  • Inability to open mystery boxes
  • Stuck at 10.2% during loading

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add more songs from older SM artists
  • Implement a card trading system
  • Improve event difficulty and rewards balance
  • Optimize performance for older devices

Arcaea

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Login issues and account sync problems
  • Compatibility problems on certain devices
  • Crashes and freezes during gameplay

Requested features

5 requests
  • Multiplayer mode to compete with friends
  • Ability to earn premium currency through gameplay
  • More free song options to explore the game
  • Customizable note speed and offset settings
  • Improved story mode and character development

In-app purchases

35 purchases

SUPERSTAR SMTOWN

One-time35
  • 12th Anniv. Star Package$0.99
  • EVERYDAY PACKAGE$0.99
  • Mission Pass$0.99
Show 32 more
  • 2023 Limited Theme Package$2.99
  • 33 Diamonds$2.99
  • 39 Diamond$3.39
  • Big Chocolate Box$3.99
  • Limited Theme Prem. Pack 10$4.99
  • 57 Diamonds$4.99
  • 62 Diamond$5.29
  • On My Youth Starter Package$6.99
  • Be There For me Starter Pack$6.99
  • Nightmare Starter Package$6.99
  • 250226newh2hstarter$6.99
  • premium10$6.99
  • rvlovearcadestarter$6.99
  • SSM Package 2$6.99
  • SSM Package 5$6.99
  • SSM Package 38$6.99
  • SSM Package 8$6.99
  • SSM Package 9$6.99
  • SSM Package 46$6.99
  • 12th Anniv. Super Package$8.99
  • 120 Diamond$9.89
  • 120 Diamonds$9.99
  • cardchristmas$9.99
  • megacurrency1$9.99
  • Limited Theme Prem. Pack30$12.99
  • 250312newasepaspecial$19.99
  • aespasynkspecial$19.99
  • SSM Package 19$19.99
  • SSM Package 13$19.99
  • 375 Diamond$29.49
  • 650 Diamond$48.49
  • 1200 Diamond$83.90
3 purchases

Arcaea

One-time3
  • 100 Memories$0.99
  • 510 Memories$4.99
  • 1020 Memories$9.99

Questions

Is SUPERSTAR SMTOWN free?
SUPERSTAR SMTOWN is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Arcaea free?
Arcaea is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SUPERSTAR SMTOWN or Arcaea?
Arcaea is rated higher. SUPERSTAR SMTOWN averages 4.5 out of 5 from 10K ratings, while Arcaea averages 4.8 from 25K ratings.
Do SUPERSTAR SMTOWN or Arcaea have ads?
SUPERSTAR SMTOWN shows ads; Arcaea does not.
Which is updated more often, SUPERSTAR SMTOWN or Arcaea?
SUPERSTAR SMTOWN ships an update every 2 weeks, and Arcaea every 8 days. Most recently, SUPERSTAR SMTOWN was updated on November 1, 2026 and Arcaea on November 1, 2026.
Which is more popular, SUPERSTAR SMTOWN or Arcaea?
SUPERSTAR SMTOWN currently peaks at #30 in the App Store charts, and Arcaea at #50. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

Other comparisons