# The Sandbox Evolution vs Little Alchemy 2

The clearest difference is rating: Little Alchemy 2 at 4.6 against The Sandbox Evolution's 3.8. Little Alchemy 2 also leads on review sentiment (77% vs 40%) and chart position (#158 vs unranked). The Sandbox Evolution's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 4 months). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. The Sandbox Evolution sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and Little Alchemy 2 sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Little Alchemy 2 holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 9.6K and 11K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of The Sandbox Evolution's written reviews are positive against 77% of Little Alchemy 2's.

The Sandbox Evolution ships an update every 2 weeks, Little Alchemy 2 every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 27, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | The Sandbox Evolution | Little Alchemy 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (9.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-sandbox-evolution/id944393180/reviews) | **[4.6 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/little-alchemy-2/id1214190989/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 9.6K | **11K** |
| Positive reviews | 40.4% of reviews | **76.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 4 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | **#158** |
| Size | 248 MB | 62 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [PIXOWL INC.](https://appshunter.io/developer/436959453) | [Jakub Koziol](https://appshunter.io/developer/542467149) |

## What reviewers say

### The Sandbox Evolution

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/the-sandbox-evolution/id944393180)

Create and destroy 8-bit worlds with a vast array of elements and physics. Design intricate landscapes, add life, introduce technology, and even compose music. Share your creations and play games made by others.

**Highlights:** Build 8-bit 2D pixel worlds, Over 170 elements with unique interactions, Add life with AI characters and foliage, Introduce technology and destructive elements, Create pixel art and compose music, Share and browse user-created worlds, Design custom game levels

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Monthly Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Basic Elements Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Ecstasy Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Bag of Mana | $1.99 | one-time |
| All Campaigns Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| All Disasters Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Zombie Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Inner Self Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| All Elements Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| All Mana Elements Pack | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive and creative
- 👍 Endless possibilities
- 💡 Custom character creation

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Premium content locked behind paywall
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 💰 Expensive premium subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Inability to save custom elements
- Premium content not unlocking properly
- Glitches with water and hazards
- Crashes on startup or level load

**Requested features**

- More free content and elements
- Improved stability and performance
- Larger level sizes
- Custom animation tools
- Multiplayer functionality


### Little Alchemy 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/little-alchemy-2/id1214190989)

**Currently charting:** #158 Top Free · Family (US App Store)

Combine elements to create new items and discover the world. This crafting game offers a vast library of discoverable items with unique descriptions and a vibrant art style. Explore your progress through an in-game encyclopedia.

**Highlights:** Combine elements to create new items, Discover a vast library of items, Vibrant art style, Original soundtrack, In-game encyclopedia, Explore item connections

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Bundle of 2 Research Points | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 8 Research Points | $2.99 | one-time |
| Myths and Monsters | $2.99 | one-time |
| Bundle of 16 Research Points | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great game
- 🤩 Fun and addictive
- 💡 Clever combinations
- 🎨 Nice designs
- 🧠 Educational and challenging

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Progress resets/disappears
- 🔍 Difficult to find items in large list
- 💰 Myths and Monsters pack too expensive
- 🤔 Gets repetitive/boring over time

**Reported bugs**

- Progress resets randomly
- Purchased content disappears
- Scrolling issues
- Certain combinations not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add more items and combinations
- Improve hint system
- Add ability to save/restore progress
- Organize items into categories
- Add more fantasy/creative elements


## Frequently asked questions

### Is The Sandbox Evolution free?

The Sandbox Evolution is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Little Alchemy 2 free?

Little Alchemy 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, The Sandbox Evolution or Little Alchemy 2?

Little Alchemy 2 is rated higher. The Sandbox Evolution averages 3.8 out of 5 from 9.6K ratings, while Little Alchemy 2 averages 4.6 from 11K ratings.

### Do The Sandbox Evolution or Little Alchemy 2 have ads?

Little Alchemy 2 shows ads; The Sandbox Evolution does not.

### Which is updated more often, The Sandbox Evolution or Little Alchemy 2?

The Sandbox Evolution ships an update every 2 weeks, and Little Alchemy 2 every 4 months. Most recently, The Sandbox Evolution was updated on October 27, 2026 and Little Alchemy 2 on October 28, 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.*