A Study in Steampunk vs Empyrean
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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!
Empyrean
Engage in aerial combat in a dieselpunk world to overthrow a tyrannical regime. This text-based interactive novel lets you pilot a secret experimental fighter, making choices that shape the narrative and determine the fate of your city and the mysterious world below.
- Pilot experimental fighter plane
- Text-based interactive novel
- Choice-driven narrative
- Explore dieselpunk world
- Romance options
- Conceal identity
- Engage in aerial dogfights
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Overthrow your father's regime with his own secret experimental fighter plane! Dogfight dieselpunk aeros to save your city and the iron jungle beneath it. "Empyrean" is an interactive "flying ace" novel by Kyle Marquis where your choices control the story. It's entirely text-based—325,000 words, without graphics or sound effects—and fueled by the vast, unstoppable power of your imagination. Far below the city of Actorius lies the mysterious world of the Deep Tech--creatures and plants both living and mechanical, and powered by unknown forces. Your father harvests the tech to create experimental airships, and the Revolution that fights his every move races to do the same. Your father's aero, the Empyrean, is governed by Deep Tech dynamics not even he understands. Only you can fly the Empyrean, match wits against ruthless oligarchs and devious spies, and take to the sky to fight your city’s enemies. But who is the enemy? The Revolution, or the government they say is corrupt? Foreign invaders, or the Deep Tech itself? In a world of gleaming towers and downtrodden laborers, streaking aeros and deadly rooftop duels, when you risk it all, the sky's the limit! • Fly the Empyrean, the greatest aircraft ever designed • Play as a man, a woman, or nonbinary; romance men or women. • Explore the Deep Tech, a savage mechanical ecosystem below your city. • Conceal your true identity from your family and the secret police. • Befriend Wesh, a denizen of the Deep Tech who is both human and machine • Cross swords in top secret research facilities, elegant cafés, and even atop airplanes in flight! • Use the Deep Tech and your political authority to improve and protect your city • Side with the revolution, the government, foreign powers, or the Deep Tech itself!
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: A Study in Steampunk at 88% against Empyrean's 70%. A Study in Steampunk also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.5) and ratings volume (122 vs 25). Empyrean's advantage is monetization model (ad-supported vs free with in-app purchases). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
A Study in Steampunk costs $6.99 and Empyrean $6.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
A Study in Steampunk holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 122 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of A Study in Steampunk's written reviews are positive against 70% of Empyrean's.
A Study in Steampunk ships an update every 24 months, Empyrean every 16 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | A Study in Steampunk | Empyrean |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $6.99 | $6.99 |
| Rating | 4.7 (122 ratings) — better | 4.5 (25 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 88.4% of reviews — better | 69.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 122 — better | 25 |
| Update frequency | Every 24 months | Every 16 months — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Ad-supported — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 12.0 | 12.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Hosted Games LLC | Choice of Games LLC |
Customer experience
A Study in Steampunk
Empyrean
Bugs and requests
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
Empyrean
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
A Study in Steampunk
No in-app purchases
Empyrean
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is A Study in Steampunk free?
Is Empyrean free?
Which has better reviews, A Study in Steampunk or Empyrean?
Do A Study in Steampunk or Empyrean have ads?
Which is updated more often, A Study in Steampunk or Empyrean?
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