Comparison

Zen Koi Classic vs Garden Eel AR/VR

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

Head to head
About

Zen Koi Classic

Nurture and collect vibrant Koi fish in a serene underwater world. Watch them grow, evolve into majestic dragons, and discover hundreds of unique varieties. Share your collection with friends and enjoy a calming, visually stunning experience.

Highlights
  • Breed and collect hundreds of unique Koi varieties
  • Watch Koi evolve into majestic dragons
  • Soothing music and mesmerizing visuals
  • Intuitive single-touch controls
  • Share and gift Koi with friends
  • Limited edition rewards for collectors
Features
Read full description

Looking for a relaxing game? Dive into Tranquility: Unwind and Ascend with Zen Koi Classic (Free-to-Play) Embark on a captivating journey of transformation and serenity in Zen Koi Classic, the enchanting mobile game where you experience the vibrancy and breathtaking beauty of the graceful Koi. Immerse yourself in a calming atmosphere filled with soothing music and mesmerizing visuals as you nurture these magnificent fish, witnessing their growth and culminating metamorphosis into majestic dragons. Unwind and Ascend: A Timeless Tale Zen Koi Classic offers a unique experience that blends relaxation with strategic collection. Breed, collect and discover beautiful Koi: witness the captivating journey of your Koi as they evolve from tiny hatchlings into breathtaking creatures, each boasting unique colors and intricate patterns. Guide them through their life cycle, culminating in a stunning transformation that embodies the legend of the Koi's ascension into a dragon. Features: Free-to-Play: Enjoy the core gameplay experience without any purchase required. Soothing and Intuitive Gameplay: Immerse yourself in a world of tranquility with simple controls and a serene environment. Unique Flowing Action: Guide your Koi with a single touch, mimicking their graceful movements through the water. A Calming Oasis: Find peace in the beautiful aquatic environment, enhanced by soothing music and sound effects. Unveiling a Spectrum of Koi: Discover and collect hundreds of stunning Koi varieties, each boasting unique color combinations and patterns. Some rare specimens await the most dedicated collectors! Share Your Passion: Share and gift magnificent Koi you have bred and collected with friends and fellow players. Limited Edition Reward: Collect and complete all Koi and Dragon collections in Zen Koi Classic and claim unique decorations for your personal pond and aquarium in Zen Koi 2 as a special bonus! Unveiling the Depths of Zen Koi Classic: A Visual Symphony: Immerse yourself in an underwater world teeming with vibrant life with plenty of prey to catch. The Calming Symphony: Escape the daily grind with a serene soundtrack by Kiat from System Sovereign featuring gentle melodies and calming ambient sounds. Soundscapes are designed by IMBA to further enhance the sense of tranquility. The Emotional Connection: Witness the heartwarming growth and transformation of your Koi. Observe their vibrant colors and discover a progression of beautiful patterns, building a special bond with your pond companions. As they evolve into majestic dragons, experience a sense of accomplishment for nurturing them throughout their journey. Download Zen Koi Classic today and embark on a captivating odyssey of transformation and tranquility! Note: Zen Koi is free to download and play. However, optional items are available via In-App Purchase within the game to expand upon your gameplay experience. By downloading this game, you agree to our Terms of Service & Privacy Policy: http://www.landsharkgames.com/terms-of-service/ http://www.landsharkgames.com/privacy-policy/ Rated 3+ by the Indonesia Game Rating System (IGRS).

About

Garden Eel AR/VR

Experience garden eels in a virtual sea or your own environment. Explore six viewing modes, including AR and VR, and interact with eels by adding them to detected planes or having them follow faces. Synchronize with other devices and capture images.

