Comparison

Swap Sword vs Dawnfolk

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Swap Sword

Engage in a tactical puzzle battle by matching gems and collecting coins. Outsmart enemies on a dynamic battlefield, utilizing spells and strategic swaps to defeat monsters and progress through diverse worlds. Collect rewards and compare scores with friends in this challenging adventure.

Highlights
  • Gem matching and coin collection
  • Strategic sword swapping
  • Customizable spell arsenal
  • World exploration with unique features
  • Score comparison with friends
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

It’s Swap Sword! A knife-sharp puzzle battle from the creators of Stellar Smooch and Sunburn! Match gems and snatch up coins, but watch out for angry frogs!! In Swap Sword, you’ll need to out-smart and out-slice your enemies on a battlefield that changes with every step. It’s the right mix of tactics, spells, and match-3 madness. Will you be able to draw your sword before you draw your last breath? UNSHEATH YOUR WITS - Swap to kill, match to dispatch, but don’t get caught with your sword down. CAST AWAY FEAR - Build a custom arsenal of spells to defeat your monstrous opponents and march toward victory. TRAVEL THE WORLD - Journey through mines, valleys, and beyond — each space filled with unique features and clever opponents waiting to strike you down. REAP GOLDEN REWARDS - Collect treasure, amass points, and compare your score with friends. Swap Sword was created by AP Thomson and Diego Garcia. --- Praise for Swap Sword! --- “This game is packed with the good stuff.” - App Advice “I’ve played this game more than any other this year. Please send help.” - Bennett Foddy, Creator of QWOP and Professor of Game Design at NYU.

About

Dawnfolk

Lead a kingdom lost to shadows, using a mythical fiery companion to push back darkness. Explore, build cities, manage resources, and survive dangers in a minimalist strategy and city-building experience. Discover new systems and shape your people's fate through interactive storytelling.

Highlights
  • Minimalist city building
  • Exploration of medieval fantasy world
  • Resource management
  • Interactive story with player choices
  • Skill-based minigames
  • Multiple game modes
Features
Read full description

In a world of darkness, you are the ruler of a kingdom lost to shadows. On a quest to save your people, you discover Lueur—a mythical, fiery companion who will light your way. Created by solo developer Darenn Keller, Dawnfolk blends minimalist strategy, exploration, and city-building into a relaxing yet deeply rewarding experience. Decades ago, obsidian monoliths fell from the sky, bringing a creeping darkness that consumed the land. Now, with the power of Lueur, you can push back the shadows and reclaim your realm. But what kind of ruler will you be? Explore an uncharted medieval fantasy world, manage resources, build cities, and survive against many dangers. Minigames add a unique challenge to supporting your people. The better you perform, the more resources you gain—helping your community weather the darkness. Every choice matters as you explore different strategies and play styles. Grow your settlement from a handful of tents into a thriving city in less than an hour, with no need for long tutorials or complex systems. Designed to feel familiar yet fresh, the game focuses on exploration and experimentation—where discovery is part of the journey. Your choices will shape the fate of your people. Will you succeed in bringing light back to the world? Features - A Comfy Game: A strategy experience designed for relaxed play, wherever you are. - Easy to learn: No long tutorials or complex menus—jump in and start building. - Short sessions: Grow from nothing to a thriving city in under an hour. - Mixing Macro and Micro: Blend city-building with mini-games inspired by farming sims and RPGs. Earn bonus resources through skill-based challenges that break up city management. - Game Modes: Multiple ways to play, including real-time, turn-based, and adjustable difficulty. - Incentivized Discovery: Explore, experiment, and uncover systems at your own pace—the game won’t tell you everything. - Minimalist Design: Focused mechanics that deliver depth without unnecessary complexity. - Interactive Story: Your buildings shape evolving stories. Your choices determine outcomes and directly impact your city—will you rule with kindness or pragmatism?

Screenshots

Swap Sword4 screens
Dawnfolk4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Dawnfolk at Free against Swap Sword's $2.99. Dawnfolk also leads on update cadence (every 3 days vs every 11 days). Swap Sword's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and rating (4.4 vs 4.1). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Dawnfolk is free to download; Swap Sword costs $2.99 up front. Dawnfolk sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Swap Sword asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Swap Sword holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 87 and 36 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of Swap Sword's written reviews are positive against 73% of Dawnfolk's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Swap Sword ships an update every 11 days, Dawnfolk every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Swap Sword versus Dawnfolk: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSwap SwordDawnfolk
Price$2.99Free — better
Rating4.4 (87 ratings) — better4.1 (36 ratings)
Positive reviews68.8% of reviews73.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings87 — better36
Update frequencyEvery 11 daysEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFreeFree
Best chart rank#174 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS6.0 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size81 MB323 MB
Age rating9+4+
DeveloperAlec ThomsonShort Circuit Studio

Customer experience

Swap Sword

All ratings87 ratings
Positive83.9%
Neutral4.6%
Negative11.5%
Written reviews48 reviews
Positive68.8%
Neutral8.3%
Negative22.9%

Dawnfolk

All ratings36 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral5.6%
Negative19.4%
Written reviews41 reviews
Positive73.2%
Neutral12.2%
Negative14.6%

Bugs and requests

Swap Sword

Reported bugs

1 issue
  • Fire enemies not counting for matching

Requested features

12 requests
  • More levels
  • More content
  • Character progression
  • Unlockable characters/levels
  • Rewards for matching
Show 7 more
  • Boosts or power-ups
  • Endless mode
  • Cosmetic upgrades
  • Haptic feedback option
  • Skip tutorials option
  • More game modes
  • Add updates

Dawnfolk

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

Swap Sword

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Dawnfolk

One-time1
  • Dawnfolk$7.99

Questions

Is Swap Sword free?
Swap Sword costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Dawnfolk free?
Dawnfolk is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Swap Sword or Dawnfolk?
Swap Sword is rated higher. Swap Sword averages 4.4 out of 5 from 87 ratings, while Dawnfolk averages 4.1 from 36 ratings.
Do Swap Sword or Dawnfolk have ads?
Neither Swap Sword nor Dawnfolk shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Swap Sword or Dawnfolk?
Swap Sword ships an update every 11 days, and Dawnfolk every 3 days. Most recently, Swap Sword was updated on October 13, 2026 and Dawnfolk on October 15, 2026.

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