# 1 Dark Room vs Mars

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Mars at 91% against 1 Dark Room's 44%. Mars also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.3) and ratings volume (22K vs 24). 1 Dark Room's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 10) and update cadence (every 9 days vs monthly). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mars sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. 1 Dark Room asks for nothing beyond the download.

Mars holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Mars has 22K ratings behind it against 24, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 44% of 1 Dark Room's written reviews are positive against 91% of Mars's.

1 Dark Room ships an update every 9 days, Mars monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and November 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 1 Dark Room | Mars |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (24 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1-dark-room/id938139748/reviews) | **[4.8 (22K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-mars/id1108964305/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 24 | **22K** |
| Positive reviews | 44.4% of reviews | **90.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 9 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 4 MB | 256 MB |
| Requires iOS | **7.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Skynet, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/935951510) | [Pomelo Games](https://appshunter.io/developer/899606172) |

## What reviewers say

### 1 Dark Room

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/1-dark-room/id938139748)

Embark on an adventurous journey through mysterious and unknown zones, from a cold hut to a noisy town. Explore diverse environments and encounter various characters as you navigate this immersive experience.

**Highlights:** Text-based exploration, Mysterious zones, Adventurist journey, Interactive narrative, Diverse environments

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Mars

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mars-mars/id1108964305)

Embark on a thrilling space adventure as a volunteer on a mission to Mars. Pilot a jetpack to explore the Martian surface, capture unique selfies, and navigate the challenges of interplanetary travel. Prove the doubters wrong and make history on this groundbreaking expedition.

**Highlights:** Explore Mars on a jetpack, Take selfies on Mars, Avoid Rapid Unscheduled Disassemblies, Discover Martian sights, Volunteer for a space mission

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Arnold | $0.99 | one-time |
| Little Martha | $0.99 | one-time |
| Marselot | $0.99 | one-time |
| Nigiri | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ufo | $0.99 | one-time |
| Discman | $0.99 | one-time |
| Kestrel 5 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Eagle | $0.99 | one-time |
| Stephen | $3.99 | one-time |
| El Dorado | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Relaxing and calming experience
- 👍 Variety of unique characters with different themes
- 👍 Optional ads that provide rewards
- 👍 Offline playability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and bugs
- 🔁 Repetitive and can get boring over time
- 🔁 Lack of difficulty progression
- 🔁 Duplicate character unlocks can be frustrating

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when taking selfies
- Streak resets when returning to a previous level
- Inconsistent controls and fuel usage

**Requested features**

- Add new planets and environments to explore
- Introduce different gameplay modes (e.g., time trials, challenges)
- Allow players to customize platforms and backgrounds
- Implement a way to revisit previous levels


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 1 Dark Room free?

1 Dark Room is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Mars free?

Mars is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, 1 Dark Room or Mars?

Mars is rated higher. 1 Dark Room averages 3.3 out of 5 from 24 ratings, while Mars averages 4.8 from 22K ratings.

### Do 1 Dark Room or Mars have ads?

Both 1 Dark Room and Mars show ads.

### Which is updated more often, 1 Dark Room or Mars?

1 Dark Room ships an update every 9 days, and Mars monthly. Most recently, 1 Dark Room was updated on October 21, 2026 and Mars on November 1, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*