VERSUS vs A Study in Steampunk
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VERSUS
Become an interstellar warrior who steals alien powers and memories to survive on a hostile planet. Your choices shape the narrative in this text-based adventure, where you can fight, seduce, or manipulate your way to escape.
- Steal alien powers
- Absorb alien memories
- Text-based interactive novel
- Choice-driven narrative
- Romance options
- Moral ambiguity
- Multiple character identities
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Steal alien powers and absorb their memories! Can you outlast your opponents to escape from planet Versus? "VERSUS: The Lost Ones" is a thrilling 123,000-word interactive novel, the first in a new series, by Zachary Sergi, author of our best-selling "Heroes Rise" trilogy. Your choices control the story. It's entirely text-based--without graphics or sound effects--and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination. Become an interstellar warrior, gifted with the power to ransack the thoughts and abilities of others. Transported to an unfamiliar world beyond your wildest dreams, you must invade the minds of your fellow captives to survive. Seduce Lady Venuma, a self-proclaimed goddess, or clash with Empress Vaccus, a tusked monster and the sworn enemy of your home world. Triumph in gladiatorial combat, or in the deadly politics of planet Versus. Absorb the right talents, and you just might save the galaxy! • Fight for humans or androids in a morally ambiguous civil war • Play as male, female, transgender, intersex, or a non-categorizable gender identity • Subvert the corrupt Elite Courte, or join them to suppress rebellion • Romance aliens, crossbreeds, and intergalactic royalty, or go it alone--the choice is yours • Dive into a sci-fi hybrid of space operas, futuristic dystopias, fantasy epics, and political chess
A Study in Steampunk
Embark on an epic text-based mystery novel set in a steampunk world. Your choices shape the narrative, allowing you to explore themes of science, sorcery, romance, and espionage. Will you defend the Empire or plot its downfall?
- Text-based interactive novel
- Branching narrative choices
- Steampunk and sorcery themes
- Romance options
- Multiple character endings
- Inspired by classic literature
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Steam-powered mechs meet forbidden sorcery! Inspired by Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, Jekyll & Hyde, and Jack the Ripper, "A Study in Steampunk: Choice by Gaslight" is an epic 277,000-word interactive mystery novel by Heather Albano, co-author of "Choice of Broadsides," "Choice of Zombies," and "Choice of Romance: Affairs of the Court." Your choices control the story. It's entirely text-based--without graphics or sound effects--and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination. The game is afoot! In a world of gaslit streets, mysteriously long-lived foreign nobles, and master criminals, will you defend your Empire from spies or overthrow it from within? Advocate science and reason or learn forbidden magic? Romance men, women, both, or neither? End as a healer, a freedom fighter, a vigilante, or a traitor? The fate of the Empire is in your hands!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: A Study in Steampunk at none against VERSUS's 1. VERSUS's advantage is price ($4.99 vs $6.99). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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
VERSUS costs $4.99 and A Study in Steampunk $6.99 up front. VERSUS sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. A Study in Steampunk asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for VERSUS against 4.7 for A Study in Steampunk. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 163 and 122 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 94% of VERSUS's written reviews are positive against 88% of A Study in Steampunk's.
VERSUS ships an update every 23 months, A Study in Steampunk every 24 months. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | VERSUS | A Study in Steampunk |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 — better | $6.99 |
| Rating | 4.8 (163 ratings) — better | 4.7 (122 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 94.1% of reviews — better | 88.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 163 — better | 122 |
| Update frequency | Every 23 months — better | Every 24 months |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 29 MB | 31 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Choice of Games LLC | Hosted Games LLC |
Customer experience
VERSUS
A Study in Steampunk
User reviews
VERSUS
From 163 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Engaging story
- 👍 Diverse characters and choices
- 💡 Unique and imaginative world
- 🚀 Excellent writing and world-building
- 👍 Meaningful choices with consequences
Room to improve
- 🐛 Occasional confusing or overly wordy passages
- 🐛 Slow pacing or excessive worldbuilding in early chapters
- 🔍 Lack of character development for some side characters
A Study in Steampunk
From 122 App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 📖 Engaging and well-written story
- 🎭 Deep character development
- 🔄 High replayability with divergent outcomes
- 🌍 Richly detailed world-building
- 💡 Meaningful choices that impact the narrative
Room to improve
- 🙅♂️ Male protagonist only (major complaint)
- ❓ Lack of clear gender choice in description
- ⚙️ Display options not functioning properly (minor bug)
Bugs and requests
VERSUS
Reported bugs
2 issues- Occasional glitches or crashes
- Compatibility issues on older devices
Requested features
3 requests- Faster release of sequel
- More character customization options
- Deeper romantic storylines
A Study in Steampunk
Reported bugs
1 issue- Display options not functioning properly
Requested features
4 requests- Option to play as a female character
- Update description to include gender limitation
- Sequel/prequel in the same universe
- Option to ride in a steampunk Mecha
In-app purchases
VERSUS
- WorningBird Hints$0.99
A Study in Steampunk
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is VERSUS free?
Is A Study in Steampunk free?
Which has better reviews, VERSUS or A Study in Steampunk?
Do VERSUS or A Study in Steampunk have ads?
Which is updated more often, VERSUS or A Study in Steampunk?
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