# Digger Machine vs Lava Rush

The clearest difference is rating: Lava Rush at 5.0 against Digger Machine's 4.5. Lava Rush also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 3 months). Digger Machine's advantage is ratings volume (351 vs 1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Digger Machine sells 9 one-off in-app purchases and Lava Rush sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Lava Rush holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Digger Machine has 351 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Digger Machine ships an update every 3 months, Lava Rush every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on November 11, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Digger Machine | Lava Rush |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (351 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/digger-machine-dig-minerals/id996857258/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lava-rush/id6749466028/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **351** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 79.2% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 104 MB | 256 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Dariusz Mazur](https://appshunter.io/developer/829907063) | [Riddh Ramburuth](https://appshunter.io/developer/1788549547) |

## What reviewers say

### Digger Machine

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/digger-machine-dig-minerals/id996857258)

Embark on an arcade adventure to unearth valuable minerals like gold and diamonds. Upgrade your digging machine, build bases, and navigate treacherous mines filled with traps and bosses. Collect and sell 50 types of minerals to enhance your equipment and become the ultimate miner.

**Highlights:** Dig for 50 types of minerals, Upgrade digging machine, Build bases, Navigate 3 underground mines, Complete missions, Use 6 special actions

**In-app purchases (9)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Small Diamond Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| Diamond Pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Time limited custom pack | $2.99 | one-time |
| Good and valuable starter pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Big Diamond Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| 50% off - Best available sale! | $6.99 | one-time |
| Golden Diamond Pack | $11.99 | one-time |
| Mega Diamond Pack | $13.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Highly addictive and engaging gameplay
- 👍 Faithful recreation of classic Motherload game
- 📱 Works well on mobile devices
- ⏱️ Great time-killer/casual entertainment
- 💰 Reasonable monetization with minimal ads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Pay-to-win mechanics after initial hours
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 💾 Progress deletion on death or app closure
- 📺 Ad-related issues (black screens, fake X buttons)
- ⚠️ Game-breaking gem loss bug

**Reported bugs**

- Game crashes when typing feedback
- Progress deleted on death despite save system
- Black screen after watching ads for revival
- Gems consumed without unlocking base
- Player stuck in rocks with no escape

**Requested features**

- Character customization options
- Ability to dig upward
- More levels/content
- Map feature
- Confirmation dialog for restart button


### Lava Rush

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lava-rush/id6749466028)

Drill through enemies and create lava trails in this fast-paced 2D roguelike action game. Collect plasma to upgrade your drill and unlock permanent enhancements for endless, procedurally generated runs. Master unique combat and daily challenges to climb the leaderboards.

**Highlights:** Drill through enemies, Create lava trails, Collect plasma for upgrades, Procedurally generated stages, Daily challenges, Leaderboard competition

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pile of Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bag of Gems | $2.99 | one-time |
| Ember Bundle | $2.99 | one-time |
| Chest of Gems | $6.99 | one-time |
| Blazing Bundle | $8.99 | one-time |
| Vault of Gems | $14.99 | one-time |
| Inferno Bundle | $20.99 | one-time |
| Lava Bundle | $44.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Digger Machine free?

Digger Machine is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Lava Rush free?

Lava Rush is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Digger Machine or Lava Rush?

Lava Rush is rated higher. Digger Machine averages 4.5 out of 5 from 351 ratings, while Lava Rush averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Digger Machine or Lava Rush have ads?

Both Digger Machine and Lava Rush show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Digger Machine or Lava Rush?

Digger Machine ships an update every 3 months, and Lava Rush every 2 days. Most recently, Digger Machine was updated on November 11, 2026 and Lava Rush on October 30, 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.*