# Pathos vs Moonshades

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pathos at none against Moonshades's 13. Pathos also leads on ads (none vs shown) and iOS requirement (12.2 vs 15.0). Moonshades's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 4 months) and ratings volume (11K vs 362). On price, rating, review sentiment and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Moonshades sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Pathos asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Pathos against 4.8 for Moonshades. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Moonshades has 11K ratings behind it against 362, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of Pathos's written reviews are positive against 91% of Moonshades's.

Pathos ships an update every 4 months, Moonshades fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pathos | Moonshades |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (362 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pathos-nethack-codex/id1045848120/reviews) | **[4.8 (11K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moonshades-dark-fantasy-rpg/id1492040231/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 362 | **11K** |
| Positive reviews | 88.6% of reviews | **90.7% 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 | 635 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.2** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Callan Hodgskin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1045848119) | [Viktor Domonyi](https://appshunter.io/developer/1492040230) |

## 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


### Moonshades

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/moonshades-dark-fantasy-rpg/id1492040231)

Embark on an epic dungeon-crawling adventure reminiscent of classic RPGs. Explore a dark fantasy realm, battle mythical beasts, and uncover ancient magic. Upgrade your gear, master spells, and solve riddles to restore lost wisdom and glory.

**Highlights:** Dungeon crawling adventure, Deep, captivating story, Mythical beasts and fantasy creatures, Thousands of upgradable items, Real-time combat, Devastating spells and skills, Magic Forge for crafting and enchanting

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

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Moonshades Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Moonshades Pack | $1.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $1.99 | one-time |
| 200 gems | $2.99 | one-time |
| 600 gems | $5.99 | one-time |
| Moonshades Pack | $5.99 | one-time |
| Seasons Tier 2 Pass | $5.99 | one-time |
| 1300 gems | $11.99 | one-time |
| Moonshades Pack | $11.99 | one-time |
| 3000 gems | $22.99 | one-time |
| Moonshades Pack | $22.99 | one-time |
| 7000 gems | $35.99 | one-time |
| 16000 gems | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 🔒 No ads or pay-to-win mechanics
- 👍 Nostalgic old-school dungeon crawler experience
- 👍 Challenging puzzles and exploration
- 👍 Generous free-to-play model

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔒 Limited inventory/storage space without IAPs
- 👎 Unclear progression and lack of guidance at times

**Reported bugs**

- Quests resetting progress
- Detect skill not functioning properly
- Crashes after recent updates

**Requested features**

- More detailed map system
- Ability to mark/annotate the map
- Expanded character customization options
- Clearer quest tracking and objectives


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pathos free?

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

### Is Moonshades free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pathos or Moonshades?

Moonshades is rated higher. Pathos averages 4.7 out of 5 from 362 ratings, while Moonshades averages 4.8 from 11K ratings.

### Do Pathos or Moonshades have ads?

Moonshades shows ads; Pathos does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pathos or Moonshades?

Pathos ships an update every 4 months, and Moonshades fortnightly. Most recently, Pathos was updated on October 21, 2026 and Moonshades on October 27, 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.*