Tiny Guardians vs Ex Astris
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Tiny Guardians
This strategy game offers a unique twist on the tower defense genre. Summon diverse guardians with upgradable abilities to protect a protagonist on her quest. Collect cards, strategize against various enemies, and overcome challenging boss fights.
- Tower defense without towers
- 12 guardian classes with 4 upgradable levels
- Over 40 diverse enemy types
- Unique boss fights and special events
- Story and Challenge Modes with multiple difficulties
- Collectable illustrated guardian cards
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From the creators of King’s League: Odyssey comes Tiny Guardians - a strategy TD game with a twist! "I'm giving the game 5 stars, because I love everything about it. I will be playing until the brutal bitter end and loving all of it." - AppGamer (5/5) "I can’t recommend it strongly enough. It’s a unique spin on tower defense that’s easily worth the price of admission." - Gamezebo (4.5/5) "The concept is simple and different enough to separate this one from the rest, and it’s just a nice breath of fresh air when you think about it." - AppAdvice (4.5/5) AWARDS & ACCOLADES ► Taipei Game Show 2016 Indie Game Awards – Most Popular Game ► Casual Connect Asia 2015 Indie Prize Awards – Best Game In Show Audience Choice ► Astro Go Innovate 2014 Showcase – Grand Prize ► Featured in the App Store’s Best New Game ► Featured in the App Store’s Best of April 2015 ► Featured in the App Store’s 15 Cutest Games Collection Prepare to embark on an epic adventure! Summon unique guardians to defend Lunalie against various enemies as she journeys through Prism in search of her missing aunt, the Sorceress. Beware of wild beasts, eerie creatures, molten enemies and mysterious circus folk along your journey. With each unlocked class and enemy, expand your collection of dazzling cards! Various updates and unit classes allow for diverse strategies, allowing a different experience on every try. • TD without towers, a refreshing take on this strategy genre. • 12 guardian classes (with 4 upgradable levels each) are available. • Over 40 diverse enemy types, come up with different strategies to defeat them. • Exciting and unique boss fights and special events in certain levels. • Each level has a Story and Challenge Mode, each with three difficulties. • Achievements are integrated with the Game Center to store all your accomplishments. • Gorgeously illustrated cards to summon guardians. Collect them all! • All the above allow for plenty of strategies! * Retina display support - view all the detailed artwork in high quality! * Universal app: play on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. * iCloud support for you to share your progress across devices. Regarding In-App Purchases: IAPs in the game are purely cosmetic. No additional purchase is needed to finish the game. For more information or if you have enquiries/feedback, drop by one of the below: • Developer site: kurechii.com • Game Site: tinyguardians.com • Twitter: @kurechii • Facebook: facebook.com/kurechii • General: hello@kurechii.com • Tech Support: bugs@kurechii.com
Ex Astris
Embark on an interstellar adventure as an investigator on a tidally locked planet. Explore diverse landscapes, engage in strategic turn-based combat with a unique maneuver system, and uncover the planet's mysteries with a team of companions.
