Comparison

Orbit vs Shatterbrain

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

Head to head
About

Orbit

This app is a meditative physics puzzler where you launch planets to create stable orbits around black holes. Explore a variety of levels, create your own challenges in a sandbox mode, and enjoy a visually artistic and relaxing experience.

Highlights
  • Gravity simulation puzzles
  • Create stable orbits
  • Sandbox mode for level creation
  • Community-created levels
  • Visual orbital mechanics
  • Minimalist graphics and relaxing music
Features
Read full description

ORBIT is a gravity simulator at the heart of a puzzle game. Launch planets with a flick of your finger, and try to get them into stable orbits around black holes. Can you make enough orbits to progress to the next level? New: ORBIT now features a Sandbox (paid) where you can create your own levels! Control time, disable collisions, and paint with gravity. Publish your creations to the world for everyone to play. • 45 free levels, with new mechanics are introduced over time — like repulsive black holes and planets with their own gravity that attract each other • Play community-created levels — virtually limitless content made by other players, all completely free • Launch as many planets as you like, and watch the mesmerizing orbital mechanics unfold • Planets leave colored traces, so that at the end of a level you will have created a beautiful piece of art • See the future trajectory of a planet before you launch it • Play in an environment of smooth, minimalist graphics while listening to relaxing classical piano Follow on Twitter: https://twitter.com/highkeygames Follow on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/highkeygames

About

Shatterbrain

Engage in challenging physics puzzles by drawing shapes to find solutions. Discover multiple ways to solve each level and compete on leaderboards for the best performance. This game is designed for those who enjoy brain teasers and applying physics principles.

Highlights
  • Dozens of physics puzzles
  • Multiple solutions per puzzle
  • Leaderboard competition
  • Draw shapes to solve
  • Challenging gameplay
Features
Read full description

Draw shapes to solve challenging physics puzzles. From the creator of the #1 hit puzzle game, Brain It On! ◆ Dozens of brain busting physics puzzles, with more being added all the time ◆ Multiple ways to solve each puzzle, can you find the best solution? ◆ Compete on the leaderboards for the fastest time or best solution If you enjoy brain games, have a knack for following the laws of physics, and enjoy making things shatter, then this puzzle game is for you. It's easy to learn but hard to master and will get you thinking outside the box in no time! Draw a dot, draw a line, draw whatever you need to solve the puzzle and shatter the shapes. If you like Shatterbrain, please rate it and leave a comment. Your support is greatly appreciated. If you don't like something, please email me at support@orbitalnine.com. I want to hear your feedback and comments so I can improve Shatterbrain and turn it into a hit. You can find me on Twitter at @orbitalnine, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/shatterbrain, or my website: http://orbitalnine.com I hope you enjoy Shatterbrain!

Screenshots

Orbit4 screens
Shatterbrain4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Orbit at every 2 months against Shatterbrain's every 11 months. Orbit also leads on rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (7.6K vs 437). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Orbit sells 7 one-off in-app purchases and Shatterbrain sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Orbit holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Orbit has 7.6K ratings behind it against 437, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 94% of Orbit's written reviews are positive against 86% of Shatterbrain's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Orbit ships an update every 2 months, Shatterbrain every 11 months. Both last shipped on October 22, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Orbit versus Shatterbrain: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOrbitShatterbrain
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (7.6K ratings) — better4.6 (437 ratings)
Positive reviews94.4% of reviews — better86.0% of reviews
Number of ratings7.6K — better437
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 11 months
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size137 MB112 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHIGHKEY GamesOrbital Nine Games Inc

Customer experience

Orbit

All ratings7,603 ratings
Positive97.0%
Neutral1.0%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews626 reviews
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.6%
Negative3.0%

Shatterbrain

All ratings437 ratings
Positive91.5%
Neutral3.9%
Negative4.6%
Written reviews164 reviews
Positive86.0%
Neutral4.3%
Negative9.8%

User reviews

Orbit

From 7.6K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fire game
  • 👍 Relaxing and Enjoyable
  • 👍 Calming, fun, stimulating, humble
  • 👍 Simple and yet complicated
  • 👍 Elegant and easy

Room to improve

  • 🐛 In app purchased not reicevied
  • 🐛 Purchase didn't work for sandbox & ad removal but it's fun.
  • 🔒 Be ware of your data
  • 🐛 Love-hate

Shatterbrain

From 437 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Relaxing challenge
  • 🚀 Elegant and challenging physics-based puzzles
  • 👍 Enjoyable and addictive gameplay
  • 👍 Stimulates the mind
  • 👍 Reasonable ad implementation

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes or freezes
  • 🔍 Lack of instructions or guidance
  • 🔍 Difficulty progressing without 3-starring levels
  • 🔍 Some levels too easy or too difficult

Bugs and requests

Orbit

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • In app purchase not received
  • Sandbox mode not working
  • Game crashing and unable to open

Requested features

6 requests
  • Dark mode option
  • Ability to zoom in and out
  • Ability to rotate the game to landscape on iPad
  • Ability to edit and move existing objects in sandbox mode
  • Ability to name planets and add moons
Show 1 more
  • More levels and game modes

Shatterbrain

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Freezing or crashing on certain levels
  • Issues with drawing/controls not registering properly

Requested features

3 requests
  • More levels and content updates
  • Ability to skip levels without 3 stars
  • Customizable hint/solution system

In-app purchases

7 purchases

Orbit

One-time7
  • $1 contribution$0.99
  • Remove ads$0.99
  • $2 contribution$1.99
Show 4 more
  • $3 contribution$2.99
  • Orbit Pro$2.99
  • $5 contribution$4.99
  • $10 contribution$9.99
1 purchases

Shatterbrain

One-time1
  • Full Game$1.99

Questions

Is Orbit free?
Orbit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Shatterbrain free?
Shatterbrain is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Orbit or Shatterbrain?
Orbit is rated higher. Orbit averages 4.8 out of 5 from 7.6K ratings, while Shatterbrain averages 4.6 from 437 ratings.
Do Orbit or Shatterbrain have ads?
Both Orbit and Shatterbrain show ads.
Which is updated more often, Orbit or Shatterbrain?
Orbit ships an update every 2 months, and Shatterbrain every 11 months. Most recently, Orbit was updated on October 22, 2026 and Shatterbrain on October 22, 2026.

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