# Pathos vs Dash Quest 2

Pathos and Dash Quest 2 both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 89% of Pathos's written reviews are positive against 51% of Dash Quest 2's. Pathos also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 14) and ads (none vs shown). Dash Quest 2's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Dash Quest 2 sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Pathos asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Pathos against 4.7 for Dash Quest 2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 360 and 903 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of Pathos's written reviews are positive against 51% of Dash Quest 2's.

Pathos ships an update every 4 months, Dash Quest 2 fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pathos | Dash Quest 2 |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (360 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pathos-nethack-codex/id1045848120/reviews) | [4.7 (903 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dash-quest-2/id1479053547/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 360 | **903** |
| Positive reviews | **88.6% of reviews** | 51.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 142 MB | 378 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.2** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Callan Hodgskin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1045848119) | [Trophy Games Canada Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/892108904) |

## What reviewers say

### Pathos

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pathos-nethack-codex/id1045848120)

Embark on a challenging roguelike adventure inspired by Nethack's rule set. Select from 13 distinct classes and delve into a perilous dungeon. Your mission is to confront your nemesis in hell and escape with as much treasure as possible.

**Highlights:** Nethack-inspired gameplay, 13 playable classes, Deep dungeon exploration, Defeat nemesis in hell, Loot collection and escape

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Dash Quest 2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dash-quest-2/id1479053547)

Embark on an epic adventure in this action-packed sequel, battling monsters and exploring vast lands. Unlock powerful abilities, collect gear, and customize your hero through a deep skill tree. Experience classic 16-bit arcade action with endless runner and RPG mechanics.

**Highlights:** Hack and slash combat against monsters, Explore diverse fantasy lands, Unlock and upgrade special abilities, Collect hundreds of combat gear items, Discover ancient relics, Customizable skill tree, 16-bit arcade action

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

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| VIP Gold Pass | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| VIP Gold Pass | $5.99 | per month |
| VIP Gold Pass | $9.99 | per year |
| Pouch of Gems | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bucket of Gems | $4.99 | one-time |
| Adventure Starter Pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Warrior Collection 5 | $4.99 | one-time |
| Barrel of Gems | $9.99 | one-time |
| Explorer Bundle | $9.99 | one-time |
| Mage Supplies 10 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Warrior Collection 10 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Medic Kit 10 | $9.99 | one-time |
| Crate of Gems | $17.99 | one-time |
| Conqueror’s Conquest | $24.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Fun gameplay
- 🚀 Simple and relaxing
- 💎 Great graphics
- 🎨 Pixel art style

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔋 Energy system limits playtime
- 💰 Aggressive monetization with ads and subscriptions
- 🐛 Bugs with ad-based revival system
- 🔍 Lack of content and features compared to previous games

**Reported bugs**

- Ads not working properly, leading to death
- Purchases not registering correctly
- Crashes and force quits during gameplay
- UI issues on newer iPhone models

**Requested features**

- Remove energy system
- Add endless mode
- Improve equipment and skill system
- Implement more game modes (e.g. dungeons, survival)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pathos free?

Pathos is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Dash Quest 2 free?

Dash Quest 2 is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Pathos or Dash Quest 2?

Pathos and Dash Quest 2 are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 360 and 903 ratings respectively.

### Do Pathos or Dash Quest 2 have ads?

Dash Quest 2 shows ads; Pathos does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pathos or Dash Quest 2?

Pathos ships an update every 4 months, and Dash Quest 2 fortnightly. Most recently, Pathos was updated on September 25, 2026 and Dash Quest 2 on September 29, 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.*