Comparison

Innerstellar vs Classic Maelstrom

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

Head to head
About

Innerstellar

Navigate through a cosmic landscape, strategically avoiding colored portals while seeking out black portals to advance. Experience a unique musical journey with a soundtrack by AIRGLOW.

Highlights
  • Portal avoidance gameplay
  • Black portal collection
  • Cosmic travel theme
  • Original soundtrack by AIRGLOW
Features
Read full description

Travel through Innerstellar. Avoid All Colored Portals. Enter Black Portals. Music By AIRGLOW

About

Classic Maelstrom

Experience a fast-paced, retro arcade shooter with classic pixel graphics and authentic sounds. Enjoy cooperative and competitive multiplayer modes, along with modern touch and controller support. Discover hidden secrets and challenge yourself with unique game modes.

Highlights
  • Fast-action gameplay
  • Classic pixel graphics
  • Original sounds
  • Cooperative multiplayer
  • Competitive multiplayer
  • Mobile touch controls
  • Game controller support
  • Kid Mode
Features
Read full description

Maelstrom is a licensed open source port of the original shareware game for the Macintosh by Ambrosia Software, Inc. It is a fast-action, asteroids-like game, with classic pixel graphics and original sounds. In addition to being a faithful reproduction of the original game, this version adds game controller support, mobile touch controls, and both cooperative and competitive multiplayer action. Features: Kid Mode Clicking the "kid mode" icon next to the play button will enable an easier play mode which will add the retro-thruster prize and automatically shield you as long as shields are available - but beware the Shenobi ships! Their shots will not trigger the automatic defensive systems. Achievements and high scores are not available while in this mode. Multiplayer You can host or join a multiplayer game from the main menu. Up to three players can play at once, and they can be any combination of other players on the local network, and connected controllers. Easter Eggs The classic easter eggs from the original game are all there, and it's up to you to find them...

Screenshots

Innerstellar4 screens
Classic Maelstrom4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Classic Maelstrom at 5.0 against Innerstellar's 4.0. Classic Maelstrom also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (every 2 days vs every 6 months). Innerstellar's advantage is ratings volume (10 vs 1) and iOS requirement (7.0 vs 15.6). On price, 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. Innerstellar sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Classic Maelstrom asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Classic Maelstrom holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Innerstellar has 10 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Innerstellar ships an update every 6 months, Classic Maelstrom every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Innerstellar versus Classic Maelstrom: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInnerstellarClassic Maelstrom
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (10 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews61.5% of reviews—
Number of ratings10 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 6 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS7.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size64 MB11 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperGalacticThumb Inc.Sam Lantinga

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Innerstellar

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$0.99
None

Classic Maelstrom

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Innerstellar free?
Innerstellar is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Classic Maelstrom free?
Classic Maelstrom is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Innerstellar or Classic Maelstrom?
Classic Maelstrom is rated higher. Innerstellar averages 4.0 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Classic Maelstrom averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Innerstellar or Classic Maelstrom have ads?
Neither Innerstellar nor Classic Maelstrom shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Innerstellar or Classic Maelstrom?
Innerstellar ships an update every 6 months, and Classic Maelstrom every 2 days. Most recently, Innerstellar was updated on October 20, 2026 and Classic Maelstrom on October 31, 2026.

Other comparisons