# Reigns vs Dawncaster

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Reigns at none against Dawncaster's 14. Reigns also leads on ratings volume (7.6K vs 928) and price ($2.99 vs $4.99). Dawncaster's advantage is update cadence (every 10 days vs every 5 weeks). On rating, ads, monetization model and chart position there is nothing between them.

Reigns costs $2.99 and Dawncaster $4.99 up front. Dawncaster sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Reigns asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Reigns against 4.7 for Dawncaster. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Reigns has 7.6K ratings behind it against 928, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Reigns ships an update every 5 weeks, Dawncaster every 10 days. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Reigns | Dawncaster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$2.99** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (7.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reigns/id1114127463/reviews)** | [4.7 (928 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dawncaster-deckbuilding-rpg/id1555459868/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7.6K** | 928 |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 10 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #16 | **#8** |
| Size | 124 MB | 1.4 GB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Devolver Digital, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/457410262) | [Rick van der Wal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1534294329) |

## What reviewers say

### Reigns

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/reigns/id1114127463)

**Currently charting:** #16 Top Paid · Card, #62 Top Paid · Adventure (US App Store)

Rule a medieval kingdom by making decisions with a swipe of your finger. Balance the needs of various factions, from the church to the army, to extend your reign. Each choice has consequences that can lead to your dynasty's downfall.

**Highlights:** Swipe-based decision making, Kingdom faction balance, Dynasty survival, Event spanning centuries, Multiple ways to die

**Features:** Game Controller support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👑 Great game concept
- 🤴 Engaging storyline and characters
- 🎨 Stylish art and design
- 🕹️ Addictive and challenging gameplay
- 🕰️ Replayability and multiple endings

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔁 Repetitive gameplay and card choices
- 🤔 Unclear consequences of decisions
- 🕹️ Frustrating difficulty and randomness
- 🔋 Battery drain issues
- 🐛 Bugs and save file corruption

**Reported bugs**

- Blank/corrupted cards
- Crashes and freezes
- Save file corruption
- Compatibility issues on newer devices

**Requested features**

- More content and storylines
- Ability to customize the king/kingdom
- Improved UI and feedback on decisions
- Difficulty settings or options
- Cross-platform/cloud save support


### Dawncaster

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dawncaster-deckbuilding-rpg/id1555459868)

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Paid · Card, #13 Top Paid · Role Playing, #129 Top Paid · Games (US App Store)

Embark on a tactical deck-building adventure with over 900 illustrated cards. Explore a mysterious world, master unique class abilities, and forge your own path through a rich narrative. Enjoy a complete premium experience with no ads or microtransactions.

**Highlights:** Over 900 hand-illustrated cards, Unique class abilities, Innovative energy system, Richly illustrated world, Randomized encounters, Unlockable content

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Vaul of the Void Promo Pack | Free | one-time |
| Synthesis Support Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Infinitum Support Banner | $3.99 | one-time |
| Eclypse Supporter Pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Buy the devs a coffee | $4.99 | one-time |
| Tribes of Twilight | $4.99 | one-time |
| Death of Divinity | $4.99 | one-time |
| Masks of Misery | $4.99 | one-time |
| Siege of Shadows | $4.99 | one-time |
| Dawncaster Origins Bundle | $4.99 | one-time |
| Nexus of Nightmares | $5.99 | one-time |
| Infernal Invasions | $5.99 | one-time |
| Dawncaster Mega Bundle | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Constant updates
- 🔥 Addictive gameplay loop
- 🔍 Discovering new secrets
- 💎 Excellent value for money
- 🎨 Beautiful art and visuals

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔍 Steep learning curve
- 🔁 Repetitive enemy and boss encounters
- 🕰️ Slow progression and unlock system
- 🔧 Unbalanced difficulty spikes

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes after certain card interactions
- Incorrect card behavior or descriptions
- Progression loss after updates
- Compatibility issues on newer devices

**Requested features**

- Endless or challenge mode
- More language support (e.g. Chinese, Spanish, Russian)
- Improved tutorial and onboarding
- Ability to toggle DLC content on/off
- Checkpoints or save states during runs


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Reigns free?

Reigns costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Dawncaster free?

Dawncaster costs $4.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Reigns or Dawncaster?

Reigns is rated higher. Reigns averages 4.8 out of 5 from 7.6K ratings, while Dawncaster averages 4.7 from 928 ratings.

### Do Reigns or Dawncaster have ads?

Neither Reigns nor Dawncaster shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Reigns or Dawncaster?

Reigns ships an update every 5 weeks, and Dawncaster every 10 days. Most recently, Reigns was updated on October 24, 2026 and Dawncaster on October 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Reigns or Dawncaster?

Reigns currently peaks at #16 in the App Store charts, and Dawncaster at #8. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

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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.*