SwordArtOnline vs Black Desert Mobile
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both games, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SwordArtOnline
Step into the world of Sword Art Online as the protagonist in this MMORPG. Team up with other players to conquer Aincrad, forge weapons, and experience an "what-if" story that diverges from the original anime.
- Become the protagonist
- Cooperative MMORPG gameplay
- Experience original SAO story from your POV
- Forge weapons and use skills
- Battle monsters and complete quests
- Behind-the-scenes stories
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The newest Sword Art Online game! This time, the protagonist is...you! You appear in this online RPG as a member of an Assault Team, working with other imprisoned players to reach the 100th floor of Aincrad! What if you were trapped in a game of life or death? You can experience meeting familiar characters and connecting to the original SAO story from your own POV. Experience behind-the-scenes stories not seen in the original SAO, and completely different story developments! Live out a "what-if" story where you affect Aincrad! Battle System Fight through the sprawling fields of Aincrad with your partner Koharu, trapped together in a game of life and death! You'll need to cooperate with Assault Teams across the land and battle together to beat powerful monsters and tough quests! Forging stronger weapons, using skills with all kinds of effects, and preparing for each enemy's weak points and attack patterns are all key to your success! -Boost Mode is a monthly subscription that gives you the following boosts: -Important ・Boost Mode is valid for a month starting from the purchased date and will be automatically renewed each month. ・If cancelled during the validity period, you will continue receiving effect of the boosts until you log out after the expiration date. ・You cannot make duplicate purchases during the validity period. ・Please be aware that deleting the app does not cancel this subscription. -Payment, Duration, Renewal ・Payment of this subscription will be made through Apple ID. ・If cancellation is not made 24 hours prior to the expiration date, the subscription will be renewed automatically. ・The one-month subscription will be renewed automatically within 24 hours before the expiry date and monthly charges will occur at every renewal. -Cancellation ・This subscription must be canceled at least 24 hours prior to the expiration date. ・Cancellation may be completed through the following procedure. 1. Tap Settings > [your name] > iTunes & App Store 2. Tap "Apple ID"" at the top of the screen. 3. Tap "View Apple ID"" then ""Subscriptions" 4. Tap "Boost Mode" purchased on "SWORD ART ONLINE: Integral Factor" to see the purchase history. 5. Cancel subscription by tapping ""Cancel Subscription"" Other Precautions ・There is a possibility that connection problems may occur when purchasing, so please do not close the application while purchase is still processing. ・Terms of Service http://legal.bandainamcoent.co.jp/terms/ ・Privacy Policy http://legal.bandainamcoent.co.jp/privacy/ Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. Website: https://bandainamcoent.co.jp/english/ By downloading or installing this app, you agree to the Bandai Namco Entertainment Terms of Service. Terms of Service: https://legal.bandainamcoent.co.jp/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://legal.bandainamcoent.co.jp/privacy/ Note: This game contains some items available for in-app purchase that can enhance gameplay and speed up your progress. In-app purchases can be disabled in your device settings, see https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201304 for more details. This application is distributed under the official rights from the license holder.
Black Desert Mobile
Embark on a breathtaking MMORPG adventure with dynamic combat and stunning graphics. Customize your character with extreme detail and explore a vast open world filled with life content. Manage your camp, tame pets, and embark on quests with players worldwide.
