Verithiathe honest score on any app
Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
Head-to-head

Alliance vs Metalstorm

Alliance 4.6★ · Free + IAP 65
Winner Metalstorm
Metalstorm 4.8★ · Free + IAP 80

Metalstorm offers a more polished and actively updated experience with better controls and graphics, making it the superior choice for most players, despite its aggressive monetization.

Full reviews: Alliance · Metalstorm

Metalstorm generally provides a more engaging and visually impressive air combat experience with smoother controls and consistent updates. Alliance, while praised for its realism and graphics, suffers from outdated content, frustrating tilt controls, and a restrictive fuel system.

Head to head

Graphics and Realism tieR5R11R17R32
Alliance Alliance is frequently praised for its excellent graphics quality, realistic physics, and detailed airplane designs, with some users comparing it favorably to War Thunder R5R11R17R32.
Metalstorm Metalstorm also receives high marks for its very good graphics, well-designed planes, and polished visuals, with some users feeling it's like a mobile DCS R68.
Controls and Gameplay edge: MetalstormR1R13R16R22
Alliance Alliance's controls are a major point of contention, with many users disliking the mandatory tilt controls, finding them difficult to aim with, stressful on the arm, and requesting joystick or controller support R1R13R16R22.
Metalstorm Metalstorm's controls are generally described as smooth, easy to pick up, and balanced in difficulty, with good controller support R66R76. However, some users report bugs with specific jet controls or issues with evasion mechanics .
Content and Updates edge: MetalstormR3R12R14R15
Alliance Alliance users frequently complain about a lack of new content and long-awaited "coming soon" campaigns that have not materialized for years, leading to the game feeling boring and repetitive R3R12R14R15.
Metalstorm Metalstorm is praised for constant updates and improvements, though recent updates have been criticized for adding too much complexity, ruining matchmaking, and making the game less enjoyable for some long-time players .
Monetization and Progression tieR4R7R8R10
Alliance Alliance is heavily criticized for being a "money hungry app" and a "micro transaction nightmare," with expensive planes, skins, and a restrictive "fuel tank" system that limits playtime unless users pay R4R7R8R10.
Metalstorm Metalstorm is also widely criticized for being a "pay to win" or "money grab" game, with slow progression, expensive jets, and a battle pass system that doesn't allow players to earn enough currency for the next pass, forcing continuous spending .
Reliability and Support tieR31R38R54R60
Alliance Alliance users report issues with freezing, lagging, and glitches, including a bug where the plane stops moving R31R38R54. One user also reported not receiving items after purchasing a supporter package R60.
Metalstorm Metalstorm users frequently experience server issues, connection problems, lag, and being kicked out of matches . Some also report bugs with specific jet functionalities or parts diminishing after updates .
Matchmaking and Fairness edge: AllianceR18R43R61R66
Alliance Alliance reviews do not extensively cover matchmaking, but some mention a lack of allied fighters in missions R18 and a desire for more competitive skills R43.
Metalstorm Metalstorm faces significant criticism for unfair matchmaking, with new players being matched against high-level, experienced players with superior aircraft, leading to frustration and accusations of rigged games R61. Some users also report players intentionally throwing matches R66.
Pick Alliance if

You are a patient player who values realistic physics and graphics above all else, and you don't mind the tilt controls or the slow pace of content updates R5R11R41. You are also willing to tolerate a restrictive fuel system or pay to bypass it R8.

Pick Metalstorm if

You prioritize smooth controls, consistent updates, and a generally polished air combat experience . You are comfortable with aggressive monetization and a potentially slow progression, or you are willing to spend money to advance .

Evidence note: Reviews for both apps are heavily skewed towards monetization complaints and control issues. Metalstorm's recent reviews show a significant decline in user satisfaction due to perceived developer greed and unfair matchmaking, despite its higher lifetime rating.

