Comparison

Retro Commander vs Pocket Panzers

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

Head to head
About

Retro Commander

Engage in post-apocalyptic real-time strategy battles. Command diverse units and technologies in a rich story campaign or test your skills against AI and players in cross-platform multiplayer. Features include a map editor and extensive modding capabilities.

Highlights
  • Post-apocalyptic RTS gameplay
  • Story campaign with unique factions
  • Single-player skirmish matches vs AI
  • Cross-platform multiplayer
  • Map editor and modding support
  • Diverse units and research options
  • Multiple game modes (capture the flag, battle royale)
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.

About

Pocket Panzers

Engage in turn-based tank strategy, commanding diverse historical troops and recreating battles from WWII to modern conflicts. Expand your nation, manage resources with new features like railroads and trains, and utilize advanced units including missiles and airplanes. Explore a global map with a detailed map editor and community-created content.

Highlights
  • Turn-based strategy gameplay
  • Historical battle scenarios
  • Modern and historical units (tanks, artillery, ships, missiles)
  • Resource management (railroads, trains)
  • Global map with air units
  • Map editor and user-generated content
  • 3D graphics with new terrain
Features
Read full description

The sequel to Armchair Commander is here! Pocket Panzers is a turn-based strategy game where you control troops to expand your nation and re-create historical scenarios. Revisit historical battles — experience scenarios from the early days of World War 2 to the conflicts of the modern era! Lead your troops to victory, with tanks, artillery, ships, and missiles! Now including exciting new features, like: - Railroads and supplies - Trains - Global map - Airplanes and airports as custom units - Special historical troops - Fortresses - Fog of war - All new 3D graphics, with new terrain and models! Featuring content from the following factions: - Allies - Axis - Comintern - Chinese United Front - NATO - Warsaw Pact - And many more! There is also a detailed map editor in-game and a community uploads section with user-generated content!

Screenshots

Retro Commander4 screens
Pocket Panzers4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Pocket Panzers at 4.7 against Retro Commander's 3.7. Pocket Panzers also leads on update cadence (every 9 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (351 vs 16). Retro Commander's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases). On price, review sentiment, in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Retro Commander sells 14 one-off in-app purchases and Pocket Panzers sells 8 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Pocket Panzers holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Pocket Panzers has 351 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Retro Commander's written reviews are positive against 86% of Pocket Panzers's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Retro Commander ships an update every 2 months, Pocket Panzers every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Retro Commander versus Pocket Panzers: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterRetro CommanderPocket Panzers
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.7 (16 ratings)4.7 (351 ratings) — better
Positive reviews80.0% of reviews85.7% of reviews — better
Number of ratings16351 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 9 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.013.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size151 MB252 MB
Age rating12+9+
DeveloperNoble Master LLCSegment Games

Customer experience

Retro Commander

All ratings16 ratings
Positive68.8%
Neutral6.3%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews15 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral6.7%
Negative13.3%

Pocket Panzers

All ratings318 ratings
Positive93.4%
Neutral4.1%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews84 reviews
Positive85.7%
Neutral7.1%
Negative7.1%

Bugs and requests

Retro Commander

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Pocket Panzers

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Can't control units in first Daily Challenge level
  • Game keeps crashing

Requested features

4 requests
  • Allow creating custom alliances, not just historical mode
  • Add chance to get chests after completing scenarios, not just using gold
  • Add button to dismiss events like in HOI4 to help map makers
  • Improve AI, it's too easy to dominate as Germany in 1939

In-app purchases

14 purchases

Retro Commander

One-time14
  • Map: Chapter 02$0.99
  • Map: Battle Map 02$0.99
  • Map: Battle Map 05$0.99
Show 11 more
  • Clan Manager$1.99
  • Map: Chapter 03$3.99
  • Map: Chapter 08$3.99
  • Map: Battle Map A1$3.99
  • Map: Chapter 04$3.99
  • Map: Chapter 06$3.99
  • Map: Chapter 07$3.99
  • Map: Battle Map 03$3.99
  • Map: Battle Map 04$3.99
  • Modded Maps$4.99
  • All Maps & Modding$19.99
8 purchases

Pocket Panzers

One-time8
  • 2000 Gold$1.99
  • Eisenhower$2.99
  • 5000 Gold$3.99
Show 5 more
  • Guderian$3.99
  • Zhukov$3.99
  • Yamamoto$3.99
  • Manstein$4.99
  • 20000 Gold$8.99

Questions

Is Retro Commander free?
Retro Commander is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pocket Panzers free?
Pocket Panzers is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Retro Commander or Pocket Panzers?
Pocket Panzers is rated higher. Retro Commander averages 3.7 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Pocket Panzers averages 4.7 from 351 ratings.
Do Retro Commander or Pocket Panzers have ads?
Pocket Panzers shows ads; Retro Commander does not.
Which is updated more often, Retro Commander or Pocket Panzers?
Retro Commander ships an update every 2 months, and Pocket Panzers every 9 days. Most recently, Retro Commander was updated on October 26, 2026 and Pocket Panzers on October 28, 2026.

Other comparisons