Comparison

Empire vs Retro Commander

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

Head to head
About

Empire

Lead historical World War II battles as a commander. Strategically command diverse land, air, and sea units with unique generals across multiple campaigns and challenging missions. Conquer objectives and lead your nation to victory.

Highlights
  • Over 100 different units (land, air, sea)
  • Unit improvements and expansions
  • Over 120 unique generals
  • 60+ missions in 4 major campaigns
  • Historical battle scenarios
  • Conquer strategic objectives and cities
Features
Read full description

LEAD YOUR TROOPS TO VICTORY Empire: World War II takes you into the chaos of World War II. As a commander, historical battles and campaigns are relived under your leadership. In challenging missions, you take command of the troops and have to rethink your strategic decisions turn by turn. You have a variety of different troop types and weapon systems from the Second World War at your disposal to defeat your opponent. ####### - Over 100 different units on land, air and sea - Unlock improvements and expansions for your units to make them even better to make it more effective - More than 120 unique generals that can support your units in battle - More than 60 individual and unique missions in 4 major campaigns (more in Work) - Relive the Polish campaign and show your skills - Join Operation Weser-Exercise and secure the Norwegian coast - Conquer France and the Benelux countries in the western campaign - Complete Operation Sea Lion and take control of England - Be part of the AfricaCorps and conquer North-Africa - Many individual goals make the campaigns even more versatile - Conquer strategic objectives and cities - Escort convoys to their destination - Destroy special units - Safe resource productions - Play battles in which you can lead an entire country to victory over all of Europe - Each campaign unlocks a special battle scenario - Experience the starting position from the point of view of one of several nations and lead your alliance to victory

About

Retro Commander

Command forces in a post-apocalyptic real-time strategy game. Engage in solo campaigns, skirmishes against AI, or cross-platform multiplayer battles. Form teams and clans for cooperative victories with advanced unit customization and a map editor.

Highlights
  • Post-apocalyptic RTS gameplay
  • Story-driven campaign
  • Single-player skirmishes vs AI
  • Cross-platform multiplayer
  • Team and clan formation
  • Map editor for modding
  • Diverse unit types and research
Features
Read full description

Retro Commander is a post-apocalyptic real-time strategy wargame (RTS). Take command and fight it out in a world where a cataclysmic timeline has transpired on Mother Earth. Wage wars solo, against the AI, or take on your gaming comrades and friends in cross-platform multiplayer matches. Form teams and clans and fight co-op style with the AI and other players for ultimate victory. As opposed to other real-time strategy game, Retro Commander tries to focus on both, a fun single player and a thrilling multiplayer experience. The game strives to be easy to learn with a modern user interface. Single player comes with skirmish matches against the AI as well as a comic-based story campaign. Multiplayer can be played cross-platform and includes a ranking and rating system. POST-APOCALYPTIC: Real-time strategy (RTS) played in a post-apocalyptic timeline on Mother Earth. The environment includes day-night cycles, rain, snow, wind and solar flare activity. STORY CAMPAIGN: Deep campaign and story line of humanity after a cataclysmic event. Factions come with their own specialized technologies such as stealth, robots, drones or shields. SINGLE & MULTIPLAYER: A challenging AI for both single and multiplayer matches with co-op play. Cross-platform multiplayer including LAN/internet. ONLINE play comes with an award and rating system. PLAY MODES: In addition to regular skirmish matches, the game supports missions such as elimination, survival, capture the flag, defense and battle royale. Available in both single and multiplayer also are escort and rescue missions. STRUCTURES & TROOPS: Common troops for land, sea and air warfare is available to all factions. Specialized elements such as stealth, shields, EMP weapons, nukes, portals, orbital weapons, assimilator and other troops and structures provide for additional variety. RESEARCH: A tech tree and research options enable to build specialized structures and troops. A Tech Snatcher can be used to steal enemy technology. MODDING: A map editor is included allowing for player-modded maps including player-modded campaigns. All elements including troops, structures, as well as graphics and sound effects, can be modded if desired.

Screenshots

Empire4 screens
Retro Commander4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Retro Commander at none against Empire's shown. Empire's advantage is rating (4.2 vs 3.8) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and in-app purchases 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. Empire sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Retro Commander sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Empire holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 13 and 16 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 75% of Empire's written reviews are positive against 76% of Retro Commander's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Empire ships an update every 3 weeks, Retro Commander every 2 months. Both last shipped on November 11, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Empire versus Retro Commander: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterEmpireRetro Commander
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (13 ratings) — better3.8 (16 ratings)
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews76.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1316 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.015.0
Further details — not scored
Size175 MB152 MB
Age rating12++12
DeveloperAndre PotgeterNoble Master LLC

Customer experience

Empire

All ratings13 ratings
Positive84.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative15.4%
Written reviews8 reviews
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%

Retro Commander

All ratings16 ratings
Positive62.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews17 reviews
Positive76.5%
Neutral11.8%
Negative11.8%

In-app purchases

10 purchases

Empire

One-time10
  • 180 science points$1.99
  • 500 science points$4.99
  • Axis general$6.99
Show 7 more
  • General from smaller countries$6.99
  • Polish general$6.99
  • 1200 coins$9.99
  • 1200 science points$9.99
  • 1200 training points$9.99
  • Heavy elite infantry veteran$9.99
  • Medium starter set$12.99
10 purchases

Retro Commander

One-time10
  • Map: Chapter 02$0.99
  • Map: Battle Map 02$0.99
  • Map: Battle Map 05$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Clan Manager$1.99
  • Map: Chapter 03$3.99
  • Map: Chapter 08$3.99
  • Map: Battle Map A1$3.99
  • Map: Battle Map 04$3.99
  • Modded Maps$4.99
  • All Maps & Modding$19.99

Questions

Is Empire free?
Empire is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Retro Commander free?
Retro Commander is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Empire or Retro Commander?
Empire is rated higher. Empire averages 4.2 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Retro Commander averages 3.8 from 16 ratings.
Do Empire or Retro Commander have ads?
Empire shows ads; Retro Commander does not.
Which is updated more often, Empire or Retro Commander?
Empire ships an update every 3 weeks, and Retro Commander every 2 months. Most recently, Empire was updated on November 11, 2026 and Retro Commander on November 11, 2026.

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