Comparison

Pluto Patrol vs Defender 1

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

Head to head
About

Pluto Patrol

Pilot a space buggy across Pluto's challenging terrain, dodging obstacles and battling enemies. This arcade-style game offers updated graphics and controls for a modern retro experience.

Highlights
  • Navigate 75 checkpoints across 3 levels
  • Avoid holes, rocks, land mines, and meteors
  • Battle tanks, hovercars, boulders, and UFOs
  • Updated graphics and controls
  • Classic arcade gameplay
Features
Read full description

Pluto Patrol is an homage to the arcade classic Moon Patrol, one of the greatest games of all time. Navigate your space buggy across the harsh and desolate landscapes of Pluto, avoiding obstacles while fighting off enemies out to destroy you. Only the most vigilant will survive! • Drive your way through 75 checkpoints across 3 levels, with new challenges at each stage. • Deftly avoid holes, rocks, land mines, and even falling meteors. • Fight your way through tanks, hovercars, rolling boulders, and multiple types of UFOs. • Enjoy updated graphics and controls for a modern take on classic gameplay.

About

Defender 1

Relive a classic arcade experience by defending astronauts from alien abduction and destroying enemy ships. Be careful not to harm the astronauts, as their safety is crucial to preventing planetary destruction and mutant alien transformations.

Highlights
  • Defend astronauts from aliens
  • Obliterate enemy spaceships
  • Avoid friendly fire
  • Prevent planetary explosion
  • Mutant alien transformations
Features
Read full description

DEFENDER 1 brings the excitement of classic 1980s arcade action to your mobile device! Take control of your spacecraft and defend the planet from relentless waves of alien invaders. Your mission is simple—but surviving it won't be. Protect the astronauts on the planet's surface as alien Landers attempt to abduct them. Destroy the enemy ships, rescue the astronauts, and watch your fire—an astronaut caught in the crossfire is one less person you can save. Fail to protect the astronauts and the consequences are catastrophic: the planet will be destroyed and the surviving aliens will transform into deadly Mutants! Battle a variety of enemies, master fast-paced arcade combat, and push your skills to the limit as the action becomes increasingly intense. Features include: Classic arcade-inspired space combat Fast-paced alien battles Astronaut rescue missions Multiple enemy types with different behaviors Touch controls and game controller support Customizable gamepad controls High-score tracking Retro-inspired graphics and gameplay Defend the astronauts. Destroy the invaders. Save the planet. How long can you survive in DEFENDER 1?

Screenshots

Pluto Patrol4 screens
Defender 14 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Pluto Patrol at Free against Defender 1's $2.99. Pluto Patrol also leads on review sentiment (63% vs 31%) and update cadence (every 6 months vs every 38 months). On rating, ads, in-app purchases 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

Pluto Patrol is free to download; Defender 1 costs $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 3.6 for Pluto Patrol against 3.5 for Defender 1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pluto Patrol has 14 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 63% of Pluto Patrol's written reviews are positive against 31% of Defender 1's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pluto Patrol ships an update every 6 months, Defender 1 every 38 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Pluto Patrol versus Defender 1: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPluto PatrolDefender 1
PriceFree — better$2.99
Rating3.6 (14 ratings) — better3.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews63.2% of reviews — better31.0% of reviews
Number of ratings14 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 6 months — betterEvery 38 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS8.1 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size218 MB45 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperErik HinterbichlerAPD Consulting, Inc.

Customer experience

Pluto Patrol

All ratings14 ratings
Positive57.1%
Neutral7.1%
Negative35.7%
Written reviews19 reviews
Positive63.2%
Neutral5.3%
Negative31.6%

Defender 1

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews71 reviews
Positive31.0%
Neutral4.2%
Negative64.8%

Bugs and requests

Pluto Patrol

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Defender 1

Reported bugs

7 issues
  • No sound on iPad
  • No sound on iPhone
  • Intermittent sound
  • App crashes often
  • Enemies don't move
Show 2 more
  • Ship doesn't continue moving after thrusters stop
  • Lasers don't react properly when changing direction

Requested features

10 requests
  • Update to fix sound issues
  • Update to fix crashing
  • Enable game controller support
  • Improve control responsiveness
  • Adjust control spacing
Show 5 more
  • Add vertical-only joystick option
  • Add tilt control for travel motion
  • Add separate button for direction change
  • Add more stages
  • Improve graphics (less pixelated)

In-app purchases

None

Pluto Patrol

No in-app purchases

None

Defender 1

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pluto Patrol free?
Pluto Patrol is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Defender 1 free?
Defender 1 costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pluto Patrol or Defender 1?
Pluto Patrol is rated higher. Pluto Patrol averages 3.6 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Defender 1 averages 3.5 from 2 ratings.
Do Pluto Patrol or Defender 1 have ads?
Neither Pluto Patrol nor Defender 1 shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pluto Patrol or Defender 1?
Pluto Patrol ships an update every 6 months, and Defender 1 every 38 months. Most recently, Pluto Patrol was updated on October 24, 2026 and Defender 1 on October 29, 2026.

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