# Hex Gem Defense vs Fast Player

Hex Gem Defense and Fast Player both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 89% of Hex Gem Defense's written reviews are positive against 68% of Fast Player's. Hex Gem Defense also leads on iOS requirement (10.0 vs 15.0). Fast Player's advantage is ratings volume (5K vs 240). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Hex Gem Defense sells 5 one-off in-app purchases and Fast Player sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Hex Gem Defense against 4.5 for Fast Player. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Fast Player has 5K ratings behind it against 240, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 89% of Hex Gem Defense's written reviews are positive against 68% of Fast Player's.

Hex Gem Defense ships an update monthly, Fast Player every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 29, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Hex Gem Defense | Fast Player |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (240 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hex-gem-defense/id1278602807/reviews) | **[4.5 (5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fast-player-video-player/id1320554555/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 240 | **5K** |
| Positive reviews | **89.1% of reviews** | 67.9% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 19 MB | 161 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [虎 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/898627923) | [章健 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/1566849627) |

## What reviewers say

### Hex Gem Defense

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/hex-gem-defense/id1278602807)

Engage in a tactical gem defense game where strategic tower building and gem selection are key to victory. Face eccentric monsters and powerful bosses across various challenging modes. Master complex strategies to create mazes and defend your territory.

**Highlights:** Powerful Gem System for unique attacking effects, Complex Strategy with tower placement and maze creation, Six different types of upgradeable towers, Challenging monsters and powerful bosses, Ladder Mode for competitive scoring, Hard and Endless game modes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock the 4th gem socket | $0.99 | one-time |
| 10000 diamonds | $0.99 | one-time |
| 23000 diamonds | $1.99 | one-time |
| 60000 diamonds | $4.99 | one-time |
| 140000 diamonds | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🎮 Addictive and engaging gameplay
- 🎨 Minimalistic, clean design with hexagon aesthetic
- ⚙️ Strategic depth with gem and tower combinations
- ⏱️ Great time-killer for casual play
- 🧩 Simple mechanics that are easy to learn

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📈 Difficulty spikes too sharply after early levels
- 💰 Progression requires spending money on upgrades
- 📚 Poor documentation and sparse instructions
- 🎵 Music cannot be toggled separately from sound effects
- 🐛 Tower placement issues and touch positioning bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Tower placement misalignment on certain levels
- Touch positioning system inaccuracy on level 6
- Crashes in ladder mode
- Armor penetration mechanics not working properly (Rubies and Prism towers)
- Broken app support webpage link

**Requested features**

- Separate music and sound effects toggle
- Open map version with maze-building capability
- More levels beyond 30 in medium and hard modes
- Better documentation and in-game tutorials
- Improved tower placement mechanics


### Fast Player

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fast-player-video-player/id1320554555)

This app plays nearly all audio and video formats, including M3U8 playlists and streaming videos. It offers advanced playback controls, custom subtitle support, and multiple file transfer methods. Secure your media with password protection and enjoy casting to your TV.

**Highlights:** Plays all audio/video formats, M3U8 playlist and IPTV support, Custom subtitle downloads, Multiple file transfer options, Cloud drive integration, Casting to TV (Chromecast, AirPlay), Archive file support, Password protection for privacy

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual professional version | $3.99 | per year |
| Compress / unzip the file | $0.99 | one-time |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |
| Passcode Lock | $0.99 | one-time |
| Professional Version | $5.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and user-friendly
- 👍 Versatile and plays various file formats
- 💡 Useful for transferring and managing media files
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional freezing and crashing issues
- 🔋 High battery consumption
- 📢 Intrusive ads in free version
- 🔒 Concerns about data privacy and sharing

**Reported bugs**

- Videos not playing correctly or only showing audio
- App failing to remember playback position
- Issues with file format compatibility
- Unexpected app crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- Add shuffle and repeat options
- Implement picture-in-picture mode
- Improve playlist management and file ordering
- Provide better Bluetooth/AirPlay support


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Hex Gem Defense free?

Hex Gem Defense is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Fast Player free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Hex Gem Defense or Fast Player?

Fast Player is rated higher. Hex Gem Defense averages 4.4 out of 5 from 240 ratings, while Fast Player averages 4.5 from 5K ratings.

### Do Hex Gem Defense or Fast Player have ads?

Both Hex Gem Defense and Fast Player show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Hex Gem Defense or Fast Player?

Hex Gem Defense ships an update monthly, and Fast Player every 3 weeks. Most recently, Hex Gem Defense was updated on October 24, 2026 and Fast Player on October 29, 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.*