Comparison

NPC For Hire vs ShadowGen

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

Head to head
About

NPC For Hire

This app assists Game Masters in creating and managing non-player characters (NPCs) for their tabletop role-playing games. It generates characters with unique personalities and provides hand-drawn portraits to enhance immersion.

Highlights
  • NPC generation
  • NPC builder
  • NPC management
  • Hand-drawn portraits
  • Story-driven aid
  • Fantasy world immersion
Features
Read full description

NPC For Hire is a story-driven aid for GMs that allows you to generate, build, and manage NPCs paired with beautiful hand-drawn portraits. GMs will be able to spin up a story that is not only compelling, but will immerse players in a fantasy world with ease. NPC For Hire includes a full library of hand-drawn portraits spanning multiple races — all free, no purchases required. Don't know where to start? Generate an NPC and use it as a launching point to craft a unique and memorable personality for your players. Already have an NPC in mind? Head to the builder and whip them up to help your players see the NPC as you do.

About

ShadowGen

This app generates fully-featured non-player characters for tabletop role-playing games. It provides unique images, skills, equipment, and backstories for various character archetypes, saving game masters time during sessions. Users can save and reuse generated characters across campaigns.

Highlights
  • Instant NPC generation
  • Unique character images
  • Skills and abilities
  • Equipment and gear loadout
  • Rich backstory and personality
  • Save and reuse characters
Features
Read full description

Spin up your crew, chummer The shadows don’t wait—and neither should you. ShadowGen is your go-to tool for generating fully fleshed-out NPCs for your Shadowrun games. Whether you’re a GM building encounters or a player looking for inspiration, ShadowGen delivers everything you need in seconds. Build your NPC your way Dial in the essentials: • Archetype • Metatype • Level • Gender Hit generate… and let the system do the heavy lifting. Fully loaded characters Every NPC comes ready for the streets: • Unique character image • Skills and abilities • Equipment and gear loadout • Rich backstory and personality From street samurai to deckers, mages to fixers—every chummer has a story. Ready for the run No more scrambling mid-session. ShadowGen gives you: • Instant NPCs for game sessions • Balanced characters based on level • Diverse builds and combinations • Endless replayability Perfect for game masters who need to improvise fast—or plan ahead. Save your crew Found a runner worth keeping? • Save NPCs directly in the app • Build your own roster of contacts, enemies, and allies • Reuse characters across campaigns Your network in the shadows, all in one place. Why ShadowGen? • Instant NPC generation • Deep, immersive character details • Built for Shadowrun gameplay • Saves time during sessions • Easy to use, powerful results Stay sharp, chummer The Sixth World is unpredictable. With ShadowGen, you’re always one step ahead. Jack in, generate, and run the shadows your way. This app is not affiliated with or endorsed by the official Shadowrun publishers. This app does not replace the Shadowrun core rulebook or any other product.

Screenshots

NPC For Hire4 screens
ShadowGen4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: NPC For Hire at Free against ShadowGen's $0.99. NPC For Hire also leads on ratings volume (81 vs 1). ShadowGen's advantage is rating (5.0 vs 4.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 13). On update cadence, ads, 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

NPC For Hire is free to download; ShadowGen costs $0.99 up front. NPC For Hire sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. ShadowGen asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

ShadowGen holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NPC For Hire has 81 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NPC For Hire ships an update every 3 months, ShadowGen every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 21, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
NPC For Hire versus ShadowGen: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNPC For HireShadowGen
PriceFree — better$0.99
Rating4.3 (81 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings81 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 3 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.115.1
Further details — not scored
Size75 MB191 MB
Age rating12+12+
DeveloperKnights of Vasteel LLCMini Leviathan

Customer experience

NPC For Hire

All ratings79 ratings
Positive81.0%
Neutral11.4%
Negative7.6%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive75.6%
Neutral15.6%
Negative8.9%

ShadowGen

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

NPC For Hire

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • 🐛 Purchased packs won't download
  • 🐛 Download promise timing out
  • 🐛 App locked to portrait mode on iPad
  • 🐛 Cannot write down stats
  • 🐛 Downloading custom pictures not working with standard photo files

Requested features

21 requests
  • More job/occupation options
  • More details like race/basic stats
  • Landscape orientation support for iPads
  • Export as PDF or other formats
  • Ability to save photos for reuse within the app
Show 16 more
  • Filter by race during random generation
  • Option to create custom 'jobs'
  • More free character photos
  • Discounted 'purchase all' option
  • More racial diversity in initial packs
  • More unique 'legends' or customized content per pack
  • Integration of stats, actions, and features (like 5e)
  • Ability to delete custom images
  • Alphabetical order for groups
  • Dark Sun themed NPCs
  • More color images
  • More races and characters
  • More depth: mannerisms, talents, flaws, traits
  • Option to add NPCs under a tag directly from random screen
  • Import own images/portraits
  • Print function

ShadowGen

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

13 purchases

NPC For Hire

One-time13
  • Angels and Demons$0.99
  • Forest of Natlan$0.99
  • Deep Caverns$0.99
Show 10 more
  • Diplomacy$0.99
  • Dragon Folk$0.99
  • Elves of Ilfelin$0.99
  • Heritage of Stone$0.99
  • Houses of Dimlodir$0.99
  • Leaders of the Occult$0.99
  • Lost Hills$0.99
  • Tales of Horror$0.99
  • The Call of Adventure$0.99
  • Thieves Guild$0.99
None

ShadowGen

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is NPC For Hire free?
NPC For Hire is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is ShadowGen free?
ShadowGen costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, NPC For Hire or ShadowGen?
ShadowGen is rated higher. NPC For Hire averages 4.3 out of 5 from 81 ratings, while ShadowGen averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do NPC For Hire or ShadowGen have ads?
Neither NPC For Hire nor ShadowGen shows ads.
Which is updated more often, NPC For Hire or ShadowGen?
NPC For Hire ships an update every 3 months, and ShadowGen every 2 months. Most recently, NPC For Hire was updated on October 21, 2026 and ShadowGen on October 10, 2026.

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