# Swap Sword > Tactical match-3 puzzle battle with spells and treasure collection. (iPhone/iPad app by Alec Thomson.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swap-sword/id1069162618 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Alec Thomson](https://appshunter.io/developer/543006583) - Category: Games, Puzzle, Strategy - Price: $2.99 - Rating: 4.40/5 from 87 App Store ratings · 48 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 9+ - Requires: iOS 6.0 · 81 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2016-11-28 - Data updated: 2026-09-03 - Monetization: free - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swap-sword/id1069162618/reviews.md ## What is Swap Sword? It’s Swap Sword! A knife-sharp puzzle battle from the creators of Stellar Smooch and Sunburn! Match gems and snatch up coins, but watch out for angry frogs!! In Swap Sword, you’ll need to out-smart and out-slice your enemies on a battlefield that changes with every step. It’s the right mix of tactics, spells, and match-3 madness. Will you be able to draw your sword before you draw your last breath? UNSHEATH YOUR WITS - Swap to kill, match to dispatch, but don’t get caught with your sword down. CAST AWAY FEAR - Build a custom arsenal of spells to defeat your monstrous opponents and march toward victory. TRAVEL THE WORLD - Journey through mines, valleys, and beyond — each space filled with unique features and clever opponents waiting to strike you down. REAP GOLDEN REWARDS - Collect treasure, amass points, and compare your score with friends. Swap Sword was created by AP Thomson and Diego Garcia. --- Praise for Swap Sword! --- “This game is packed with the good stuff.” - App Advice “I’ve played this game more than any other this year. Please send help.” - Bennett Foddy, Creator of QWOP and Professor of Game Design at NYU. ## Key features - Gem matching and coin collection - Strategic sword swapping - Customizable spell arsenal - World exploration with unique features - Score comparison with friends ## Chart rankings - #197 in Top Paid · Puzzle (US App Store) ## Recent user reviews (10 of 48) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swap-sword/id1069162618/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Awesome, still works great! *2023-05-13* This old game still plays fantastic on my new phone. No issues. Super user friendly UI, and no ads or IAP. Small file size and good on battery. I don’t agree with other reviews saying it’s too easy or that it lacks content. Strategy and luck have to align just right for you to win. I’ve come close but haven’t won yet. The brilliance of this game is that it tracks two high scores: a win score, and a death score. So even if you lose, you get a score to try to beat next time. This keeps you motivated. And once you win, you get a high score to try to beat next time you win. So you don’t need more content, as some are wishing it had. I find this game perfect as is. And because it saves at all times, you can just make one move if that’s all you have time for. So you’ll find yourself playing a lot here and there. It’s a perfect filler game for any downtime you have. And because it’s not overly long, it’s not daunting to start over. This is one of those rare perfect games that, old as it is, still looks and works perfectly. I highly recommend this game. It’s a match 3 with light strategy and some luck. Awesome. ### 2/5 — Pretty good... *2020-03-05* But it could be SO MUCH better! Pros: The gameplay is addictive and fun, I love most of the sound effects and graphics and it keeps me on my toes! It never gets boring! Cons: WAY too pricey for what you get, plus It’s not rewarding - at all! No reward for matching 4-5 items, no boosts or power ups to encourage you, and the boosts they DO offer don’t work out very well. There’s only 3 levels and the tutorial could be a little more thorough. Plus, this game WILL make you rage!!!! It’s incredibly frustrating and I hate the sound of being bonked on the head! It gets stressful very quickly! The cons are more annoying nitpicks that should be fixed more than anything, except for the price! Make it a LOT cheaper or add more levels and rewards! At least update the game once in a while! ### 4/5 — Super Premium Spiel *2019-03-06* Ich kann an dem Spiel nicht allzu viel aussetzen. Einmalkauf, keine in-App Käufe, toll gemacht, eine originelle Idee. Allerdings fehlt mir persönlich der Wiederspielwert. Es gibt drei "Welten", mit je 4(?) Leveln und 2 neuen Mechaniken (Wind und Eis) und neuen Gegnern, danach ist das Spiel vorbei und der Highscore zählt. Das war's. Nachdem ich jetzt mehrere Male meinen alten Highscore geknackt habe, hat das Spiel seinen Reiz verloren. Ein paar freischaltbare Charaktere, Level oder sonstiges hätte ich noch schön gefunden. Trotzdem erfrischender Weise ein Premium Spiel ohne Werbung und Schnickschnack, für das vielleicht aber auch 1,99€ gereicht hätten. ### 2/5 — Eh ... ok *2018-02-02* An interesting game at first. But quickly breaks its own rules like the fire enemies not counting as enemies for matching. It probably wasn’t worth the $3. ### 2/5 — Cool Concept *2018-01-09* The concept is pretty cool and fun, but it really isn't enough in itself to be worth it in my opinion. Would be so much nicer if there was a mode where you could use your coins/score to upgrade your weapons/skills/characters/etc. and some kind of unlocks would make it so much better... ### 3/5 — Great core game, lacks content *2017-06-20* Fun twist on Match 3. The playfield is a dungeon map and you can move your character around collecting keys and fighting monsters. But this feels like a prototype. No character progression, only one character, no weapons and very few skills. Doesn't even have rewards for making matches! Each game is a high score run, and once mastered, is pretty easy to accomplish unless you get a string of bad luck. Art is nice and core concept is awesome but needs so much more to make a worthwhile purchase. Swap Sword 2 please!!! ### 2/5 — Not really a fan *2017-05-15* I found the game kind of dull and repetitive--a combination that doesn't work. Look elsewhere for match-3 hybrids. ### 5/5 — Wirklich angenehm *2017-05-11* Ich verstehe nicht, wie ein so gutes, liebevoll gestaltetes und ausgeklügeltes Spiel in den tiefen des App-Store-Kellers versinken kann! Richtig super Spiel! ### 5/5 — Great game *2017-03-15, version 1.2* Fantastic spin on the match three genre with beautiful pixel art. ### 5/5 — Addictive Roguelike Swapper *2017-02-20* This game is super addictive. Once you beat the game, you realize that the score chase is deep and the strategy is deeper than it first appears. You'll find yourself compulsively playing "just one more run" over and over. This is a perfect bus/train game. I love it! ## Frequently asked questions about Swap Sword ### What is Swap Sword? Swap Sword is a puzzle battle game where players match gems, collect coins, and strategically swap to defeat enemies. It combines elements of match-3 gameplay with tactical combat and spell casting. ### What are the key features of Swap Sword? Key features include gem matching for combat and coin collection, strategic sword swapping to outmaneuver opponents, a customizable spell arsenal to defeat monsters, and world exploration with unique challenges and clever enemies. ### Is Swap Sword free to play? Yes, Swap Sword is free to play. The provided information indicates it does not have in-app purchases or ads, suggesting a completely free experience. ### What kind of opponents will I face in Swap Sword? You will face various monstrous opponents across different environments. These enemies are designed to be clever and strike you down, requiring strategic thinking and the use of your spells and swapping abilities to overcome them. ### Can I compare my progress with others? Yes, Swap Sword allows you to compare your scores with friends. This feature encourages friendly competition and provides a way to track your achievements and see how you stack up against others. ## Version history (last 3 releases) ### 1.2 — 2016-12-20 This update from Apple will improve the functionality of this app. No new features are included. - iMessage Sticker Pack! - Trophies and rankings for when you complete a game! ### 1.1 — 2016-11-30 Fixed audio bug that caused background audio to have lower volume when the game begins. ### 1.0 — 2016-11-28 No release notes. ## Apps similar to Swap Sword | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Dicey Dungeons](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dicey-dungeons/id1368013995) | 4.6 (220) | $4.99 | Games | | [Nubby's Number Factory](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nubbys-number-factory/id6746919411) | 4.7 (312) | $4.99 | Games | | [Kaiju Attack](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kaiju-attack/id1601667026) | 4.6 (444) | $2.99 | Games | | [Blacken Slash](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blacken-slash/id1604646442) | 4.8 (60) | $4.99 | Games | | [Vactics](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vactics/id1561887778) | 4.1 (54) | Free | Games | | [Merge Maestro](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merge-maestro/id6670491302) | 4.8 (138) | Free | Games | ## More apps by Alec Thomson - [Stellar Smooch](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stellar-smooch/id931063942) - [Beglitched](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/beglitched/id1016066735) - [Stair Free](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stair-free/id1029090030) All apps by Alec Thomson: https://appshunter.io/developer/543006583 ## Related topics [alec thomson](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/alec-thomson) --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-03.*