# Abalon vs Dawncaster

The clearest difference is price: Abalon at Free against Dawncaster's $4.99. Abalon also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 10 days) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). Dawncaster's advantage is chart position (#8 vs unranked). On rating, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Abalon is free to download; Dawncaster costs $4.99 up front. Abalon sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Dawncaster sells 13 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Abalon holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1K and 929 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of Abalon's written reviews are positive against 80% of Dawncaster's.

Abalon ships an update every 2 days, Dawncaster every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Abalon | Dawncaster |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $4.99 |
| Rating | **[4.8 (1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abalon/id1235934798/reviews)** | [4.7 (929 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dawncaster-deckbuilding-rpg/id1555459868/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1K** | 929 |
| Positive reviews | **84.1% of reviews** | 80.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 days** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | — | **#8** |
| Size | 117 MB | 1.4 GB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 9+ | 9+ |
| Developer | [D20Studios, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/516465511) | [Rick van der Wal](https://appshunter.io/developer/1534294329) |

## What reviewers say

### Abalon

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abalon/id1235934798)

Engage in tactical turn-based combat and deck-building strategy in a tabletop-inspired world. Command units, cast spells, and outwit opponents with creative combos and strategic positioning. Explore diverse biomes, collect cards, and build the perfect deck to become a legend.

**Highlights:** Turn-based tactical combat, Deck building strategy, Top-down battlefield control, Over 500 unique cards, Character-based abilities, Creative combo system, Procedurally generated world exploration

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Animal Gear | $3.99 | one-time |
| Angels & Demons | $7.99 | one-time |
| Dark Legion | $7.99 | one-time |
| Mean & Green | $7.99 | one-time |
| Space & Time | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fantastic strategy game
- 👍 Fun game
- 👍 Highly recommended
- 👍 Great for busy RPG parents
- 👍 Way better than expected

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Not recommended at the moment
- 🐛 Very unbalanced and costs $30
- 🐛 Game crashes after loading
- 🐛 Koumpounophobia (fear of buttons)
- 🐛 Controlling units is frustrating

**Reported bugs**

- Bugs in second chapter dungeon
- Unable to use satchel items

**Requested features**

- Controller support for Backbone and other third party controllers
- More variation in encounter types
- Dark mode option


### Dawncaster

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

**Currently charting:** #8 Top Paid · Card, #12 Top Paid · Role Playing, #112 Top Paid · Games, #192 Top Paid (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 Abalon free?

Abalon is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Dawncaster free?

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

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

Abalon is rated higher. Abalon averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1K ratings, while Dawncaster averages 4.7 from 929 ratings.

### Do Abalon or Dawncaster have ads?

Neither Abalon nor Dawncaster shows ads.

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

Abalon ships an update every 2 days, and Dawncaster every 10 days. Most recently, Abalon was updated on October 26, 2026 and Dawncaster on October 27, 2026.

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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.*