- 3D Sci-Fi Adventure RPG
- Semi-real-time, turn-based combat
- Innovative Obscuran Maneuver system
- World exploration on a tidally locked planet
- Assemble and empower a team of companions
- Crafting and puzzle-solving
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When the first satellite passes through the atmosphere, we believe we shall conquer the universe someday. Now I realized, humans are solely extending the boundaries of the earth left the kaleidoscopic world behind. Investigator. Have you ever thought that the mourning sea in front of you has lost its warmth? We are struggling in the shallow waters when tides over the shore. We are stranded on the sandbank when waves recede. Every single star shall rejoice and lament. "Go through the storm and transcend eternity. Bon voyage." Game Features: Ex Astris is a semi-real-time, turn-based 3D RPG. As an investigator, you will delve into the world of Allindo and embark on a wondrous interstellar adventure. #WorldExploration Explore a planet in a tidally locked orbit, a realm where the sun never sets. Split into two distinct hemispheres by massive ring-shaped storms, this planet is home to bizarre creatures and intelligent beings remarkably similar to humans. On an RV journey, you will explore foreign lands with diverse local cultures, collect memories of extraordinary encounters, and unravel the mystery behind a looming storm. #ObscuranManeuvers A cool blend of turn-based gameplay and fast-paced action: Make the most of our innovative Obscuran Maneuver system and time your responses to perfectly counter enemy attacks. You can also pull off powerful team combos and joint attacks with your allies for strategic advantages. #ProgressionExperience Assemble a team of vibrant companions, each with their own motives and stories. Their powers and strength will depend on your knowledge of their traits. Scour Allindo for various materials to concoct special dishes and craft all sorts of Laylah-Keys to empower your team. Solve intricate puzzles in strongholds, defeat challenging foes that stand in your way, and unveil the mysteries of Allindo. Stay connected: Official Website: https://exa.gryphline.com/en-us/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ExAstrisOfficial/ Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/Astris_EN Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ExAstris_en Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/exastris_en/ Support Email: exastris_cs@gryphline.com *Minimum system requirements Device: iPhone 8 or better models; iPads with the A12 chip or better processors System: iOS 12 or above Storage: 10GB free space or above
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Ex Astris at none against Tiny Guardians's 11. Ex Astris also leads on update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and chart position (#151 vs unranked). Tiny Guardians's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.4) and price ($3.99 vs $9.99). On ads and device support 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
Tiny Guardians costs $3.99 and Ex Astris $9.99 up front. Tiny Guardians sells 11 one-off in-app purchases. Ex Astris asks for nothing beyond the download.
Tiny Guardians holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.1K and 267 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 90% of Tiny Guardians's written reviews are positive against 66% of Ex Astris's.
Tiny Guardians ships an update every 5 months, Ex Astris every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Tiny Guardians | Ex Astris |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $3.99 — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (1.1K ratings) — better | 4.4 (267 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 90.1% of reviews — better | 65.8% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K — better | 267 |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free — better |
| Best chart rank | — | #151 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 — better | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 459 MB | 3.7 GB |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Kurechii | GRYPH FRONTIER PTE.LTD. |
Customer experience
Tiny Guardians
Ex Astris
User reviews
Tiny Guardians
From 1.1K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 👍 Fun and unique gameplay
- 🎨 Charming art style
- 🔍 Interesting twist on tower defense
- 💰 Good value for money
Room to improve
- 🔍 Gameplay can get repetitive
- 📱 UI/text too small on newer devices
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🕰️ Slow pacing at times
Ex Astris
From 267 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Seamless combat system
- 🎨 Breathtaking graphics and art style
- 💰 Great value for a one-time purchase
- 🌟 Captivating story and world-building
- 🎮 Engaging turn-based gameplay
Room to improve
- 🔇 Inconsistent audio/sound issues
- 📜 Unclear story and lore explanations
- 🕹️ Lack of controller support
- 🌐 Requires internet connection to play
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
Bugs and requests
Tiny Guardians
Reported bugs
3 issues- Game crashes at certain levels
- Objectives not registering as complete
- Inability to skip tutorial on repeat playthroughs
Requested features
4 requests- More levels and content updates
- Ability to use new units in older levels
- Additional game modes and challenges
- Improved targeting and unit control
Ex Astris
Reported bugs
4 issues- Game freezes at startup for some users
- Second fight cannot be progressed through
- Ziplines outside trade center are bugged
- Dialogue text pacing issues
Requested features
5 requests- Add controller support
- Improve story explanations and lore
- Implement offline play mode
- Add English voice-over option
- Provide more in-depth tutorial for combat
In-app purchases
Tiny Guardians
- Archer Alternative Appearance$1.99
- Paladin$1.99
- Sentinel$1.99
Show 8 moreShow fewer
- Knight Alternative Appearance$1.99
- Berserker Alternative Appearance$1.99
- Hunter Alternative Appearance$1.99
- Wizard$2.99
- Magician Alternative Appearance$2.99
- Rogue Alternative Appearance$4.99
- Dancer$4.99
- Alternative Appearances Bundle$8.99
Ex Astris
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Tiny Guardians free?
Is Ex Astris free?
Which has better reviews, Tiny Guardians or Ex Astris?
Do Tiny Guardians or Ex Astris have ads?
Which is updated more often, Tiny Guardians or Ex Astris?
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