- Dynamic action combat
- Extreme character customization
- Vast open-world exploration
- Life content (fishing, taming)
- Camp management
- High-fidelity graphics
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'Includes random-item purchases' "Finally, An Actual Open-World For Mobile" –TheGamer- "The best mobile MMO gameplay" –MMORPG.com- "A true MMO experience" –GamePress- "Prettiest fantasy MMOs on mobile" -VentureBeat- [Black Desert Mobile Official Website] https://www.world.blackdesertm.com/ ▶Black Desert Mobile◀ The critically-acclaimed MMO with players from over 150 countries around the world! Experience the amazing adventure in Black Desert on Mobile. ■ Breathtaking Action Play as 14 unique classes with dynamic skills. Indulge in unparalled, fast-paced action and combat found only on Black Desert Mobile! ■ The Best Graphics on Mobile Immersive world with sophisticated, high-fidelity graphics! Take the original quality experience anywhere you go on mobile. ■ Express Yourself with Extreme Character Customization Simple tools allow for high degree of freedom in character customization! Become your true self with customization options that push the boundaries of gaming. ■ An Endless Amount of Content to Create the World Vast life content, including fishing and taming, along with the your own Camp to manage and expand. Trustworthy pets and horses to keep you company on your adventures. [Social Media] Follow us on our Social Media for the latest news & updates! Facebook : https://www.facebook.com/OfficialBlackDesertMobile Youtube : https://www.youtube.com/blackdesertmobile_en Twitter : https://twitter.com/BlackDesertM_en [Device Requirements] iPhone 12 Pro / iOS 14
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: SwordArtOnline at 69% against Black Desert Mobile's 50%. Black Desert Mobile's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.4) and chart position (#170 vs unranked). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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
Both are free to download. SwordArtOnline sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $8.99 per month and Black Desert Mobile sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Black Desert Mobile holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 12K and 33K respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 69% of SwordArtOnline's written reviews are positive against 50% of Black Desert Mobile's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. Both last shipped on November 10, 2026.
| Parameter | SwordArtOnline | Black Desert Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.4 (12K ratings) | 4.6 (33K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 68.9% of reviews — better | 49.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 12K | 33K — better |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | — | #170 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 391 MB | 392 MB |
| Age rating | 12+ | 12+ |
| Developer | Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. | Pearl Abyss Corp. |
Customer experience
SwordArtOnline
Black Desert Mobile
User reviews
SwordArtOnline
From 12K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Excellent graphics and visuals
- 👍 Engaging storyline and characters
- 🎮 Smooth and responsive gameplay
- 📱 Great mobile experience
- 🎨 Customizable character creation
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔁 Repetitive and grindy gameplay
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🕰️ Slow progression and level grinding
- 🔇 Audio issues and sound cutting out
Black Desert Mobile
From 33K App Store ratingsWhat we love
- 🚀 Smooth gameplay
- 👍 Stunning graphics
- 🌟 Immersive world and story
- 🎨 Excellent character customization
- ⚔️ Engaging combat system
Room to improve
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔒 Restrictive gender-locked classes
- 💰 Monetization and pay-to-win concerns
- 🔍 Cluttered and confusing UI
- 🔋 High battery consumption
Bugs and requests
SwordArtOnline
Reported bugs
5 issues- Bosses disappearing during battles
- Characters getting stuck and becoming invisible
- Inability to change servers or send messages to friends
- Arcana gems not being properly credited
- Constant update loop with no available updates
Requested features
7 requests- Controller support
- Ability to change partner character's appearance
- In-game trading system
- Player-vs-player (PvP) mode
- More diverse weapon and skill options
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- Ability to replay story dialogues
- Improved social features like guilds and chat
Black Desert Mobile
Reported bugs
4 issues- Crashes when summoning a horse
- Unable to claim certain items
- Matchmaking issues in PvP arena
- Connectivity problems and server instability
Requested features
5 requests- Allow gender selection for all classes
- Improve social features and player interaction
- Add more diverse content and endgame activities
- Optimize performance and reduce crashes
- Provide better balance between free-to-play and paid progression
In-app purchases
SwordArtOnline
- Boost Mode$8.991 Month
- Arcanagem A$0.99
- Arcanagem B$3.99
- 1H Sword Rookie's Pack$3.99
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- Arcanagem C$7.99
- Arcana Gem Pack$7.99
- Arcanagem D$12.99
- Arcanagem E$26.99
- Arcanagem F$39.99
- Arcanagem G$79.99
Black Desert Mobile
- 40 pearls$0.99
- 122 pearls$2.99
- 204 pearls$4.99
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- Combat Plus (14 Days)$4.99
- 410 pearls$9.99
- All-Inclusive Plus Chest$9.99
- 1232 pearls$29.99
- 1232 Pearls + Bonus 5% Pearls$29.99
- 4115 pearls$99.99
- 4115 Pearls + Bonus 10% Pearls$99.99
Questions
Is SwordArtOnline free?
Is Black Desert Mobile free?
Which has better reviews, SwordArtOnline or Black Desert Mobile?
Do SwordArtOnline or Black Desert Mobile have ads?
Which is updated more often, SwordArtOnline or Black Desert Mobile?
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