Comparison

Orbit vs Microscopya

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

Microscopya

Embark on a science-themed adventure and puzzle game exploring the intricate world inside a cell. Solve challenges based on real molecular processes, personalize your avatar, and discover the wonders of life's building blocks.

Highlights
  • Cellular exploration
  • Molecular mechanism puzzles
  • Character customization
  • Science-themed adventure
  • Original music score
Features
Read full description

Microscopya is a science-themed adventure and puzzle game taking players on a journey through the inside of the cell. Explore the fantastical world, solve puzzles based on real molecular mechanisms, customize your character, and experience the beauty and complexity of what makes life possible. This is the first game from Beata Science Art, featuring music by the talented Jamie van Dyck of Earthside and programming by Atelier Monarch Studios. Follow @microscopyagame on social media or visit www.microscopya.com to learn more. Special thanks to the American Association for the Advancement of Science and Lyda Hill Philanthropies for making this project possible, and the American Society for Cell Biology for additional funding.

Screenshots

Orbit4 screens
Microscopya4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Microscopya at none against Orbit's 7. Microscopya also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.0). Orbit's advantage is ratings volume (7.6K vs 27) and review sentiment (94% vs 78%). 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. Orbit sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Microscopya asks for nothing beyond the download.

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 27, 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 78% of Microscopya's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Orbit ships an update every 2 months, Microscopya every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and July 19, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
Orbit versus Microscopya: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOrbitMicroscopya
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (7.6K ratings) — better4.6 (27 ratings)
Positive reviews94.4% of reviews — better77.8% of reviews
Number of ratings7.6K — better27
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.011.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size130 MB522 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHIGHKEY GamesBeata Mierzwa

Customer experience

Orbit

All ratings7,554 ratings
Positive97.1%
Neutral1.0%
Negative2.0%
Written reviews620 reviews
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.6%
Negative3.1%

Microscopya

All ratings27 ratings
Positive85.2%
Neutral7.4%
Negative7.4%
Written reviews18 reviews
Positive77.8%
Neutral16.7%
Negative5.6%

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

Microscopya

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
  • Unlock Sandbox (and remove ads)$2.99
  • $5 contribution$4.99
  • $10 contribution$9.99
None

Microscopya

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Orbit free?
Orbit is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Microscopya free?
Microscopya is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Orbit or Microscopya?
Orbit is rated higher. Orbit averages 4.8 out of 5 from 7.6K ratings, while Microscopya averages 4.6 from 27 ratings.
Do Orbit or Microscopya have ads?
Neither Orbit nor Microscopya shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Orbit or Microscopya?
Orbit ships an update every 2 months, and Microscopya every 2 days. Most recently, Orbit was updated on September 25, 2026 and Microscopya on July 19, 2026.

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