# Skyward vs Nekosan

The clearest difference is ads: Skyward at none against Nekosan's shown. Skyward also leads on update cadence (every 8 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (3.7K vs 869). On price, rating, review sentiment and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Skyward sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Nekosan sells 5 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Nekosan holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.7K and 869 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Skyward's written reviews are positive against 83% of Nekosan's.

Skyward ships an update every 8 days, Nekosan every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Skyward | Nekosan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (3.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyward/id943273841/reviews) | **[4.6 (869 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nekosan/id1148979232/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.7K** | 869 |
| Positive reviews | 81.5% of reviews | **82.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 30 MB | 79 MB |
| Requires iOS | **5.1.1** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ketchapp](https://appshunter.io/developer/528065807) | [1Button SARL](https://appshunter.io/developer/388888785) |

## What reviewers say

### Skyward

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/skyward/id943273841)

Embark on a serene journey through Escher-style labyrinths with simple one-tap controls. Test your reflexes in a challenging hardcore mode or aim for high scores to unlock new patterns and compete globally.

**Highlights:** Escher-style labyrinths, One-tap controls, Endless gameplay, Dark hardcore mode, Unlockable patterns, Leaderboard

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Challenging and addictive gameplay
- 👍 Simple and relaxing design
- 💡 Unique 3D perspective mechanic
- 🎨 Beautiful and dynamic visuals

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Unclear gameplay instructions
- 🔋 Frequent ads disrupt gameplay
- 🐛 Reported performance issues and glitches
- 🤔 Concerns about similarity to Monument Valley

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezing or crashing on some devices
- Ads causing lags and disrupting gameplay
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add a pause button
- Provide an option to remove ads
- Improve onboarding and tutorial
- Introduce more gameplay modes and challenges


### Nekosan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nekosan/id1148979232)

Guide a cat through challenging dungeons to retrieve stolen stars. Utilize one-finger controls for running, sliding, wall jumping, and flying across numerous levels. Embark on an adventure to reclaim what the mice have taken.

**Highlights:** Run, slide, wall jump, and fly mechanics, Dozens of challenging levels, One-finger control gameplay, Retrieve stolen stars, Infiltrate mouse dungeons

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pack of 9 Lives | $0.99 | one-time |
| Key | $0.99 | one-time |
| Maurice | $0.99 | one-time |
| Skip a Stage | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove All Ads | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 😻 Cute and adorable cat character
- 👍 Simple and intuitive one-tap controls
- 🕹️ Challenging and addictive gameplay
- 🎨 Visually pleasing minimalist design

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Unclear controls and lack of tutorial
- 💰 Frequent ads and intrusive monetization
- 🤯 Extremely difficult and frustrating levels
- 🐛 Crashes and performance issues after updates

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes on launch after recent update
- Inability to exit video ads without watching them
- Progress not saved after exiting the game

**Requested features**

- More levels and content updates
- Better tutorial and control explanation
- Option to remove ads for a one-time fee
- Restart button for quick retries


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Skyward free?

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

### Is Nekosan free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Skyward or Nekosan?

Nekosan is rated higher. Skyward averages 4.4 out of 5 from 3.7K ratings, while Nekosan averages 4.6 from 869 ratings.

### Do Skyward or Nekosan have ads?

Nekosan shows ads; Skyward does not.

### Which is updated more often, Skyward or Nekosan?

Skyward ships an update every 8 days, and Nekosan every 2 months. Most recently, Skyward was updated on October 20, 2026 and Nekosan on October 14, 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.*