Comparison

Tiny Guardians vs Ex Astris

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Read full description

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

Tiny Guardians4 screens
Ex Astris4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

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.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard9 real differences · 2 level
Tiny Guardians versus Ex Astris: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterTiny GuardiansEx Astris
Price$3.99 — better$9.99
Rating4.8 (1.1K ratings) — better4.4 (267 ratings)
Positive reviews90.1% of reviews — better65.8% of reviews
Number of ratings1.1K — better267
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
Best chart rank—#151 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS9.0 — better12.0
Further details — not scored
Size459 MB3.7 GB
Age rating9+12+
DeveloperKurechiiGRYPH FRONTIER PTE.LTD.

Customer experience

Tiny Guardians

All ratings1,113 ratings
Positive96.4%
Neutral1.8%
Negative1.8%
Written reviews364 reviews
Positive90.1%
Neutral3.3%
Negative6.6%

Ex Astris

All ratings267 ratings
Positive84.3%
Neutral5.6%
Negative10.1%
Written reviews313 reviews
Positive65.8%
Neutral13.1%
Negative21.1%

User reviews

Tiny Guardians

From 1.1K App Store ratings

What 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 ratings

What 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

11 purchases

Tiny Guardians

One-time11
  • Archer Alternative Appearance$1.99
  • Paladin$1.99
  • Sentinel$1.99
Show 8 more
  • 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
None

Ex Astris

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Tiny Guardians free?
Tiny Guardians costs $3.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Ex Astris free?
Ex Astris costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Tiny Guardians or Ex Astris?
Tiny Guardians is rated higher. Tiny Guardians averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1.1K ratings, while Ex Astris averages 4.4 from 267 ratings.
Do Tiny Guardians or Ex Astris have ads?
Neither Tiny Guardians nor Ex Astris shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Tiny Guardians or Ex Astris?
Tiny Guardians ships an update every 5 months, and Ex Astris every 3 weeks. Most recently, Tiny Guardians was updated on October 14, 2026 and Ex Astris on October 13, 2026.

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