Comparison

Ancient Battle vs Red Fire

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

Head to head
About

Ancient Battle

Engage in classic historical battles with a vast array of ancient units. This strategy game offers multiple campaigns based on Alexander the Great's conquests, featuring improved AI and detailed combat analysis for a challenging wargaming experience.

Highlights
  • Multiple historical campaigns
  • Diverse ancient unit types
  • Improved AI and combat analysis
  • High Definition graphics
  • Universal app for iPhone and iPad
  • Detailed flank attack logic
Features
Read full description

Ancient Battle: Alexander delivers a unique wargaming experience on iPhone and iPad. Use Macedonian Phalangites, Greek Hoplites, Indian Elephants, Scythed Chariots, Persian Cavalry, Catapults, Archers, Slingers, and many other unit types to engage in classic battles. Based upon, and a major upgrade to, the game system developed for Ancient Battle: Rome. A game that was the No.1 strategy game on the App Store in 8 countries and reviews included: "Delivers everything one can expect from a strategy title" - Arcade Sushi "Smart, challenging, and surprisingly substantial strategy game" - Pocket Gamer Included in this version are three campaigns that allow you to refight Alexander’s battles in and around Greece and Macedonia, including the battle of Chaeronea. The second campaign follows his push to conquer the Achaemenid Persian Empire, while having to deal with rebellious Spartans in Greece. Finally Alexander’s campaign in India, ending in the epic battle of Hydaspes, with the Macedonian Pike Phalanx versus the masses of Indian Elephants. Major game system improvements on Ancient Battle: Rome include improved A.I., improved combat analysis system, better flank attack logic, better line of sight logic, Elephant Generals, and Greek Hoplites. Key Game Features: • High Definition Ancient Era Graphics. • 7 Mission Tutorial Campaign. • 4 Mission Agnostos Thule campaign. • 8 Mission Greece Campaign playable as the Macedonians or their opponents the Athenians, Thebans, Illyrians, Getae, Thracians and Triballians. • 7 Mission Persia Campaign playable as the Macedonians or their opponents the Achaemenid Persians and Spartans. • 5 Mission India Campaign playable as the Macedonians or their opponents the Classical Indians and Scythians. • 48 Unique Ancient Units. • Detailed Combat Analysis • Flank Attacks • Hours of Gameplay. • Universal App (Works on iPhone & iPad) Find us on Facebook - facebook.com/hexwar Follow us on Twitter - @HexWarGames

About

Red Fire

Engage in turn-based strategic warfare across East Asia from 1950-1975. Command diverse land, air, and naval forces of numerous nations in historical and fictional conflicts. Experience realistic Cold War combat with intelligent AI and hotseat multiplayer.

Highlights
  • Turn-based strategy
  • East Asian Cold War setting
  • Land, air, and naval forces
  • Dozens of nations
  • Realistic combat simulation
  • Intelligent adaptive AI
  • Hotseat multiplayer
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Red Fire is a turn-based strategic wargame set in East Asia between the years 1950-1975. Take command of land, air, and naval forces of dozens of nations including the US, USSR, China, Taiwan, North and South Korea, North and South Vietnam, France, Thailand, Indonesia, and the Philippines. Experience Korean War, Vietnam War, and many other conflicts - both historical and fictional. Command squadrons of more than 500 types of aircraft, from biplanes to multirole fighter jets. Control the seas with more than 500 types of warships including submarines, battleships and aircraft carriers. Leverage new tools like surface-air missiles, air-air refueling tankers, attack helicopters, and missile cruisers to dominate the battlefield. Red Fire is powered by a detailed and realistic simulation of Cold War-era air, naval, and ground combat. Fight against an intelligent AI which constantly adapts its strategy to ensure every game is challenging and unique. Challenge a friend in hotseat multiplayer (pass-and-play). Red Fire contains no in-app purchases or ads of any kind, and an internet connection is not required to play. Buy the game once and get access to all current and future content.

Screenshots

Ancient Battle2 screens
Red Fire4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Red Fire at 92% against Ancient Battle's 25%. Red Fire also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 2). Ancient Battle's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $5.99). On update cadence, ads, monetization model and device support 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

Ancient Battle costs $2.99 and Red Fire $5.99 up front. Ancient Battle sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Red Fire asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Red Fire holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Red Fire has 93 ratings behind it against 9, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Ancient Battle's written reviews are positive against 92% of Red Fire's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Ancient Battle ships an update every 2 months, Red Fire every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Ancient Battle versus Red Fire: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAncient BattleRed Fire
Price$2.99 — better$5.99
Rating3.0 (9 ratings)4.8 (93 ratings) — better
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews92.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings993 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#196 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS16.315.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size692 MB166 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperHunted Cow Studios Ltd.Geoffrey Ayre

Customer experience

Ancient Battle

All ratings9 ratings
Positive44.4%
Neutral11.1%
Negative44.4%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral25.0%
Negative50.0%

Red Fire

All ratings90 ratings
Positive94.4%
Neutral2.2%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews77 reviews
Positive92.2%
Neutral3.9%
Negative3.9%

Bugs and requests

Ancient Battle

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Red Fire

Reported bugs

11 issues
  • Game crashes frequently
  • Freezes on resolving conflicts preventing turn progression
  • Aircraft auto-renew orders system malfunction
  • Naval and land forces stuck on Guam island
  • Ships unable to find routes from Guam
Show 6 more
  • AI captures areas behind player lines unrealistically
  • Carrier planes launch from destroyers instead of carriers
  • Notch display compatibility issue
  • Campaign Red Fire ends prematurely at March 26, 1969
  • Nuclear war notifications trigger without player action
  • Game lag with large unit concentrations (6.7M+ troops)

Requested features

20 requests
  • European theatre/Cold War Europe map
  • Middle East and North Africa campaigns
  • South America and Central America scenarios
  • Modern era (1970s-2020s) game version
  • Group land and air units like naval units
Show 15 more
  • Artillery units with ranged mechanics
  • Individual aircraft selection from squadrons
  • WWI and Gulf War scenarios
  • India and Pakistan as playable nations
  • Mission editor for campaign customization
  • Ability to disband units and ships
  • Force allied AI to move troops
  • More save slots
  • PC/desktop port
  • Star Wars version
  • American Civil War scenario
  • Cuban Missile Crisis campaign
  • Diplomacy complexity improvements
  • Vehicle variants expansion
  • Reduced AA missile quantities

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Ancient Battle

One-time2
  • Persia Campaign$1.99
  • India Campaign$1.99
None

Red Fire

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Ancient Battle free?
Ancient Battle costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Red Fire free?
Red Fire costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Ancient Battle or Red Fire?
Red Fire is rated higher. Ancient Battle averages 3.0 out of 5 from 9 ratings, while Red Fire averages 4.8 from 93 ratings.
Do Ancient Battle or Red Fire have ads?
Neither Ancient Battle nor Red Fire shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Ancient Battle or Red Fire?
Ancient Battle ships an update every 2 months, and Red Fire every 6 weeks. Most recently, Ancient Battle was updated on November 2, 2026 and Red Fire on November 4, 2026.

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