Comparison

DFRCT vs Realm Grinder

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

Head to head
About

DFRCT

This utility helps test your connection to a Dwarf Fortress Remote server before buying the full application. It's ideal for users with servers behind firewalls or NAT, ensuring connectivity before purchase. Results may vary between cellular and Wi-Fi networks, so test your intended play connections.

Highlights
  • Connection testing for DF Remote server
  • Firewall and NAT compatibility check
  • Pre-purchase connectivity verification
  • Supports cellular and Wi-Fi network testing
Features
Read full description

Dwarf Fortress Remote Connection Tester This tool lets you test connection to your Dwarf Fortress Remote server before purchasing the actual DF Remote application. This is useful if your server is behind a firewall or NAT and you're unsure DF Remote will work. Please note that results may differ when you switch between a cellular and different Wi-Fi networks. You should test the same connection(s) you're intending to use to play. Visit mifki.com/df/setup for instructions on setting up a DF Remote server.

About

Realm Grinder

Build a vast kingdom from humble beginnings, earning wealth even offline. Explore deep strategic choices by aligning with diverse factions, unlocking hundreds of upgrades, and discovering new game systems. Enjoy frequent events and collect numerous achievements.

Highlights
  • Kingdom building and offline wealth generation
  • Deep strategic choices with multiple factions
  • Hundreds of upgrades and unique buildings
  • Unlock new game systems and content
  • Collect hundreds of achievements
  • Frequent in-game events
Features
Read full description

Grow your kingdom, build alliances, and explore one of the deepest idle RPG's ever! Use your money and influence to grow your kingdom from a single farm to a huge realm that earns wealth even while you're not online! In Realm Grinder, the player is given an incredible array of choices in how they build forge their new kingdom. KEY FEATURES: *Deep Strategy - Choose to align yourself with a dozen different factions, each of which has their own distinct play style. Will you align with the elves, who reward tapping for treasure, or the demons, who give massive bonuses to the most powerful structures? *Hundreds of Upgrades - Further fine tune your strategy by choosing unique upgrades, buildings, and spells to invest in. *Tons of Content - Continue to unlock new and exciting systems like new factions, research, reincarnations, excavations, and way more. Months and months of unique content! *Collect Hundreds of Achievements - Achievement hunters will be delighted with the broad range and depth of the achievement system. And it's not just eye candy! Many strategies rely on collecting trophies in order to boost certain upgrades. *Frequent Events - Beyond the expansive base content in the game, there are frequent events where players can enjoy unique mechanics and exciting bonuses. Please Note: Realm Grinder is a free-to-play game, but some extra game items can be purchased for real money. You can disable in-app purchases in your device's settings.

Screenshots

DFRCT3 screens
Realm Grinder4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Realm Grinder at 4.5 against DFRCT's 3.7. Realm Grinder also leads on ratings volume (3.1K vs 3) and update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 3 months). DFRCT's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 64%) and in-app purchases (none vs 9). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. Realm Grinder sells 9 one-off in-app purchases. DFRCT asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Realm Grinder holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Realm Grinder has 3.1K ratings behind it against 3, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of DFRCT's written reviews are positive against 64% of Realm Grinder's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

DFRCT ships an update every 3 months, Realm Grinder every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
DFRCT versus Realm Grinder: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDFRCTRealm Grinder
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (3 ratings)4.5 (3.1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better64.0% of reviews
Number of ratings33.1K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS14.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB53 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperMIFKI PTY LTDKongregate

Customer experience

DFRCT

All ratings3 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Realm Grinder

All ratings3,113 ratings
Positive89.1%
Neutral4.6%
Negative6.3%
Written reviews724 reviews
Positive64.0%
Neutral10.4%
Negative25.7%

Bugs and requests

DFRCT

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Realm Grinder

Reported bugs

10 issues
  • Scry not working since last release
  • Crashes constantly
  • Impossible to read/play on iPhone 12
  • Impossible to read/play on iPhone 12
  • Can't collect lava stone, only holy symbols
Show 5 more
  • No lava stones
  • UI bad
  • Crashes every time it connects to Game Center
  • Spells cast not counting
  • Can't purchase anything

Requested features

5 requests
  • Have to add some faction wars
  • Change the screen bigger for newer iPhone models please
  • Please add Chinese
  • Please add Chinese
  • Suggestion

In-app purchases

None

DFRCT

No in-app purchases

9 purchases

Realm Grinder

One-time9
  • Gift of the Heroes$4.99
  • Small Pack of Rubies$4.99
  • Gift of the Kings$9.99
Show 6 more
  • Medium Pack of Rubies$9.99
  • Gift of the Faithful$9.99
  • Gift of the Myths$14.99
  • Gift of the Gods$19.99
  • Large Pack of Rubies$19.99
  • Huge Pack of Rubies$49.99

Questions

Is DFRCT free?
DFRCT is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Realm Grinder free?
Realm Grinder is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, DFRCT or Realm Grinder?
Realm Grinder is rated higher. DFRCT averages 3.7 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Realm Grinder averages 4.5 from 3.1K ratings.
Do DFRCT or Realm Grinder have ads?
Realm Grinder shows ads; DFRCT does not.
Which is updated more often, DFRCT or Realm Grinder?
DFRCT ships an update every 3 months, and Realm Grinder every 6 weeks. Most recently, DFRCT was updated on September 25, 2026 and Realm Grinder on September 22, 2026.

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