# Merchant RPG vs Re

The clearest difference is update cadence: Re at every 10 days against Merchant RPG's every 4 months. Re also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 69%). Merchant RPG's advantage is iOS requirement (8.0 vs 12.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Merchant RPG sells 12 one-off in-app purchases and Re sells 6 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Merchant RPG against 4.7 for Re. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 276 and 513 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 69% of Merchant RPG's written reviews are positive against 82% of Re's.

Merchant RPG ships an update every 4 months, Re every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Merchant RPG | Re |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (276 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/merchant-rpg/id1035170074/reviews) | **[4.7 (513 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reend/id6474605910/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 276 | **513** |
| Positive reviews | 68.9% of reviews | **82.4% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 67 MB | 232 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 12.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Retora Game Studios](https://appshunter.io/developer/484290233) | [PONIX LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1071402258) |

## 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 (12)**

| 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 |
| Hero Slot II | $0.99 | one-time |
| Enchanter Unlock | $1.99 | one-time |
| Unlock all Shop Themes | $2.99 | 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


### Re

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reend/id6474605910)

Experience a nostalgic, top-down solo RPG reminiscent of classic MMOs. Level up, reincarnate, collect ingredients, upgrade gear, and recruit pets to build your character. Enjoy a deep system with simple controls for a laid-back gaming experience.

**Highlights:** Leveling and Reincarnation, Stat Point Assignment, Ingredient Collection, Equipment Upgrading, Pet Recruitment (including bosses), Arena Battles

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| crystal 10 | $0.99 | one-time |
| crystal 55 | $4.99 | one-time |
| crystal 180 | $14.99 | one-time |
| crystal 500 | $29.99 | one-time |
| crystal 1200 | $59.99 | one-time |
| crystal 3000 | $118.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Unique leveling system
- 👍 Engaging pet systems
- 👍 Endless progression
- 👍 Simple yet fun gameplay
- 👍 Retro-style graphics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Lost progress/data issues
- 🐛 Unclear progression and lack of direction
- 🔒 Difficulty contacting developer
- 🔒 Unavailable features in global version
- 🔋 Grindy gameplay can be tedious

**Reported bugs**

- Golem boss not respawning properly
- Upgrade materials not working as intended
- Permanent loading screen issue
- Inconsistent drop rates for certain items

**Requested features**

- Add map or guide to help progression
- Implement save/load system
- Provide option to remove ads
- Allow customization of pet formation while adventuring
- Add ability to contact developer for support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Merchant RPG free?

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

### Is Re free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Merchant RPG or Re?

Re is rated higher. Merchant RPG averages 4.6 out of 5 from 276 ratings, while Re averages 4.7 from 513 ratings.

### Do Merchant RPG or Re have ads?

Both Merchant RPG and Re show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Merchant RPG or Re?

Merchant RPG ships an update every 4 months, and Re every 10 days. Most recently, Merchant RPG was updated on November 1, 2026 and Re on October 24, 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.*