Frequently asked

Do Alliance and Metalstorm have controller support?
Metalstorm offers controller support, which users appreciate for better gameplay R76. Alliance, however, is widely criticized for lacking controller support and forcing tilt controls, with many users requesting this feature R9R13R36.
Are there free-to-play options in Alliance or Metalstorm?
Both Alliance and Metalstorm are free to download and play, but both are heavily criticized for aggressive in-app purchases and pay-to-win mechanics that significantly hinder free progression R7R10R28R52. Alliance uses a "fuel tank" system that limits playtime unless you pay, while Metalstorm has slow progression and a battle pass that requires continuous spending R10.
Which game has better graphics?
Both games are praised for their excellent graphics. Alliance is noted for its impressive graphics quality and realistic designs R5R41R49, while Metalstorm also receives high marks for very good graphics and well-designed planes R68.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R5] Alliance 5/5 · US Outstanding representative of air combat games: I am a gamer from China who tried this game upon a friend's recommendation. It is called "Air Combat League" in China. I was deeply impressed by its excellent graphics quality when I first played it. When I learned about the actual number of game developers, I was even more amazed. The game's operation and fluency are unprecedented. If I really have
  2. [R11] Alliance 5/5 · US It is just to good: It is good because it mach real life physics, it Mach real lives airplane.
  3. [R17] Alliance 5/5 · US Very realistic: Good designs just why do I have to pay money for skins great combat action
  4. [R32] Alliance 4/5 · US Wow: Hi:) this game is PEAK at its PEAK. There could be some improvements like if you could land on aircraft carriers or drive ships and maybe reque in the same lobby but overall graphics, game modes, and planes are top notch. Great game, even close to War Thunder at its peak :)
  5. [R1] Alliance 1/5 · US Fix the mechanics: The way how you fly sucks were you have to point your phone to move it puts a lot of stress in my arm and I’m trying to rest my arm and because of that I’m not even able to do anything in the game it’s hard to even hit your shots
  6. [R13] Alliance 1/5 · US Scammy and AI: Remove the tilt controls pls and add joysticks this game sucks
  7. [R16] Alliance 2/5 · US Cool idea but super hard!: I really like the concept of the game where you move your device to control the plane but it is really difficult to aim in this game.Can you please make it so you can change controls to move.
  8. [R22] Alliance 1/5 · US Horrible: Impossible to play without a gyroscope; it's everywhere. Also, add Russian language to the game. · translated
  9. [R3] Alliance 3/5 · US Fun to play..but no updates for a long time..: This game is fun to play. The graphics and game play are very good. I Stopped paying for the monthly extra though because the “coming soon” campaigns have never come after at least 3 years…
  10. [R12] Alliance 3/5 · US Great game but: When will you add the modes that say coming soon, I’ve been waiting for over 3 years.
  11. [R14] Alliance 5/5 · US Freaking Awesome but needs improvements: 1st please can you have the Coming Soon on the game asap and add more than that like the battle of midway and all WWII Wars And The Naval wars and put Naval ships on. 2nd Can you downsize the cost of the Jets and Ships To A number 000AC instead of a number 0000 or 00000 AC And make the Jets and ships Paint jobs free or at least a number 00 AC and can you m
  12. [R15] Alliance 3/5 · US It is ok: The game gets boring fast due to the missions being pretty much the same
  13. [R4] Alliance 1/5 · US used to be good, turned mid: ruined it when they added “fuel tanks”
  14. [R7] Alliance 1/5 · US No Thanks: Micro transaction nightmare. Need to pay money to play missions. I’ll move on.
  15. [R8] Alliance 4/5 · US Fun game: I can’t complain it’s a fun game and it’s clear the developers care about making it better. Just a few little things that would make the gameplay more fun like health regeneration after a couple squadron rounds. And it’s definitely a money hungry app but it doesn’t have many adds so it balances out
  16. [R10] Alliance 2/5 · US Good game but one problem…: I like the game with the shooting and all but the amount of gas tanks are crazy. You need to make it more then 3 gas tanks! You NEED at least unlimited fuel for more reviews. Please make it more gas tanks! I don’t like that you need to wait close to an hour for there to be 3, which is a crazy amount of time. In that time I can make my own game!!! Make it MORE gas! PLEAS
  17. [R31] Alliance 2/5 · US Fix bugs: Game is fun until it’s freezes you out when you try to use diamonds to respawn right away. Have had to restart multiple times
  18. [R38] Alliance 1/5 · US Not good: It keeps lagging and people keep hacking by flying tanks plz be better
  19. [R54] Alliance 1/5 · GB Plane has stopped moving?: Was fine the other week but now the jet just doesn’t move at all?
  20. [R60] Alliance 1/5 · GB What a scam: I bought the silver early supporter package and it won’t give me what I payed for
  21. [R18] Alliance 3/5 · GB Good but can be better: Other fighters on our side is quite less and when they destroyed, new ones doesn't deploy. We should select how many planes we can get with us to field. You can make a menu about it, customize the fields, enemies and allies etc... And please put flares for rockets. I don't know how can I run away every time when 5 fighters attacks me in the same time.
  22. [R43] Alliance 5/5 · US Fun is when you know the game is competitive: Feels like i can master some competitive skills here that are needed for good brain development
  23. [R61] Metalstorm 1/5 · US Bots either are great or suck: The bots in the game are either great or suck. How do bots for one team get 3, 4, and 5 kills and bots for another team get 0 kills. The devs are gaming the matches so you lose!!!!!!
  24. [R66] Metalstorm 3/5 · US Throwing matches: This game is great. Planes have a lot of detail and the controls are easy. It can be a little grind-heavy at times. The biggest issue is players throwing matches because they don’t like someone’s tag. I’ve noticed that in matches where anything negative-Palestine, pro-Israel, anti-Trump, pro-military, etc., is used as a name/tag, some players refuse to play and just fly around ai
  25. [R9] Alliance 3/5 · US Please let game controlers in: Good but game controlers have to be added
  26. [R36] Alliance 1/5 · US Really: I wanted to actually play and enjoy this but no controller support.
  27. [R76] Metalstorm 2/5 · US Very Fun: This game is engaging, super fun, and controller compatible.
  28. [R28] Alliance 1/5 · US WAY TO EXPENSIVE: The game is great and all, good game. But one plane SHOULD NOT cost 7 dollars. It is too pricey for a mobile game (Besides war thunder). I personally won’t be using the app for a while because it is too expensive (Yes I know I said that a lot of times)
  29. [R52] Alliance 1/5 · GB Not bad: Would give it 5 stars but it’s very pay to win, fuel cost actual money. Not my thing.
  30. [R41] Alliance 5/5 · US W game: The graphics of this game are unreal plus it feels like your actually flying the fighter jet. 5/5
  31. [R49] Alliance 5/5 · US Best game: This is so realictic the graphics are insane nice job for the developers u should denintly get this
  32. [R68] Metalstorm 5/5 · US AMAZING but…: It’s an amazing game my entire family (except for my mom) plays it and we have soooooooooo much fun and it has very good graphics and doesn’t glitch that much But (for the developers) can u add the new us f-47

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store