# Game Dev Tycoon vs After Inc.

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Game Dev Tycoon at none against After Inc.'s 14. After Inc.'s advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and price ($1.99 vs $4.99). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Game Dev Tycoon costs $4.99 and After Inc. $1.99 up front. After Inc. sells 14 one-off in-app purchases. Game Dev Tycoon asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Game Dev Tycoon against 4.8 for After Inc.. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 24K and 16K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of Game Dev Tycoon's written reviews are positive against 88% of After Inc.'s.

Game Dev Tycoon ships an update every 3 months, After Inc. fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Game Dev Tycoon | After Inc. |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **$1.99** |
| Rating | **[4.9 (24K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/game-dev-tycoon/id1162580001/reviews)** | [4.8 (16K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/after-inc/id1631859420/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **24K** | 16K |
| Positive reviews | **91.1% of reviews** | 88.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Best chart rank | #48 | **#10** |
| Size | 204 MB | 276 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [Greenheart Games Pty. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/877999140) | [Ndemic Creations](https://appshunter.io/developer/525818842) |

## What reviewers say

### Game Dev Tycoon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/game-dev-tycoon/id1162580001)

**Currently charting:** #48 Top Paid · Strategy, #51 Top Paid · Simulation, #133 Top Paid · Games (US App Store)

Build your own game development company from the 1980s to the present. Design and create your own games, research new technologies, and manage a team to become a market leader. Enjoy a full simulation experience without ads or in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Start a game development company, Design and create your own games, Research new technologies, Hire and manage a development team, Replay gaming history, Built-in screen recording and streaming

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Cheap price
- 👍 No in-app purchases or ads
- 👍 Addictive and fun gameplay
- 👍 Realistic game development simulation
- 👍 Detailed and complex mechanics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Game crashes on launch for some users
- 🐛 Orientation issues on iPhone X
- 🐛 Difficulty remembering research and specialist information
- 🔋 Game can be very time-consuming
- 🤔 Lack of difficulty options or sandbox mode

**Reported bugs**

- Loan payback amount inconsistency
- Game reports not carrying over knowledge

**Requested features**

- Add more console and game genre options
- Implement employee personalities and interactions
- Provide more detailed game performance history
- Allow simultaneous game development
- Add difficulty settings and sandbox mode


### After Inc.

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/after-inc/id1631859420)

**Currently charting:** #10 Top Paid · Simulation, #10 Top Paid · Strategy, #26 Top Paid · Games, #34 Top Paid (US App Store)

Rebuild civilization after a zombie apocalypse by building a settlement, exploring, and scavenging for resources. Make difficult societal decisions and defend against zombie threats in a persistent campaign.

**Highlights:** Build and expand settlements, Explore a post-apocalyptic world, Scavenge for resources, Make difficult societal decisions, Defend against zombie infestations, Research new technologies, Persistent campaign with multiple settlements

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (14)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Survival Guide | $2.99 | one-time |
| New Leaders | $4.99 | one-time |
| Cheats & Punishment | $4.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate Pack (big discount) | $4.99 | one-time |
| Season 2 Pass (Discount) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Critical Mass | $6.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 Pack (discount) | $6.99 | one-time |
| Beyond the Bunkers | $6.99 | one-time |
| Shadows of the Past | $6.99 | one-time |
| Season 2 Pass | $9.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 Pack | $9.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate Pack (discount) | $11.99 | one-time |
| Ultimate Pack | $14.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 Pack (full) | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great game
- 🚀 Fun and addictive gameplay
- 💡 Interesting concept and mechanics
- 👍 Offline play
- 👍 Good value for money

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 🔒 Content locked behind paywall
- 🔒 Lack of free play mode
- 🔒 Limited number of missions
- 🐛 Scrolling issues in menus

**Reported bugs**

- Sudden zombie attacks crippling settlements
- Moral system being too punishing
- Difficulty balancing issues

**Requested features**

- Endless/sandbox mode
- More varied mission types
- Ability to customize settlement
- Improved camera controls
- More content updates and expansions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Game Dev Tycoon free?

Game Dev Tycoon costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is After Inc. free?

After Inc. costs $1.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Game Dev Tycoon or After Inc.?

Game Dev Tycoon is rated higher. Game Dev Tycoon averages 4.9 out of 5 from 24K ratings, while After Inc. averages 4.8 from 16K ratings.

### Do Game Dev Tycoon or After Inc. have ads?

Neither Game Dev Tycoon nor After Inc. shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Game Dev Tycoon or After Inc.?

Game Dev Tycoon ships an update every 3 months, and After Inc. fortnightly. Most recently, Game Dev Tycoon was updated on October 17, 2026 and After Inc. on October 17, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Game Dev Tycoon or After Inc.?

Game Dev Tycoon currently peaks at #48 in the App Store charts, and After Inc. at #10. 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.*