# Raider vs Ascender

The clearest difference is rating: Ascender at 4.9 against Raider's 4.4. Ascender also leads on review sentiment (98% vs 78%) and ratings volume (156 vs 27). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Ascender holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Ascender has 156 ratings behind it against 27, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 78% of Raider's written reviews are positive against 98% of Ascender's.

Raider ships an update every 9 days, Ascender weekly. Both last shipped on September 29, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Raider | Ascender |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raider/id993500630/reviews) | **[4.9 (156 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascender/id1642885179/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 27 | **156** |
| Positive reviews | 77.8% of reviews | **98.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 521 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | **10.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Amir Lari](https://appshunter.io/developer/993500629) | [Peter Moyle](https://appshunter.io/developer/1642885181) |

## What reviewers say

### Raider

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/raider/id993500630)

Pilot a spacecraft through dangerous caverns, engaging in intense combat to infiltrate a mining installation and stop an invasion. Master evasive maneuvers, upgrade weapons, and explore ever-changing levels to achieve the highest score.

**Highlights:** Turbo-charged piloting with evasive maneuvers, Ever-changing cavern levels, Crystal collection for high scores, Weapon power-ups, Infiltrate enemy installations

**Features:** Game Controller support, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Ascender

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ascender/id1642885179)

Embark on an 8-bit arcade adventure, ascending from an abyss. Navigate treacherous terrain, defeat enemies, and manage your engine's heat. Experience thrilling gameplay with retro graphics and sound, aiming for the highest score.

**Highlights:** Retro arcade graphics and sound, 1000m of level design, Easy mobile controls, Quick start checkpoints, 3 Game modes, Game Center leaderboards

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 No ads or in-app purchases
- 🎨 Retro aesthetic and pixel art style
- ⚙️ Simple yet engaging gameplay mechanics
- 🎯 Challenging but fair difficulty balance
- 🏆 Multiple game modes (Classic, Survival, Time Trial)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📏 Control buttons positioned too close together and far left
- ⏱️ Limited content - single level with three play modes
- 🎮 Controls occasionally unresponsive or don't register
- 😞 Game is too short for some players
- 🔧 Input detection issues causing unexpected deaths

**Reported bugs**

- Controls don't register sometimes causing flight or fire errors
- Input detection issues leading to unexpected deaths

**Requested features**

- Sequel or Part 2 with more levels
- Progress saving functionality
- Additional levels and content
- Adjustable button sizes
- Discord server for community


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Raider free?

Raider is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Ascender free?

Ascender is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Raider or Ascender?

Ascender is rated higher. Raider averages 4.4 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while Ascender averages 4.9 from 156 ratings.

### Do Raider or Ascender have ads?

Neither Raider nor Ascender shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Raider or Ascender?

Raider ships an update every 9 days, and Ascender weekly. Most recently, Raider was updated on September 29, 2026 and Ascender on September 29, 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.*