# Merchant RPG vs Goblin's Shop

The clearest difference is update cadence: Goblin's Shop at every 3 weeks against Merchant RPG's every 4 months. Goblin's Shop also leads on review sentiment (80% vs 69%). Merchant RPG's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.3) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Merchant RPG sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Goblin's Shop sells 7 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Merchant RPG holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 276 and 193 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of Merchant RPG's written reviews are positive against 80% of Goblin's Shop's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Merchant RPG ships an update every 4 months, Goblin's Shop every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on November 2, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Merchant RPG | Goblin's Shop |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (276 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merchant-rpg/id1035170074/reviews)** | [4.3 (193 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goblins-shop/id1231913615/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **276** | 193 |
| Positive reviews | 68.9% of reviews | **79.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 67 MB | 428 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Retora Game Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/484290233) | [JUNG CHUN HUNG](https://appshunter.io/developer/379851840) |

## What reviewers say

### Merchant RPG

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merchant-rpg/id1035170074)

Manage a fantasy shopkeeping empire by sending heroes on quests for materials and using crafters to create gear. Balance crafting, selling, and hero upgrades to build your trade empire and conquer foes. This offline idle RPG blends tycoon mechanics with traditional RPG elements.

**Highlights:** Send heroes on quests, Craft weapons and armor, Manage shop economy, Upgrade heroes and crafters, Raid bosses, Customize characters

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 16 Inventory Slots | $0.99 | one-time |
| 16 Additional Inventory Slots II | $0.99 | one-time |
| 16 Additional Inventory Slots III | $0.99 | one-time |
| 16 Additional Inventory Slots | $0.99 | one-time |
| Unlock the Jeweler | $0.99 | one-time |
| Hero Slot I | $0.99 | one-time |
| Enchanter Unlock | $1.99 | one-time |
| Frozen Tome Expansion | $2.99 | one-time |
| Scribe Expansion | $3.99 | one-time |
| Unlocks Everything | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Simple yet deep mechanics
- 🎨 Lovely pixel art style
- 💰 Fair monetization model
- ⏱️ Quick progression

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔇 Cuts off background audio
- 🤔 Confusing for new players
- 🤖 Lack of combat animations
- 🧠 Repetitive gameplay loop

**Reported bugs**

- Ads not working properly
- Inventory management issues
- Progression-blocking bugs

**Requested features**

- Add save slots or cloud sync
- Improve equipment visuals
- Implement auto-repeat quests
- Provide more guidance for new players


### Goblin's Shop

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goblins-shop/id1231913615)

Run a fantasy shop in this pixel-art simulation game. Craft weapons, armor, and potions for monsters to help them defeat humans. Embark on RPG adventures to gather materials and upgrade your shop and team.

**Highlights:** Pixel-art simulation gameplay, RPG adventures with monster customers, Craft over 100 items, Customizable shop facilities, Monster skill trees and talents, 44 adventure territories, Multiplayer challenges

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 30 gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Full Version | $2.99 | one-time |
| 200 gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| 450 gems | $9.99 | one-time |
| 1000 gems | $19.99 | one-time |
| 2700 gems | $49.99 | one-time |
| 6000 gems | $99.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Addictive gameplay
- 👍 Unique and charming pixel art style
- 💰 Generous free-to-play model with no paywalls
- 🎮 Satisfying RPG and shop management mechanics
- 🕰 Offline playability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐢 Slow progression and leveling
- 🕹️ Frustrating combat system and AI
- 🏪 Limited shop customization and expansion options
- 🔍 Unclear or missing information on game mechanics
- 🤖 Buggy and unstable at times

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes and freezes during gameplay
- Inability to collect dropped items or resources
- Inconsistent or broken quest/level progression
- Graphical and UI issues on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to equip and control the player character
- Expanded shop customization and management options
- Improved combat and enemy AI
- Better resource gathering and progression systems
- Clearer tutorials and in-game information


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Merchant RPG free?

Merchant RPG is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Goblin's Shop free?

Goblin's Shop is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Merchant RPG or Goblin's Shop?

Merchant RPG is rated higher. Merchant RPG averages 4.6 out of 5 from 276 ratings, while Goblin's Shop averages 4.3 from 193 ratings.

### Do Merchant RPG or Goblin's Shop have ads?

Both Merchant RPG and Goblin's Shop show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Merchant RPG or Goblin's Shop?

Merchant RPG ships an update every 4 months, and Goblin's Shop every 3 weeks. Most recently, Merchant RPG was updated on November 2, 2026 and Goblin's Shop on November 2, 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.*