Highlights
  • AR and VR viewing modes
  • Six distinct viewing options
  • Place eels on detected planes in AR
  • Eels follow detected faces
  • Synchronize across multiple devices
  • Capture screen images
  • Download custom eels via iCloud
Read full description

"Garden Eel AR/VR" is the AR/VR version of "Garden Eel". It provides a realistic experience of viewing garden eels in the virtual sea through your iOS device. There are six viewing modes and can be switched by tapping switch view icon(right bottom of the screen): 1) single view mode 2) front camera mode 3) back camera mode 4) side by side mode(for iPhone/iPod touch with VR viewing box) 5) 3D lens mode(for iPhone/iPod touch with 3D lens attachment and VR viewing box) 6) 360 degree rendering mode 7) AR mode In AR mode, white circles appears on detected planes and you can add garden eels on these planes by tapping them. You can adjust VR parameters by VR menu(left bottom icon). You can capture screen image by tapping right-top corner of the screen(camera icon). You can synchronize display contents between multiple iOS devices by tapping synchronize icon at the same timing. By tapping right-middle of the screen in camera mode(face detection icon), you can turn on face detection. Garden eels will follow faces!! Switching face detection mode to garden eel overlay mode, garden eels will appear on top of faces detected by camera. This is for portrait photo. You can grow garden eels via another app "Garden Eel". Then you can download your own garden eels via iCloud by tapping left top corner(iCloud icon).

Screenshots

Zen Koi Classic4 screens
Garden Eel AR/VR4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Zen Koi Classic at 4.7 against Garden Eel AR/VR's 3.7. Zen Koi Classic also leads on review sentiment (86% vs 50%) and ratings volume (2.1K vs 3). Garden Eel AR/VR's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, 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

Both are free to download. Zen Koi Classic sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Garden Eel AR/VR asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Zen Koi Classic holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Zen Koi Classic has 2.1K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 86% of Zen Koi Classic's written reviews are positive against 50% of Garden Eel AR/VR's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Zen Koi Classic versus Garden Eel AR/VR: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZen Koi ClassicGarden Eel AR/VR
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (2.1K ratings) — better3.7 (3 ratings)
Positive reviews85.6% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2.1K — better3
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 3 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV — better
Requires iOS15.012.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size128 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperLandShark Games Pte. Ltd.KENSHI DOI

Customer experience

Zen Koi Classic

All ratings2,057 ratings
Positive93.1%
Neutral3.8%
Negative3.1%
Written reviews383 reviews
Positive85.6%
Neutral7.6%
Negative6.8%

Garden Eel AR/VR

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral66.7%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Zen Koi Classic

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Koi and dragon progress lost after updates
  • Inconsistent koi movement and speed issues
  • Ads causing frequent crashes or freezes

Requested features

5 requests
  • Ability to play as or interact with dragons
  • More koi slots or alternative ways to expand pond
  • Easier ways to earn pearls without watching ads
  • Ability to name or customize koi and dragons
  • Zoom out feature to see full pond layout

Garden Eel AR/VR

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Zen Koi Classic

One-time10
  • Starter Pack$1.99
  • Small Handful of pearls$1.99
  • Handful of pearls$4.99
Show 7 more
  • Hasu Pack$4.99
  • Bag of pearls$9.99
  • Tenshi Pack$9.99
  • Splatto Pack$9.99
  • Yajiri Pack$9.99
  • Monkī Pack$19.99
  • Nami Pack$19.99
None

Garden Eel AR/VR

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Zen Koi Classic free?
Zen Koi Classic is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Garden Eel AR/VR free?
Garden Eel AR/VR is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Zen Koi Classic or Garden Eel AR/VR?
Zen Koi Classic is rated higher. Zen Koi Classic averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.1K ratings, while Garden Eel AR/VR averages 3.7 from 3 ratings.
Do Zen Koi Classic or Garden Eel AR/VR have ads?
Both Zen Koi Classic and Garden Eel AR/VR show ads.
Which is updated more often, Zen Koi Classic or Garden Eel AR/VR?
Zen Koi Classic ships an update every 3 months, and Garden Eel AR/VR every 3 months. Most recently, Zen Koi Classic was updated on October 24, 2026 and Garden Eel AR/VR on October 24, 2026.

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