# Scriptic vs Mentalist Detective

The clearest difference is ads: Scriptic at none against Mentalist Detective's shown. Scriptic also leads on iOS requirement (15.2 vs 17.0). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Scriptic sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Mentalist Detective sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Scriptic | Mentalist Detective |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (792 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scriptic-crime-stories/id1389763112/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **792** | — |
| Positive reviews | 56.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 135 MB | 109 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.2** | 17.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 17+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Scriptic LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/1389763111) | [NIKOLA LAZAREVIC PR NIVA GAMES NIS](https://appshunter.io/developer/1885634723) |

## What reviewers say

### Scriptic

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scriptic-crime-stories/id1389763112)

Engage in interactive story adventures where your choices shape the narrative. Solve crimes, manage emergencies, or navigate romance in immersive text-based experiences. Live the story and become the lead character in a variety of dramatic scenarios.

**Highlights:** Interactive text conversations, Branching story paths, Multiple story genres, Become a detective, Emergency dispatcher role, Romantic tale choices

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Gem Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Coin Pack 1 | $0.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 2 | $1.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 Ep 2: BBQ Sauce | $2.99 | one-time |
| Coin Pack 3 | $2.99 | one-time |
| Coin Pack 4 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Gem Pack 3 | $8.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 One Time Offer | $9.99 | one-time |
| Season 1 Multi-Pack 5 episodes | $12.99 | one-time |
| Season 2 Multi-Pack 5 episodes | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤩 Immersive and engaging gameplay
- 🎨 Excellent graphics and production quality
- 🕵️‍♀️ Realistic detective experience
- 💬 Compelling and thought-provoking storyline
- 🆓 Completely free with no ads or in-app purchases

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy and glitchy at times
- ⏱️ Long wait times between episodes
- 🤖 Overuse of AI-generated content
- 💰 Episodes/seasons require payment to unlock

**Reported bugs**

- Game freezes or crashes during key moments
- Certain episodes/chapters become unplayable
- Inconsistent save/load functionality
- Bugs with interactive elements like video playback

**Requested features**

- More cases and storylines to explore
- Ability to skip or fast-forward through dialogue
- Improved accessibility features for disabled users
- Syncing of progress across multiple devices


### Mentalist Detective

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mentalist-detective/id6760672102)

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Investigator Membership Upgrade | $2.99 | per month |
| 1000 Tokens | $2.99 | one-time |
| 2500 Tokens | $4.99 | one-time |
| 5000 Tokens | $7.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Scriptic free?

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

### Is Mentalist Detective free?

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

### Do Scriptic or Mentalist Detective have ads?

Mentalist Detective shows ads; Scriptic does not.

### Which is updated more often, Scriptic or Mentalist Detective?

Scriptic ships an update fortnightly, and Mentalist Detective fortnightly. Most recently, Scriptic was updated on November 6, 2026 and Mentalist Detective on November 5, 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.*